BUSINESS BRIEFS
Top credentials for floral design
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Mr. Flowers Floral Design on Kaua'i has been acquired by the former assistant chief of floral design at the White House and her husband.
The couple, Wendy and Charlie Elsasser, have more than 35 years of floral design experience. They bought Mr. Flowers, which specializes in high-end floral designs for special occasions, after relocating to Princeville from Alexandria, Va.
Wendy Elsasser's career as a floral designer at the White House began in 1985 and spanned the terms of four U.S. Presidents. She created and oversaw floral design for a wide range of White House special events, including state dinners, picnics on the South Lawn and luncheons for guests from Oscar de la Renta to Queen Elizabeth II.
FRESH FISH FOR WHOLE FOODS
Kona Blue Water Farms has signed a deal to provide fresh fish to Whole Foods Market, a natural and organic foods supermarket slated to open several stores in Hawai'i.
Kona Blue Water Farms' Kona Kampachi are grown in 3,000-cubic-meter submersible cages several miles off the Kona coast of the Big Island. The process is environmentally friendly, according to the company.
Local growers and food producers interested in working with Whole Foods should contact Erica Dubreuil at erica.dubreuil@wholefoods.com or Maren Giuliano at maren.giuliano@wholefoods.com.
HAWAIIAN AIR TO FERRY RAIDERS
For the eighth straight year, Hawaiian Airlines will provide chartered air service for the Oakland Raiders.
The state's largest airline will provide chartered, nonstop service for the players, coaches, trainers and team officials for nine road games in the 2007 season.
"Our relationship with Hawaiian Airlines is constantly lauded as the premier airline partnership in the NFL," said Raiders executive Marc Badain.
MESA AIR REPORTS NET INCOME DROP
Mesa Air Group Inc., the parent company of interisland carrier go!, reported a steep decline in net income during its fiscal third quarter as profit fell to $2.6 million, or 8 cents a share, from $10.9 million, or 25 cents a share.
The carrier said the year earlier results included income of $5.9 million from a claim.
The Phoenix-based carrier reported go!'s frequent-flier membership had almost doubled during the quarter ended June 30 and that June load factor was 72 percent, up from the 63 percent in May. The company also said go!'s average fare in June was the highest so far this year.
EXIT REALTY PLANS HAWAI'I FRANCHISES
Canada-based real-estate firm EXIT Realty Corp. International has established a presence in Hawai'i with plans to extend the franchise locally.
Howard Richmond, a real-estate broker from Florida, and his wife, Doredda, recently established EXIT Realty Hawaiian Islands and are seeking local brokers to open franchise brokerage offices in Hawai'i.
EXIT Realty was established in 1996 in Toronto, and offers agents bonuses for recruiting new agents to the company. The bonuses — 10 percent of gross commissions earned by agent recruits — are paid by EXIT Realty and not subtracted from recruit commissions. The company has roughly 1,000 offices.
EX DRINKS TO OFFER NEW LINE IN ISLES
Hawai'i is one of the first states where EX Drinks LLC plans to distribute its new line of energy drinks, the company said yesterday.
Three of its drinks, EX Pure Energy, EX Slim Energy and EX Chill, will be available at convenience, health food and grocery stores in Hawai'i and California sometime his summer, according to a news release from the company.
The drinks initially will be available in 8.4-ounce cans, retailing from $2 to $2.49 each. The company said 16-ounce cans will be introduced in October.
EX Drinks was founded in Orange County, Calif., in 2005 with more than $3 million in start-up capital.
HMAA LAUNCHES ONLINE SERVICE
Hawaii Management Alliance Association has launched a new service that will allow its members to access their healthplan information online.
Members will be able to check the status of claims, verify remaining deductible and out-of-pocket expenses, view the schedule of benefits, review explanation of benefits, verify eligibility and request a new identification card.
HMAA serves more than 3,200 businesses statewide, offering packages that include alternative benefits such as acupuncture, naturopathy and chiropractic medicine.
For more information, visit www.hmaa.com.
MALL OWNER HAS CORE FUND GROWTH
General Growth Properties Inc., the shopping mall owner whose properties include Ala Moana Center and Ward Centers, said core funds from operations rose to 73 cents a share in the second quarter. It increased from 62 cents a year earlier.
"Our double-digit Core FFO growth was driven by the excellent operating metrics of our core real estate business," said John Bucksbaum, the chief executive officer, in a news statement.
HMSA REPORTS PLAN ACCREDITATION
The Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's largest healthcare insurer, said its plans have received the highest levels of accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
It said the committee conducts an assessment every three years to see if plans meet the accreditation levels.
