Restaurant workers lauded for excellence

Six Hawaii restaurant employees were honored for professional excellence Monday by the Hawaii Restaurant Association.

The top three front-of-the-house employees chosen were Mela­nie Taka­yama, Pacific Beach Hotel banquet captain supervisor; Mychal Ozoa, hostess and receptionist at Alan Wong’s Restaurant; and Vone Lee, a server at Gyo­taku Japa­nese Restaurant.

The top three back-of-the-house employees named as winners were Reggie McGregor, a cook at Gyo­taku, and prep cook Jason Hicks and cook Kelly Kawa­chi, both of Alan Wong’s.

Entries were sought from all Hawaii restaurants earlier this year, and nominations were submitted by Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Duke’s Waikiki, Genki Sushi Kauai, Genki Sushi Maui, Gyo­taku Japa­nese Restaurant, Hula Grill Wai­kiki, Kona Brewing Co., Morton’s the Steakhouse and Pacific Beach Hotel.

The annual Employee Excellence Awards were designed by the Hawaii Restaurant Association to allow member and nonmember restaurateurs to recognize and publicly honor exceptional employees.

The awards were announced at a luncheon at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

HomeStreet opens loan center in Waimea

HomeStreet Bank has opened its second home loan center on Hawaii island.

The new center is at 67-1185 Mama­la­hoa Highway, Suite D-106, in Wai­mea. HomeStreet also has both a home loan center and a branch in Hilo.

Seattle-based HomeStreet began offering home loan services in Hawaii in 1979 and retail banking services in 1999. Besides Hawaii island, HomeStreet has home loan centers on Oahu and Maui, and bank branches on Oahu.

"We are excited to have a second home loan center on the island of Hawaii," said Angie Warren, vice president and Wai­mea manager. "Having a greater presence on the west side of the island will allow us to better serve our clients with a wide selection of mortgage loans and hands-on service."

ON THE MOVE

Peter Heilmann has become Matson Inc.’s chief legal officer, replacing Kevin O’Rourke, who retired after 21 years with the company. Heilmann joined Matson in 2012 as deputy general counsel. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in private practice, including more than a decade as a partner of San Francisco firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP. O’Rourke joined Matson in 1992 as general counsel. He is on the company’s board of directors, and will continue to serve there in retirement.

Carlsmith Ball has announced that four associates have joined the firm and will practice at its Honolulu office: 

» Seth T. Buckley is a member of Carlsmith’s corporate & business and litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice groups.

» Catherine L.M. Hall is a member of the firm’s litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice group.

» Jane Kelley Schumacker is a member of the firm’s corporate and business and tax groups, as well as its estate planning and wealth management practice groups.

» Onaona P. Thoene is a member of the firm’s environmental and corporate and business practice groups.

SHIP AHOY!
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HONOLULU HARBOR