BUSINESS BRIEFS
Computers, video games pay off
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's computer and video-game industry contributed $21.3 million to the state's economy last year, according to a report released yesterday by the Entertainment Software Association. That's up 19.7 percent from the prior year.
Computer and video-game companies in Hawai'i generated 129 jobs with an average salary of $84,818.
"Hawai'i's computer and video-game companies play an ever increasing role in the state's growing economy," said Michael Gallagher, chief executive of the ESA, which represents U.S. computer and video game publishers. "These companies and their colleagues across the nation are making entertainment software one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States."
NEW WAIKIKI EATERY OPENING
The Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider hotel is the latest in a flurry of new restaurants opening in Waikiki.
The steak, seafood and Island cuisine eatery takes its first customers today.
The back of the house team includes chef de cuisine Rodney Uyehara, lately of The Bistro at Century Center (yes, he's bringing his signature Maui onion soup) and sous chefs Norman Soderberg Jr., formerly of Chai's Island Bistro, and William Chen, who was with the W Honolulu's Diamond Head Grill.
The dinner house will be open from 5:30 p.m. daily.
NORDSTROM GALA OPENING PLANNED
Nordstrom Inc. will open its first full-line store in Hawai'i at Ala Moana Center on March 7. To celebrate, Nordstrom will host an evening gala March 5. Tickets for the event went on sale yesterday.
The event will benefit three local Hawai'i charities: the Bishop Museum, Hawai'i Theatre Center and HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support).
The highlight of the evening will be a tented, full-scale runway fashion show featuring American and European designer collections including Tory Burch, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Roberto Cavalli, among others.
The event, entirely underwritten by Nordstrom, is expected to raise $300,000 to be shared equally by the three organizations.
Tickets for the opening gala are $150 per person. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the Hawai'i Theatre Center at 723-1879.
CITY, STATE TO RENOVATE VACANT UNITS
The city and state will join to help renovate two longtime public housing projects.
A City Council resolution authorized the city Department of Community Services to enter into an agreement with the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to allow participants in two city programs to help renovate state public housing units.
Under the arrangement, students in the city's Youth Services and YouthBuild programs help renovate vacant units in HPHA's public housing projects, including Mayor Wright Homes and Kalihi Valley Homes.
The Youth Services and YouthBuild programs provide low income youth, high school dropouts, and youth offenders, ages 16 to 24, with the opportunity to achieve educational, employment and personal goals through course work and activities.
In addition to doing structural repair and painting, the students help with grounds cleaning, landscaping, parking lot striping, and painting over graffiti.
