Posted on: Monday, August 2, 2004

Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

Several business events of a political nature are scheduled:

• The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a candidates' luncheon forum for mayoral candidates Duke Bainum, Mufi Hannemann and Frank Fasi, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Manoa Grand Ballroom. Fee. Registration: 949-5531.

• A discussion by mayoral candidate and Mufi Hannemann on "e-government" and ideas for a "wireless Waikiki" sponsored by the University of Phoenix has been rescheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, at 828 Fort St., Rooms 101 and 102. Free; open to the public. Information: 536-2686.

• "Are Small Businesses Getting Their Fair Share of Federal Government Contract Opportunities in Hawai'i?" is the topic of a Small Business Council discussion with Rep. Ed Case, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Aug. 10 at 1132 Bishop St., Suite 306. Open to the public. Registration by tomorrow: 545-4300, ext. 310.

TUESDAY

• A "BASIC BUSINESS TRAINING SESSION — MICRO ENTERPRISE TRAINING CLASSES," sponsored by the Honolulu Community Action Program, is free to those with limited income. Topics covered by the classes include business startups in Hawai'i, business loans, taxes, marketing, basic computer and Internet training, credit and money matters. The sessions are 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow through Thursday, and Aug. 17 to19; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 and 28. Contact Erma Abinosa or Robert Kelley, 521-4531.

• "MARKETING FOR SUCCESS WORKSHOP" for the business owner will be offered in two parts tomorrow by the Hawai'i Women's Business Center: introductory session 9 a.m. to noon, advanced session 1 to 4 p.m. at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Fee; discount for center members. Registration: 522-8136.

• HONOLULU CITY AND COUNTY TOASTMASTERS CLUB, offering opportunities to improve public and impromptu speaking abilities, noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Honolulu Municipal Building, eighth-floor conference room. Guests welcome. Picture identification required. Information: 527-6797.

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU offers free weekly orientation sessions to minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the center's offices at Executive Center, 1088 Bishop St., Suite 2506, offer advice on business startups, 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 small-business owners who want to use computer technology to improve and expand business operations and management. The program is sponsored by the Small Business Resource Center in partnership with the Small Business Administration, city Office of Economic Development, Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network, Hawai'i Women's Business Center and SCORE. Open to center clients who attend a center orientation, 9 a.m. Tuesdays and 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Appointments: 522-8130.

WEDNESDAY

• Twelve presentations and workshops covering a range of human resource issues — including compensation, discrimination and harassment, hiring and termination — will be offered as part of the annual EMPLOYMENT LAW SEMINAR sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and attorneys from the law firm of Torkildson Katz Fonseca Moore & Hetherington. Also to be discussed is the benefit of conducting a preventative employee relations self-audit. The event takes place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Hilton Hawaii Village. Fee. Registration: 545-4300, ext. 317, or www.cochawaii.org.

• Teena Rasmussen of Paradise Flower Farms will discuss running an agriculture-based enterprise at a free brown-bag workshop Wednesday at the Maui County Business Resource Center in Kahului. "THE BUSINESS OF AGRICULTURE" is scheduled noon to 1 p.m. at the center in Maui Mall. Reservations suggested: (808) 873-8247.

THURSDAY

• Construction firms wanting to take advantage of the current construction boom in Hawai'i will have the opportunity to learn about financing options, bonding requirements and technical management assistance in an upcoming workshop sponsored by the Small Business Administration and Hawaii Department of Transportation. The free "Financing and Bonding Workshop," is scheduled 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Small Business Resource Center, 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Registration: Melanie Martin, 587-2023.

• Mark Fox of The Nature Conservancy will speak to a dinner meeting of the AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, Punahele Chapter, 5:30 p.m., Thursday at The Wisteria restaurant. fee. Information: Tina Kaneshiro, 668-2502.

• ALA MOANA TOASTMASTERS no-host luncheon meetings, with opportunities to improve public- and impromptu-speaking abilities, noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, Yum Yum Tree restaurant, Ward Centre. Guests welcome. information: 330-5439.

• THE BREAKFAST CLUB, a networking organization for small business owners and professionals, 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at Sizzler Restaurant, Pearlridge. Information: 456-0222.

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

FRIDAY

• Volunteer Legal Services Hawai'i is offering free workshops for faith- and community-based organizations that help O'ahu's homeless. A discussion of "Employment Law for Nonprofits" is scheduled 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Small Business Resource Center, 1041 Nu'uanu Ave. Registration required: 522-1858.

SATURDAY

• Edward Jones financial firm will sponsor a free retirement planning seminar, "Work Smarter, Not Harder," 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Kapiolani Women's and Children's Center, first floor. Reservations: 535-7000.

• APPLE MACINTOSH OSX operating system lecture, demonstration and question-and-answer session for PC-switchers, new and experienced Mac users and those who want to sharpen MacIntosh skills, noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays, MacMouse ClubHouse, 627 South St., Kaka'ako. Free. Information: 921-8294; or info@MacMouse.com.

PENDING

• Accessing the latest Census figures and other federal statistics by computer will be the focus of a free 3 1/2-hour, hands-on workshop offered Aug. 9 and 10 by the U.S. Census Bureau and the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. "MAKING DECISIONS ON DATA" is designed for organizations that could use the data for marketing, grant applications, federally assisted programs, affirmative action reports and similar projects. The workshops will feature Census Bureau information specialist Jerry Wong, 7:45 a.m. (registration) to 11:30 a.m. both days at the Keoni Ana Building (formerly Capitol Centre), 1177 Alakea St. Registration: 586-2466.

• Female high-performing and ambitious former executives who have broken through the corporate glass ceiling by becoming entrepreneurs will share their success stories in an upcoming talk-story discussion, "Hitting the Glass Ceiling and Breaking Out: A Business Roundtable Success Story," sponsored by the Hawaii Women's Business Center, 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 9, at the Girl Scout Hale Honolulu, 420 Wyllie St. Fee. Registration: Olive: 522-8136.

• Entertainer Carole Kai will speak at the next YWCA-sponsored women's-empowerment luncheon, "BUNGEE BOOST!" rescheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Laniakea YWCA, formerly the Richards Street YWCA. The discussion series aims to provide women with the skills and motivation to achieve success in business. Kai is perhaps best known as producer of the "Hawaii Stars" television show and the annual Great Aloha Run fund-raiser. Free for YWCA members; fee for others; box lunch available. Reservations recommended: 538-7061, ext. 0; walk-ins welcome.

• Helen Rapoza, owner of Helen's Haven facial salon in Kahala, will speak on the bureaucratic obstacles that sometimes face small-business owners in a luncheon speech Aug. 11 to the American Business Women's Association, Na Kilohana O Wahine Chapter, 5:45 to 8:45 a.m. at the Japanese Cultural Center. Fee. Reservations by Friday: Fran Hamasaki, 455-4737.

Business meetings of general interest are listed in the "Coming Events" column each Monday. Submit notices at least two weeks in advance to: Business Events, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax to 525-6763 or e-mail to business@honoluluadvertiser.com. (For e-mailed releases, please include information in the body of the message, not as an attachment.)