Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

• Allen Doane, chief executive officer of Alexander and Baldwin, will be the keynote speaker at "HAWAI'I REAL ESTATE FORECAST," a daylong conference at the Ilikai Hotel. The event, from 8 a.m. Friday, is sponsored by the local chapters of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member; Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute; National Association of Realtors). Other participants in the discussions include Bank of Hawaii chief economist Paul Brewbaker and developer Stanford Carr. Also offered: a morning education session, "Advanced Valuation of Investment Real Estate"; an afternoon forecast session; and breakout discussion sessions from 3 p.m., including sessions on Waikiki developments and the residential real-estate market. Fee; nonmembers welcome; half-day fee available. 845-4994.

Events this week in the areas of Chinese tourism and business interests in China:

• State efforts to overcome U.S. visa restrictions on Chinese travelers, and information about fingerprinting and photographing arriving foreign nationals, will be among the topics at a panel discussion Wednesday sponsored by the HAWAII CHINESE TOURISM ASSOCIATION. Among the participants will be state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert, who will also discuss Gov. Linda Lingle's recent Washington, D.C., discussions on the visa restrictions; Frank Hass, Hawai'i Tourism Authority vice president of marketing, on plans to market Hawai'i in China this year; and Jeffrey Sawyer, primary branch chief of the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, who will give a brief overview of security initiatives. The event is planned from noon at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, Mauna Kea Ballroom. Open to nonmembers. Fee. 837-3694

• The Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide will hold its U.S. Regional Business Forum 2004 on Friday at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The forum is sponsored by the Hong Kong Business Association of Hawaii and co-sponsored by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Speakers from Hong Kong and Hawai'i with business experience in China will cover topics ranging from business startups in China to implications of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Agreement for U.S. businesses. Also planned is a panel discussion, in part, on travel and tourism planning. Fee; non-members welcome. Reservations: 342-8660.

TUESDAY

• "PROVISIONS AND STRATEGIES," a two-hour seminar, is designed to assist Hawai'i entrepreneurs commercialize their technology through licensing of intellectual property rights, rather than trying to secure conventional startup venture capital. The seminar is part of a monthly discussion series, "ThinkTech Law: Doing IP Licensing Agreements in Hawai'i," sponsored by ThinkTechHawaii and the University of Hawai'i's Pacific New Media, and is scheduled from 5 p.m. at UH-Downtown, Pioneer Plaza, Suite 10. Seminar leaders include intellectual property attorney Leighton Chong and registered patent attorney Martin Hsia. Fee. Registration: 956-8400.

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU offers free weekly orientation sessions to minority business-owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions, 9 a.m. 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, 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 center clients who attend a center orientation, offered 9 a.m. Tuesdays and 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Attendees have access to training videos and resource materials. Workshops and free counseling are also offered. Appointments: 522-8130.

THURSDAY

•The new Honolulu Advertiser printing facility in Kapolei and its effects on the paper is the topic of a speech Thursday by Bill Bogert, vice president of production . A 46-year-veteran of the newspaper industry, Bogert will speak on "Will a New Printing Press Change The Advertiser? Should it?" at a Hawaii Society of Corporate Planners luncheon meeting. The meeting is planned from 11:30 a.m. (registration) to 1:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, Mauna Kea Ballroom. Fee; nonmembers welcome. Information: Roberta Cullen, 537-2356.

• Instruction on using the Web site GrantStation.com to find resources for nonprofit organizations will be sponsored by Research Central, a project of The Research Corp. of the University of Hawai'i. The workshop, "The Whole Picture: The Resource Development Plan and GrantStation.com," is scheduled 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-240. Fee. Reservations: 521-4511, Ext. 3.

• HONG KONG BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII's ninth annual officers and directors installation banquet and celebration of the Year of the Monkey will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; keynote speaker will be Daniel Fung, former solicitor-general of Hong Kong. Members, $55, nonmembers, $60; business attire requested; no-host cocktails. Call Loretta Kam for reservations: 539-7887.

• ALA MOANA TOASTMASTERS no-host luncheon meetings, with opportunities to improve public and impromptu speaking abilities, noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, The Wisteria restaurant. Guests welcome. 226-7686.

• 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.

• "MARKETING BASICS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER," a hands-on marketing course on essential marketing concepts and tools, sponsored by the Hawai'i Women's Business Center, will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Small Business Resource Center, 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Fee. Registration: Oliv'e, 522-8136.

SATURDAY

• A BASIC INVESTING SEMINAR will be offered free from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Feb. 28 at the offices of Edward Jones financial firm, 1360 Beretania St., Suite 304. Reservations: 543-6034.

UPCOMING

• Bank of Hawaii chief economist Paul Brewbaker will present an "Optimistic Economic Outlook" for the state when he speaks at the Feb. 24 dinner meeting of the SALES AND MARKETING EXECUTIVES OF HONOLULU. Friday is the deadline for reservations for the meeting, which begins with 5:30 p.m. cocktails at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Regency Rooms I and II. Fee; guests welcome. 537-1158.

• Waikiki improvements slated to begin this month — the planned $19 million upgrade to Kuhio Avenue and Waikiki's Kuhio Beach sand replenishment — are the topics at the Feb. 25 meeting of the ALOHA SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES. Rick Egged, president of the Waikiki Improvement Association, will speak to the 4:30 p.m. meeting at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. A pupu/networking event will follow. Fee; non-members welcomed. Reservations: Carl Takamura, 532-2244

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.