Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

• Jeffrey K. Au, an active participant in the building of Hawai'i's venture capital industry since 1995, will speak on the benefits of Act 221 at a luncheon meeting of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association . Au is a co-founder, managing director and general counsel of PacifiCap, a venture capital firm with offices in Honolulu and Silicon Valley, Calif., and a portfolio of companies that have raised more than $285 million in investment capital. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. (registration) to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at The Plaza Club, Pioneer Plaza. Fee; University of Hawai'i faculty, students and nonmembers welcome. Registration: Gail; 262-7329.

• Conference coffee breaks at the HAWAII COFFEE ASSOCIATION annual gathering and trade show on Moloka'i will take on added meaning — a chance to sample various coffees up for silent auction when the group meets Thursday to Sunday at the Sheraton Molokai Lodge and Beach Village. The "Discover Hawaiian Coffees" conference will hear a report by Hawai'i growers; discussions on managing wastewater from coffee production; and an explanation of new labeling laws. The keynote speaker for the Friday dinner meeting will be Ted Lingle, executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of america. Registration: Dick Petersen, (808) 325-1083, or www.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org.

TUESDAY

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU offers orientation sessions to minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions, scheduled 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday in the center's offices in Suite 2506 of the Executive Center, 1088 Bishop St., include advice on business startup, marketing plans, loans, employee handbooks and access to capital. Free. Reservations: 521-6221.

• A free COMPUTER BOOT CAMP is offered 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to all small-business owners interested in using computer technology to improve business operations and management. The program is sponsored by the Small Business Resource Center, in partnership with the Small Business Administration, the city Office of Economic Development, Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network, Hawai'i Women's Business Center, and SCORE. The program is open to clients of the center who have attended an orientation, offered 9 a.m. Tuesdays or 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041-A Nu'uanu Ave. Attendees will have access to training videos and resource materials. Workshops and free counseling are also offered. Appointments: 522-8130.

WEDNESDAY

• A free retirement-planning seminar on distribution options under a company plan will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday by the Edward Jones financial firm, in offices at 320 Ward Ave. Reservations: 596-0076.

THURSDAY

• The second of three seminars in the "SHARPEN YOUR MARKETING TOOLS" series sponsored by the Kaua'i Chamber of Commerce will be held 9 to 11 a.m. (8:30 a.m. registration) Thursday at the Aloha Beach Resort. The seminar, "Maximizing the Power of the World Wide Web," will be led by Debra Jason, freelance copywriter, Web marketing consultant and owner of The Write Direction. Fee; non-Chamber members welcome. Registration: (808) 245-7363.

• The AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAWAI'I meets from 5:45 to 7 p.m. at 1311 Kapi'olani Blvd. in second-floor conference room. Information: 597-1341.

• The PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S NETWORK holds its monthly luncheon meeting from 11:30 a.m. (registration) to 1:30 p.m. in the Hale Koa Hotel at Fort DeRussy. Speaker: Honorée Corpron, "executive business coach," on "Going From Success to Excellence: Take Your Business to the Next Level With Seven Master Strategies!" Fee; guests welcome. Reservations: 533-4800.

• ALA MOANA TOASTMASTERS luncheon meetings, with opportunities to improve public and impromptu speaking abilities, are held from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at The Wisteria restaurant. Guests welcome. Information: 368-2757.

• The HONOLULU BUSINESS NETWORK, a networking opportunity for small-business owners and professionals, meets 12:01 to 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Sansei Seafood Restaurant, Restaurant Row. Call: Tracy Nakashima, 525-6028.

SATURDAY

• "UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID AND STUDENT LOANS," a free workshop sponsored by the Hawai'i State Federal Credit Union, will be offered 9 to 10 a.m. at 560 Halekauwila St., fourth floor. Registration: 587-2700.

• Attorney Bernard Corbe will explain "Living Trusts and Medicaid in Plain English" during a free workshop at 11 a.m. at the 'Aina Haina Library. Nursing-home expenses also will be discussed at the event, which is sponsored by the nonprofit Wellness Workshops. No reservations required. Information: 533-0360.

• HAWAII KAI JAYCEES dinner and nightclub outing: 6 p.m. dinner, Tiki Grill and Bar, Aston Waikiki Hotel; and 8 p.m. Society of Seven Las Vegas show, Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. Open to members and guests. Call: Stan Fichtman, 295-4630

• The fifth annual "AN EVENING IN PARADISE," a Big Island United Way fund-raiser featuring the island's top chefs, will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Fairmont Orchid resort. Information/tickets: Hilo United Way, (808) 935-6393; or www.HawaiiUnitedWay.org.

• HAWAII REAL ESTATE INVESTORS' all-day seminar, "How to Make Foreclosure Fortunes Getting Banks to Accept 'Short Sales'": 8 to 3:30 p.m. (7 a.m., breakfast), Pacific Beach Hotel, 'Ahi/Mahimahi rooms. Fee; nonmembers welcome. Call: 368-6548, or www.hirei.org.

UPCOMING

• Findings of a statewide survey on economic and financial literacy — and a speech by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka — will be presented to the annual conference of the HAWAII COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION. The 2003 Economic and Financial Literacy Conference is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. Information: 956-7009; or www.hawaii.edu/hcee/conference.

• A number of remodeling-related events are scheduled:

• "REMODEL, REBUILD AND DON'T GET TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS," part of a summer series on financial education, is sponsored by the Hawai'i State Federal Credit Union. The one-hour session begins at 10:45 a.m. Saturday in their main branch on the fourth floor at 560 Halekauwila St. Registration: 587-2700.

• A well-planned landscape reducing air-conditioning costs by 15 to 20 percent — just three well-placed trees reaping an annual savings of $100 to $250 in energy costs? These and other energy efficiencies will be discussed at "REMODEL IT RIGHT," a free seminar offered Aug. 16 by The Hawaii Remodelorsú Council. Participants will include landscape contractor Greg Lee of Landscapes by Tropical Images and representatives from the city Department of Planning and Permitting and state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. In conjunction with the seminar, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Windward Mall center stage, there will be a mini-expo of remodeling vendors from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration: Nalani Blane, 847-4666 #210; or www.bia-hawaii.com.

• Winners of the Building Association of Hawaii's 2003 renaissance building and remodeling awards will be honored at a banquet (from 5:30 p.m. no-host cocktails; followed by 6:30 p.m. program and dinner) Aug. 1 in the Pacific Ballrooms of the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel. Information/tickets: Tracy Jefferson, 847-4666 #206.

Business meetings of general interest are listed in the "Coming Events" column each Monday. Submit notices at least two weeks in advance. By fax: 525-6763. By mail: Coming Events, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. By e-mail: business@honoluluadvertiser.com.