Isle company gets big fence contract

BANGOR, Wash. » The Navy has awarded a $51.9 million contract to a Hawaii company for a massive, 2-mile long security fence at the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, home to the Pacific Trident missile nuclear submarines.

The Kitsap Sun says Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest announced Friday that the work will be done by Watts-Granite of Honolulu. The company is to construct the 11,300-foot fence system from south of the submarines’ Delta Pier to north of the explosives handling wharf. It will include two chain-link fences with a gravel zone between them and grassy clear zones on the outside — 90 feet wide in all. The fence also will have lighting, sensors, cameras, a patrol road and entry control points.

Employees laid off during renovation

LIHUE » As many as 80 employees at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa have lost their jobs temporarily as the hotel undergoes renovation.

A resort spokeswoman, Diann Hartman, told the Garden Island that the project has reduced the number of available guest rooms from 602 to around 302. Hartman says some of the affected employees have chosen to take leaves of absence, family medical leaves of absence or extended vacations. She says others are using extended sick leave, and some have just resigned and moved away.

The one-year renovation project is expected to be completed in April.

Defunct Samoa tuna cannery sold

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa » Chicken of the Sea International has transferred its closed tuna cannery in American Samoa to Bellevue, Wash.-based Tri Marine International.

A statement from the office of Gov. Togiola Tulafono says the deal was reached Tuesday in Honolulu following two days of discussions. Financial terms of the arrangement weren’t disclosed.

The COS Samoa Packing plant was closed Sept. 30, 2009, costing the jobs of more than 2,000 workers in the U.S. territory.

Down To Earth touts ‘Non-GMO’ food

Down to Earth grocery stores will promote the nationwide launch of a "Non-GMO" logo to use on food that is not genetically modified with a 40 percent off sale on some products Sunday.

The new Non-GMO logo and the protocols governing the right to use it on product packaging were developed by The Non-GMO Project, the company said.

Sale items include entrees, pasta sauce, breakfast foods, beverages, snacks, gluten-free products and baking items, the company said.

The sale will be held at all Down to Earth locations: Honolulu, Kailua and Pearlridge on Oahu; Kahului on Maui; and Hilo on the Big Island.

ON THE MOVE

Hale Kipa has announced new officers for 2010-2011: Luke W.T. Yeh, chairman; Heidi K. Wild, vice chairwoman; Greg J. Sitar, treasurer; and Lianne Iwanaga-Ohashi, secretary.

7-Eleven Hawaii has promoted the following employees:

» Greg Hanna to president and chief executive officer. He will be responsible for the overall direction and leadership of the organization.

» Glenn Nagatori to vice chairman. He will be responsible for the company’s growth strategy and long-range strategic planning.

Hawaii Community Foundation has received a Knight Community Information Challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The $240,500 grant to be distributed over three years will go toward the Hiki No program at PBS Hawaii, the first statewide digital student news network in the nation.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association Foundation has approved grants for the following local health programs and community organizations: Family Promise of Hawaii; Second Annual Big Island Diabetes Summit-Joslin Diabetes Center; Kapiolani Health Foundation; Konawaena Elementary School; Papa Ola Lokahi; St. Andrew’s Priory; West Hawaii Community Health Center; and Women In Need.