Posted on: Monday, September 6, 2004

No Ka Oi

Advertiser Staff

• The Hawaii Agricultural Conference 2004 has issued a call for nominations for the first HAWAI'I AGRICULTURE AWARDS to be presented at the conference Oct. 21 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. The awards are presented to outstanding organizations or individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the state's agricultural industry as businesses, leaders, researchers, supporters, volunteers or friends. Selection — in categories for outstanding agriculture operation, new farm operation (less than three years) and friend of agriculture — is made for sustainability of operation, capacity for expansion or continued improvements, and innovation and creativity. Deadline for nominations is Sept. 15. Nomination forms are available by calling 589-2407, or may be downloaded at www.agconference.org. The conference is sponsored by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; state Department of Agriculture; Agricultural Leadership Foundation-Hawaii, and the University of Hawai'i, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

• Marriott International has recognized JEFF TYLER, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa director of restaurant and banquet services with its Leadership Excellence Award. The award was created to acknowledge Marriott associates in Asia and the Pacific region for outstanding financial management and sales performance in the operations field. Tyler is a former banquet manager at the Waikiki Beach property.

• MEADOW GOLD DIARY OF HAWAII was honored in the International Dairy Food Association's "Achieving Excellence Awards for Smart Marketing," recently in New Orleans. The dairy took home honors for "Best Overall Print Ad," for its Easter-themed ad, created by Utah-based advertising firm Kinara, which paired Meadow Gold flavored, single-serve milks with a chocolate bunny. The awards program recognizes top marketing, public relations and advertising efforts in the dairy industries, from traditional advertising to new product packaging. Meadow Gold also operates in nine Mainland states.

• Honolulu-based Continental Airlines ticketing trainer MARY CADIENTE-KAAI has "lucked out" over thousands of the airline's employees nationwide with perfect attendance records to be selected to receive a new Ford Explorer. Cadiente-Kaai was one of nine names drawn from Continental employees across the United States with perfect attendance during either of two six-month reckoning periods the past year. In fact, the 'Ewa Beach resident has not missed a day of work since 1998. Started in 1996, the incentive program has been credited with helping the airline achieve one of the lowest absenteeism rates in the industry. Since then, the company has given away 129 SUVs, three to employees from Honolulu. Cadiente-Kaai began with the carrier in 1987 as a part-time sales agent at Honolulu International Airport.

Announcements of business-related awards and honors can be sent to: Business Awards, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; faxed to 525-6763, or e-mailed to business@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please make sure the information is included in the body of the message, not as an attachment. Photographs need to be in color.