BUSINESS BRIEFS
Mills retires from HEI board
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Longtime Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. director Bill Mills has retired from the company's board.
The 56-year-old developer decided to retire to spend more time with his business interests. Mills had served on the board since 1988 and was a member the HEI board's compensation committee.
WARNING ON COUNTERFEIT CHECKS
Counterfeit American Savings Bank cashier's checks are circulating in Hawai'i, and the bank is warning residents and asking that they closely examine any such checks they receive.
The bank said the checks look similar to authentic ones but have the check number listed twice in the top-right corner.
The real checks display the check number and signature area in red print and have a "Void" background when copied, American Savings said.
The bank is asking people who have information on the checks, or who think they may have received one, to call 627-6900 or 800-272-2566.
COMPANIES PLAN JOINT VENTURE
Pioneer Promotions Inc., a Honolulu-based distributor and retailer of infomercial products, plans to partner with an Arizona company to develop and brand products for the direct-to-consumer market.
Pioneer, which operates the As Seen on TV Store Hawaii at Ward Warehouse, has an agreement in principal to partner with Tradeshow Marketing Co. Ltd., a small product development company that operates two retail stores in Phoenix.
The deal, if executed, would expand the product and distribution channels for both companies, which include trade shows, retail stores, wholesale accounts and the Internet, the companies said in a statement announcing the joint venture plan.
HOSTED PBX SYSTEM LAUNCHED
Pacific LightNet, a Hawai'i-based telecommunications company, said it has begun the state's first fully managed and operated hosted PBX system, a private branch exchange that is designed for businesses to use the Internet for telephone calls and data.
Pacific LightNet said it is offering to help manage high-speed broadband line service and phone service for clearer calls and faster Internet speeds.
A hosted PBX is housed in a secure facility, outside the customer's premises and eliminates the need for customers to buy and maintain that equipment.
HOSPITAL RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT
The Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation said it has received a $25,000 grant from the Longs Benefit Golf Classic held in May.
The hospital said the money will be used to buy a van to take patients out to supermarkets, banks and other errands as they transition back into the community. The van will be modified with adaptive equipment, paid for by a $5,000 grant from Web-co.
OPEN HOUSE AT BUSINESS CENTER
The Maui County Business Resource Center said it will have an open house so that Maui entrepreneurs can meet active and retired volunteer business executives. Service Corps of Retired Executives counselors will be on hand to answer questions and schedule counseling sessions.
The meeting at its newly renovated facility is scheduled for July 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information call 873-8247.
