Business Briefs

April 29--Senate to vote on HCDA board nominee

State senators are scheduled to vote Tuesday on confirming or rejecting a nominee of Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the board of the state agency regulating development in Kaka­ako.

The nominee, Brian Tama­moto, is an executive of a subsidiary of major Hawaii development firm Koba­ya­shi Group. He is being considered for a seat on the Hawaii Community Development Authority board reserved for one of two representatives of small businesses.

Some HCDA critics contend that Tama­moto doesn't meet the criteria for representing a small business, defined by the agency as a business that is independently owned and not dominant in its field of operations.

Sen. David Ige, who is challenging Abercrombie in this year's primary election for governor, announced Monday that he will oppose Tama­moto's confirmation.

Ige (D, Pearl Harbor-Pearl City-Aiea) questions whether a Koba­ya­shi Group holding company fits HCDA's small-business definition.

HECO, Kauai utilities make top-10 solar list

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and the companies of Hawaiian Electric Co. ranked among the top 10 utilities nationally for the amount of solar power added to their grids last year, according to a report released Monday by the Solar Electric Power Association.

Hawaiian Electric Co. added 329 watts of solar-generating capacity per customer on Oahu in 2013, the fifth highest of any utility nationwide, according to SEPA.

Hawaii Electric Light Co., which serves Hawaii island, ranked seventh with 183 watts per customer. Maui Electric Co. was eighth with 178 watts per customer, and KIUC was ninth with 167 watts per customer.

A list of the rankings can be found at www.sepa­top10.org.

Wave energy to be tested at Marine base

The U.S. Energy Department on Monday announced $10 million in funding to test wave energy prototypes in the waters off Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kane­ohe.

The Energy Department plans to test two wave energy devices at depths of 200 and 260 feet.

The first phase of the funding will be used to optimize designs and plan for the deployment and testing of wave energy systems. The second phase will support permitting, fabrication, deployment, retrieval and decommissioning of these systems after 12 months of testing and data collection, according to the release.

Vintage Cave to lose exec chef Kajioka

Executive Chef Chris Kaji­oka will be leaving his post at the exclusive Vintage Cave Hono­lulu restaurant within Shi­ro­kiya. Vintage Cave describes Kaji­oka's departure as amicable and will hire four chefs to lead what it calls the "kitchen studio."

"I am leaving on great terms with the owner and establishment," Kaji­oka said in a statement, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to launch the luxe concept as well as a desire to spend more time with his wife and 6-month-old baby.

His departure date is yet to be determined but will be over the summer.

The new chefs' names are not being disclosed, but they are specialists in Japa­nese and European cuisine and have between them "several Michelin stars," the company said.

Longtime Maui restaurant to close

Stella Blues Cafe in Kihei, Maui, will be closing, according to an unsigned announcement on its Facebook page.

"After 23 years Stella Blues Cafe is closing its doors," the announcement said, attributing the closure to inability to come to terms on a new lease with the landlord.

"We have put our landlords in a tough situation," the statement said, crediting the landlord with assistance over the years.The restaurant is in Azeka Shopping Center II.

A specific closing date was not given. General Manager Kale Boverman, also listed in state rec­ords as the sole member of Stella Blues Cafe LLC, could not be reached.

2 isle eateries make OpenTable brunch list

Plumeria Beach House and Nau­paka Terrace are the only two Hawaii restaurants among the 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America released by OpenTable.com.

The Plumeria Beach House is at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, while Nau­paka Terrace is at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa in Kapo­lei.

The online reservations and review site based its top 100 on more than 5 million reviews submitted by verified OpenTable.com users for more than 19,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The list, at is.gd/OpenTableBrunch2014, was released in alphabetical order, versus ranked order, in advance of Mother's Day dining.

California contractor opens Honolulu office

Webcor Builders has expanded its Cali­for­nia-based operations to Hono­lulu.

Among the largest general contractors in Cali­for­nia, with offices in San Francisco, Ala­meda, Los Angeles and San Diego, Webcor has opened a local office at 1003 Bishop St. in the Pau­ahi Tower.

ON THE MOVE

Atlas Insurance Agency has appointed the following employees:

» Sharon Hodson as senior vice president. She has more than 30 years' experience in the insurance industry and will continue to manage the company's independent agent workforce in its commercial lines division.

» Kari Yamada as assistant vice president in its commercial lines division. She has more than 10 years of industry experience and will continue to be responsible for training, recruiting and supervising the company's commercial lines staff.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, Hawaii, has named Massimo Falsini as its executive chef. He has more than two dozen years of experience around the world, including serving as executive chef at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

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