BUSINESS BRIEFS
Honolulu ideal for 'empty nesters'
Advertiser Staff
Honolulu is among the top medium-sized cities for so-called "empty nesters," retirees and gays and lesbians, according to a new book detailing the best U.S. cities for a number of categories.
Honolulu ranks among the best cities for empty nesters, or folks ages 45 to 64 whose children are now out of the house, according to the ranking in "Who's Your City?," a book by Richard Florida, a professor of business and creativity at the University of Toronto.
The book also lists Honolulu as a top medium-sized city for retirees who are older than 65 and for gays and lesbians.
FIRST OF 3 PATENT SEMINARS COMING UP
The Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network will hold three seminars on patents, trademarks and copyrights beginning March 20 at the Honolulu Design Center's Cupola Theatre, 1250 Kapi'olani Blvd.
The first seminar will focus on trademark and copyright registration. The second event, on July 17, will cover the legal aspects of the music business, including royalties.
The final seminar will be Oct. 9 and will go into detail about music, video and software agreements, particularly song writing and recording agreements.
The seminars will be conducted by George Darby, a technology and intellectual property attorney based in Mililani.
Each session is $50. To register, call the SBDC center in Honolulu at 945-1430, or visit www.hawaii-sbdc.org.
VISITORS BUREAU NAMES SALES DIRECTOR
Debbie Hogan has been appointed senior director of sales for the Big Island Visitors Bureau.
Hogan has more than 20 years of experience in the Hawai'i hospitality industry. She most recently served as director of sales for the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.
Hogan will be based in the bureau's Waikoloa office and will oversee sales initiatives for the domestic and international conventions, meetings and incentive markets.
O'AHU RANKS 11TH FOR FAMILY TRAVEL
O'ahu ranked 11th on a list of the 50 best family vacation spots published by Disney Family Travel, a new Web site.
"Tropical Island Paradise" is the brief description for O'ahu. Suggested activities include a Diamond Head hike, a trip to the Waikiki Aquarium and the beach nearby. The Web site also recommended visits to the Aloha Stadium swap meet, Pearl Harbor, Bishop Museum and 'Iolani Palace.
The 50 Best Family Vacations is billed as a guide of the top 50 "fun and accessible destinations in America" compiled by parents, travel experts and Family.com editors.
Maui showed up as No. 48 in the "snorkeling, luaus, and volcanic hikes" category.
See the Web site at www.family.com/travel.
FEWER CATTLE IN ISLANDS, REPORT FINDS
The inventory of cattle and calves at Hawai'i's ranches was estimated at 152,000 head in January, down 6,000 head, or 4 percent from January 2007, according to a report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The number of cows and heifers that have calved was estimated at 85,000 head, down 4 percent from January 2007.
Beef cows made up 54 percent of the total herd at 82,700 head, down 3 percent from a year ago. Milk cows totaled 2,300 head, down 39 percent from the previous January.
Two commercial dairies closed during 2007, leaving the state with just three commercial dairies in operation at the end of the year.
