BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hoku to install photovoltaic unit
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Hoku Solar Inc. said it has signed an agreement to install a photovoltaic power system at Paradise Beverages' O'ahu plant.
Hoku Solar, a unit of Kapolei-based Hoku Scientific Inc., has already installed two photovoltaic power systems for Paradise Beverages at its Big Island facility in Kailua, Kona, and at another in Lihu'e, Kaua'i.
Paradise Beverages is the Hawai'i distributor for Heineken, Coors and Miller products, and it consumes a "significant amount of electricity" to operate its refrigerated and temperature-controlled warehouses.
Upon completion of the O'ahu facility installation, the aggregate of all three photovoltaic power systems for Paradise Beverages will include 350 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels, which are expected to produce more than 525,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.
"The benefits of our PV power system installations on our Kailua, Kona, and Lihu'e facilities were immediate. This made our decision for an installation on our O'ahu facility with Hoku Solar an easy one," said Gordon Usui, chief financial officer for Paradise Beverages.
QE2 PAYING ONE-DAY VISIT TO O'AHU
The Queen Elizabeth 2 was scheduled to arrive in Hawaiian waters today for a one-day visit. The QE2 was to dock at Pier 2B in Honolulu Harbor at 5 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation's Harbors Division. The ship is scheduled to depart at 1 a.m. tomorrow.
The QE2 first sailed in 1969 and was the flagship of the Cunard Line for more than 30 years. At 70,327 tons and 963 feet with a top speed of 32.5 knots, she is also one of the largest and fastest passenger vessels afloat.
FORUM: DOING BUSINESS WITH CHINA
A workshop for companies interested in doing business in Hong Kong and mainland China is set for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 202 of Honolulu's Foreign Trade Zone No. 9 at 521 Ala Moana.
The Hong Kong Business Association of Hawaii is hosting the event, which will include presentations by Gautam Bardoloi, associate partner with IBM Business Consulting Services, and Gregory Barbour, chief administrator of the Foreign Trade Zone Division of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The workshop will include a live teleconference link with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Hong Kong. Businesses on Maui also will be able to join via teleconference from Maui Community College. Tickets for the event in Honolulu, which includes pupu and refreshments, are $20. Businesses on Maui can participate for free.
For more information, call 544-9526 before tomorrow.
HOW TO GET SMALL-BUSINESS LOANS
The U.S. Small Business Administration will help match small-business owners with prospective lenders at its "Loan Blitz" to be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Hono-lulu Country Club.
Through 30-minute consultations, small-business owners participating in the event will be able to meet with a number of lenders and business specialists, the SBA said.
"Our Business Loan Blitz sessions have been highly successful and have helped many business owners explore all kinds of financing opportunities as well as find the funding they've been looking for," said Andy Poepoe, the SBA's district director.
For more information or to register, call Kim Hite at 541-2990, ext. 212, or go to www.sba.gov/hi.
