USS Missouri group picks new chairman
Honolulu businessman and Navy veteran Tim Guard has been named chairman of the board for the USS Missouri Memorial Association.
Guard becomes just the third chairman in the association’s 20-year history, following founding Chairman Edwin L. Carter (1994-2002) and retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert K.U. Kihune, who was chairman from 2002 to 2014. A longtime board member, Guard previously served as vice chairman. His affiliation as a supporter of the association goes back to the organization’s beginnings in bringing the USS Missouri to Pearl Harbor and establishing it as the Battleship Missouri Memorial.
Guard, chairman and CEO of McCabe, Hamilton & Renny Co., the largest and oldest stevedoring company in Hawaii, will be responsible for the association’s implementation of its recently adopted five-year strategic plan for the Battleship Missouri Memorial. A focus of the plan is developing educational programs promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as technology-centered initiatives that will expand the Missouri’s reach to audiences outside Hawaii.
The association also announced the appointment of its new vice chairman and three new members to its board. The new vice chairman and secretary is Robert "Bob" Dewitz, owner of Hawaii Select Investments Inc. The three new board members are retired Coast Guard Reserve Capt. John T. "Jack" Laufer, director of finance and administration for Horizon Lines LLC; retired Navy Capt. James "Jim" Stone, a senior manager for Hawaiian Electric Co.; and retired Navy Capt. Jeffrey James, who departed as commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on July 11.
Meeting set for new Oahu FEMA flood maps
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting invite home and business owners to attend a meeting on changes to FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Oahu. The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Honolulu Country Club, 1690 Ala Puumalu St. in Salt Lake. A presentation will begin at 7 p.m.
The impending map revisions include several locations on Oahu. The most significant changes affect areas along Waimalu Stream, Halawa Stream and areas near Coconut Grove in Kailua. To view areas that will have flood-hazard designation changes, visit 1.usa.gov/1pNFtIL.
These map changes will take effect Nov. 5 and could affect a property owner’s requirement for federally mandated flood insurance and compliance with local flood plain management regulations.
Medical event will draw 2,000 to Honolulu
More than 2,000 physicians and health care professionals from the mainland are expected to convene at the Hawai’i Convention Center for the National Medical Association’s annual convention and scientific assembly from Saturday through Wednesday. This year’s conference will cover issues related to men and women’s health, community medicine and stress reduction. The convention is expected to generate $9.4 million in visitor spending, $916,000 in state tax revenue and more than 16,000 booked room nights.
The association is the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of more than 35,000 African-American physicians and their patients.
Mililani’s Walmart to mark 20 years
Mililani Walmart is celebrating 20 years of business in Hawaii with a special customer event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Mililani store was Walmart’s first location in the islands. The customer appreciation event will include free cupcakes for customers, $20 gift card giveaways every 20 minutes and musical performances.
Discounts helped lift U.S. auto sales in July
DETROIT » Big discounts helped U.S. auto sales sizzle in July. Toyota, Ford, Nissan and Chrysler all saw double-digit sales gains. General Motors’ sales were up 9 percent compared with July 2013, while Hyundai’s rose 1.5 percent. Of major automakers, only Honda and Volkswagen saw declines. It was the best July for the industry since 2006. New vehicle sales rose 9 percent to 1.4 million, Autodata Corp. said.
Star-Advertiser staff and news services
ON THE MOVE
RevoluSun has hired Jorgette Villacorte as a project administrator for its Oahu division. She was previously a permitting specialist with Sunetric.
Kona Coffee Purveyors has announced that their employees Timothy "TK" Yamada and Jacqueline Suiter have joined the elite group of 300 coffee professionals in the United States who are accredited Arabica green coffee Q Graders. Yamada and Suiter took 22 individual tests and passed an exam that included detecting levels and quality of attributes associated with specialty coffee: fragrance, aroma, flavor, body, acidity and balance. Licensed Q Graders use their senses of smell, sight and taste to determine the quality of green and roasted coffee through a standard evaluation developed by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has appointed Hans Lentz executive chef. He previously served as executive chef of the Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, Africa’s leading luxury five-star hotel. Lentz has 20 years of culinary experience, including working for Hyatt, Sheraton and Hilton, with assignments throughout Egypt, Turkey, Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as serving in a top culinary position at the InterContinental Chicago.
