Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

• Entry deadline is Jan. 30 for the 13th annual "Keep It Hawai'i" award program for perpetuation of local culture, which honors local businesses, programs and cultural events. The recognition program is sponsored by the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau and Hawai'i Tourism Authority. Mail entries to The Schiller Agency, 233 Merchant St., Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96813. Entry form and judging criteria at www.gohawaii.com/keepithawaii. 539-5720.

• Small-business concerns that the millions of dollars in upcoming privatized military housing construction and modernization will be funneled to only large Mainland firms will be discussed at a Thursday luncheon meeting of The Hawaii Society of Corporate Planners. The luncheon discussion, "Military Housing Construction Booms in Hawai'i: Or Not?" is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. (sign-in) to 1:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, Mauna Kea Ballroom. The speaker will be Charles B. Read, executive project director for Fluor Federal Services, which has regional responsibility for Hawai'i, including the Ford Island Master Development Project in Pearl Harbor. Fee. Call Roberta Cullen: 537-2356.

TUESDAY

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU will offer free weekly orientation sessions to minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions are from 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday in the center's offices in Suite 2506 of the Executive Center, 1088 Bishop St., offering 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 all small-business owners interested in using 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 all clients of the center who have attended a center orientation, offered 9 a.m. Tuesdays or 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Workshops and free counseling are also offered. Appointments: 522-8130.

WEDNESDAY

• Stanley Kawaguchi, retired from Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas Inc., will speak on "Successful Project Management: The Key to Future Survival," at the luncheon meeting of THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, Honolulu Chapter, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at The Plaza Club, Pioneer Plaza. Fee; nonmembers, students welcome. Reservations: 433-7093.

• "SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT," a free seminar sponsored by the Hawai'i People's Fund "on how to make money and make a difference," will be offered 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Crossroads. 845-4800.

THURSDAY

• Nancy Grekin will speak about the positive and negative effects of attracting more movie projects to Hawai'i, in a meeting of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, The Plaza Club, Pioneer Plaza. Grekin is a partner in the firm that represented movie studios involved in the production of "Blue Crush" and "The Big Bounce," and three Hollywood producers planning other movie productions in Hawai'i. Fee; non-members welcome. Registration: 262-7329.

• Former Hawai'i first lady and local businesswoman Vicky Cayetano will be the first speaker in "BUNGEE BOOST! WOMEN CHALLENGING LIMITS," a series of women-empowerment luncheon gatherings, which launches at noon Thursday at the Laniakea YWCA. The discussion series, which aims to provide women with the skills and motivation to achieve success in their business careers, will cover leadership, motivation, communication, finance and health issues. Free for YWCA members; fee for others; box lunch available. Reservations recommended: 538-7061, Ext. 0; walk-ins welcome. The first session ends at 1 p.m.

• 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. Call Tracy Nakashima: 525-6028.

Send notices of business meetings of general interest 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.