Renewable energy sales increase in isles

Renewable energy accounted for 21.1 percent of utility electricity sales in 2014 in Hawaii, up from 9.4 percent in 2008, the Hawaii State Energy Office said Monday.

The agency’s “Energy Resources Coordinator’s Annual Report 2015” pointed to the state’s goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 as a first in the nation.

“Hawaii is at the forefront of a growing national and global clean energy movement,” said Luis P. Salaveria, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which oversees the state Energy Office.

The report is available at 1.usa.gov/1QjVFnv.

Bankoh charity fundraiser breaks record

Bank of Hawaii employees and retirees raised a record-breaking $667,889 this year for nonprofits during a five-week Live Kokua Giving Campaign.

The beneficiary check presentation was held Monday night before more than 450 bank employees during a special tree lighting celebration in front of the bank’s main branch downtown at the corner of King and Bishop streets.

The amount raised from Aug. 28 through Oct. 2, the most in the campaign’s history, surpassed the campaign goal of $600,000. Employees voted online to select the beneficiaries. The amounts for each of the 23 organizations vary and are based on individual employees’ pledges to their preferred organizations. Since the campaign’s inception in 2010, Bank of Hawaii employees and retirees have raised more than $4.1 million for nonprofits in the local community.

For the fourth consecutive year, the 12-foot, fully decorated noble fir Christmas tree will be donated to the Institute for Human Services.

Bank of Hawaii, its foundation and bank employees donated more than $2.7 million this year to more than 400 community organizations. Of that amount, employees and retirees contributed $774,146, which includes funds raised from the Live Kokua Giving Campaign and the bank’s annual Community Walk in April.

Flight attendants will picket in Honolulu

United Airlines flight attendants will conduct worldwide informational picketing Thursday at Honolulu Airport and other global airports to bring attention to the Association of Flight Attendants’ frustration over the union’s contract situation. The merger among United, Continental Airlines and Continental Micronesia was initiated five years ago, but the three pre-merger airlines are still operating under three separate contracts. United’s Honolulu-based flight attendants will picket in front of United’s ticketing area on the departure level from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Informational picketing events are also scheduled for Boston; Chicago; Denver; Frankfurt, Germany; Guam; Hong Kong; Houston; Las Vegas; London; Los Angeles; Narita, Japan; Newark, N.J.; San Francisco; and Washington, D.C.

Isle Walgreens store earns design award

The International Council of Shopping Centers has recognized the architecture of Hawaii’s flagship Walgreens store in a design competition.

The store on the corner of Keeaumoku Street and Kapiolani Boulevard, designed by Architects Hawaii Ltd., was one of four retail store design entries that achieved a top-level “gold” award in the trade organization’s U.S. Design and Development Awards competition.

Design elements in the Walgreens store include glass walls that intersect with metal cladding to represent the “flow of the ocean and mountains,” ground-floor colors representing the sea, second-floor colors representing the land and wood trellises hovering near the ceiling that represent fishing nets once used in the area, which long ago was a wetland.

Kahala Brands buys Pinkberry

Arizona-based Kahala Brands has acquired Pinkberry, a company credited with reinvigorating the frozen yogurt business with its tart flavor profiles beginning in 2005. California-based Pinkberry has more than 260 stores in 20 countries, including two Hawaii stores at Honolulu Airport and Kahului Airport. Kahala Brands owns 18 quick-service, franchising companies including Cold Stone Creamery, Blimpie and Maui Wowi.

On The Move

>> The DTRIC Insurance Co. has promoted Connie Eder to commercial underwriting manager from senior underwriter. Prior to working with DTRIC, she served as a vice president of underwriting services for 16 years at HEMIC.

>> Hawaii Family Dental Center has hired the following general dentists:

— Dr. Michael Eng works in the Ewa Beach location. He was previously working at Dental Care Centers of Hawaii, Gentle Dental and Kometani Dental.

— Dr. Adriana Stegman works at the Waterfront Plaza location. She was previously working for the U.S. Coast Guard while stationed in Puerto Rico, Maryland, California, Alaska and Hawaii.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: