author George Tanabe, Books and Publishing, Business, Entertainment, General Editorial, Product Launches

The Shady Side of Virtue – Japanese Transgressions in Early 20th Century Hawaii

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Set in the tumultuous world of colonialism, technological revolution and intercultural entanglements in early 1900s, Deuxmers Publishing releases "Miki's Mad" by George Tanabe (ISBN: 978-91944521219). A telling of love, family, pride, and delusions arising from the collisions between perception and misperception, sanity and madness, and virtue and vice.

Tanabe, who is a recipient of the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation and the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun awards, tells the tragicomic story of a Japanese immigrant: On a steamship from Japan to Hawaii, Shuzo Taga discovers Miki, a young woman who is slowly going mad-angry, insane and wildly funny - and yet she, sustained by the spirit of a devious cat, enables him to turn his fantasies into cash.

This picaresque tale plays on stereotypes that our protagonist hijacks as he out-whites the haoles, out-yellows the Japanese, out-browns the Hawaiians, and in the end, outsmarts himself.

While "Miki's Mad" portrays a charming but conniving protagonist, it should be remembered that the honest and hardworking issei pioneers also had shadier sides to their lives involving adultery, moonshining, theft and prostitution. In 1901, for example, 93 percent of the known prostitutes in Honolulu were Japanese women under the control of a certain Masudo-san. "Miki's Mad" taps into this underside and portrays the adventures of lovable characters freely deploying guts and ingenuity as they search for better lives.

Further information: https://www.deuxmers.com/authors/george-tanabe/mikis-mad

About George Tanabe:

George Tanabe, Professor Emeritus of Religion at the University of Hawaii, earned a Ph.D. in Japanese religions (esp. Buddhism) from Columbia University. His academic books have been published by university presses at Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and Hawaii. For promoting cultural understanding between Japan and the United States, he was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation in 2007 and the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun in 2012.

About Deuxmers Publishing:

Founded in 2011 in Hawaii, Deuxmers Publishing is an independent publisher of fiction, poetry and photography books, with a mission of preserving individual voices and visions to be made available for future generations. Learn more at: https://www.deuxmers.com/.

Related link: https://www.deuxmers.com/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Construction and Building, Environment and Ecology, Free News Articles, Restaurant, Hotel and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort is First Hawaiian Hotel to Receive LEED v4 Gold Certification

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii -- After a massive renovation of an iconic resort that prioritized resource conservation, sustainable operations, and care for local culture, Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort has received LEED Gold certification, sustainability consulting firm VCA Green announced today.

Global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) partnered with design firm Walker Warner Architects and Architect of Record Delawie following a devastating 2011 tsunami to transform the property's 81 acres into a premier Hawaiian resort.

The renovation was completed while staying true to original features, including a 150 guest hale spread across several village-like crescents, the Shipwreck Bar, and a petroglyph field, respecting archeologically significant sites or "kapu" while embracing an environmentally friendly design.

Sustainability consulting firm VCA Green is shepherding several of the resort's amenity spaces, including the Spa, Moana (the resort's main restaurant), and Employee Village, through the LEED v4 Building Design & Construction process and has secured Gold Certification for Moana. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world that promotes healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.

"LEED continues to provide a meaningful, global framework for advancing sustainability within real estate and helped to guide our sustainability strategy throughout our innovative redevelopment project," said Alex Spilger, Head of Global ESG at Kennedy Wilson. "We are very proud to celebrate our LEED Gold accomplishment at Kona Village."

Kona Village is a water-neutral site that utilizes native plants, ponds that help the island's natural biodiversity thrive, and a reverse-osmosis non-potable water irrigation system. Solar panels and battery storage are designed to subsidize 100% of the site's energy use, while the all-LED lighting design reduces light pollution. Bike facilities and on-site amenities promote employee and guest wellness as well as reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-burning cars to move from place to place. The intense attention to each detail of the site's materials, layout, and operations awarded each section of the property full points in several LEED categories.

To commemorate Kona Village's outstanding dedication to sustainability, U.S. Green Building Council President and CEO Peter Templeton held a plaque dedication ceremony at the resort on July 25, 2023.

"Kona Village's LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership. All over the world, the hospitality industry is recognizing that green building works and enhances a company's triple bottom line-people, planet, and profit," Templeton said. "By incorporating green building practices, hotels are raising the bar for the global market, positively impacting the quality of our built space by providing everyone with access to healthy, green, and high performing buildings. Kona Village is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference."

More information: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/kona-village

MEDIA CONTACT:
Robyn Vettraino
VCA Green
949-683-4645
rvettraino@vca-green.com
https://vca-green.com/

MULTIMEDIA:

PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-0726-s2p-leed-kona-300dpi.jpg

Photo Caption: Developer, owner, sustainability consultant and CEO of the USGBC attended a LEED plaque ceremony to dedicate the first of three LEED certifications for Kona Village's three distinct sections. From left to right: Alex Spilger: Head of Global ESG - Kennedy Wilson; Peter Templeton: President and CEO - U.S. Green Building Council; Robyn Vettraino: Principal - Verde, A VCA Company; Sandra Estornell: Managing Director - Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort; Matt Comisar: Development Manager - Kennedy Wilson; Mike Eadie: Managing Director, U.S. Development and Construction - Kennedy Wilson; Scott Bedingfield: Project Director, Kona Village - Kennedy Wilson.

Related link: https://vca-green.com/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Free News Articles, Government, Taxes and Accounting

Avenu Insights & Analytics Selected as Administrator for the City and County of Honolulu’s Transient Accommodations Tax

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Avenu Insights & Analytics (Avenu) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract by the City and County of Honolulu to provide tax administration for transient accommodations tax (TAT), an important revenue source for the agency and its citizens.

The City is partnering with Avenu to assist the City's TAT team in the Treasury Division of the Budget and Fiscal Services Department. As the administrator of the transient accommodations tax, Avenu will be responsible for collecting and processing payments from hotel/motel operators and short-term rental providers. Avenu will also be providing live taxpayer support to help answer questions that providers and operators may have. In addition to tax administration, Avenu has also been awarded a contract to provide monitoring, identification, and compliance services for short-term rentals.

The agency is confident in Avenu's expertise and experience, and the contract award represents a significant opportunity for the company to support the agency and its citizens by administering over 70,000 transactions annually for just the hotel/motel portion of the contract.

"Avenu is honored to have been selected and looks forward to working with the City and County of Honolulu to ensure the efficient and effective administration of these taxes," stated Paul Colangelo, Avenu CEO. "We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Honolulu and its citizens and are committed to delivering exceptional results and are excited to get started on this new venture."

About Avenu Insights & Analytics:

Over 3,500 state and local governments have partnered with Avenu to drive positive results for their communities through software administration and revenue enhancement solutions. Avenu's comprehensive software solutions digitally transform government by modernizing processes, providing online access to records, and reducing costs. Avenu also provides a robust ecosystem of revenue management services that identify and recover untapped revenue. State and local governments work closely with Avenu to increase revenue without raising taxes, streamline internal operations, and improve services by enhancing connectivity for constituents. Avenu is a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital.

To learn more, visit https://www.avenuinsights.com/.

About Mill Point Capital:

Mill Point Capital LLC is a private equity firm focused on control investments in lower-middle market companies across the business services, technology and industrials sectors in North America. Mill Point's experienced team of investors and Executive Partners seek portfolio company value enhancement through rigorous implementation of transformative strategic initiatives and operational improvements. Mill Point is based in New York, NY. For more information, please visit https://millpoint.com/.

Related link: https://www.avenuinsights.com/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Alliances and Partnerships, Business, Free News Articles, Software, Sports and Activities

Hawaii Youth Soccer Association Renews Partnership With Sports Connect To Advance The Sport Using Innovative Technology

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Hawaii Youth Soccer Association (HYSA), the Governing Body for the sport of soccer in the state of Hawaii, has announced a five-year partnership renewal with Sports Connect, powered by Stack Sports. Sports Connect's partnership with HYSA furthers the governing body's mission of providing quality opportunities for its members. The technology solutions provided through this partnership assist athletes, coaches, families, and volunteers.

"We are very excited to renew our partner relationship with Stack Sports that helps provide our members access to innovative technology with best-in-class features that keep their seasons running smoothly year after year," said Scott Keopuhiwa, President of HYSA. "With the Sports Connect platform as an official registration partner, we know we have a partnership best positioned to serve our membership and grow the game of soccer in Hawaii."

As an official partner of the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association, Sports Connect will serve as the participation growth platform for both the state office and its member clubs.

"We are proud to partner with Hawaii Youth Soccer Association to help grow participation in the sport," said Adam Abney, General Manager of Sports Connect. "HYSA helps inspire its members to achieve their full athletic potential, and Sports Connect is beyond honored to help be an integral partner in this mission."

Affiliated clubs partnering with Sports Connect will have access to a full suite of features, including industry-leading retention insights tools, mobile-first registration, seamless data integration with U.S. Youth Soccer, safety and compliance tracking, professional website designs, secure online payment processing, and much more.

HYSA has long-term goals to continue to expand and serve its membership over the next few years and believes that Sports Connect is the conduit to help prime this advancement.

When your club is ready to take advantage of the benefits of this new exclusive partnership, contact the Sports Connect team at https://sportsconnect.com/hawaii-youth-soccer/.

About Hawaii Youth Soccer Association:

Founded more than thirty years ago, the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association is the state's largest competitive soccer organization. It serves as the governing body for youth soccer in Hawaii on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation. The Hawaii Youth Soccer Association offers playing opportunities to youth players of all ages, playing abilities, and levels of commitment. The organization's mission is to offer a diverse range of soccer services to meet the needs of every child in the state, regardless of the child's background or financial means.

The Hawaii Youth Soccer Association offers programs for players at the recreational, select, and premier levels on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island through its member leagues and clubs.

About Stack Sports:

With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations. Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars - Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Free News Articles, Funding and Investment

Nutrition Company PlantBaby Raises $4 Million Seed Round with Big Idea Ventures and The Fund LA, Among Others

KAUAI, Hawaii -- PlantBaby, the innovative nutrition company developing a portfolio of the purest plant-based products to support the nutritional journey from infancy into adulthood, announces its $4 million Seed funding round, led by Big Idea Ventures and The Fund LA.

The round also welcomed new institutional investors including Two Culture Cap, Springbank Collective, Western Technology Investment, and Niche Capital.

In December 2021, PlantBaby launched its first product Kiki Milk, the first organic plant-based milk designed specifically for kids. Kiki Milk is made with a blend of organic, whole foods and boosted with nourishing superfoods available in two flavors: Original and Chocolate formulated in partnership with leading pediatrician Dr. Joel "Gator" Warsh and nutritionist Vicki Kobliner, RD.

It is made only from nutrient-rich, plant-based, organic whole foods and contains no additives like refined sugars, gums, GMOs, glyphosate, preservatives, protein isolates, or tree nuts (except coconuts). The organic, whole foods utilized to create Kiki Milk include organic oats, organic hemp seeds, organic sprouted pumpkin seeds, and organic coconuts. Each variation is packed with its proprietary blend of superfood powders with nourishing plants, like organic Aquamin(tm), organic bananas, organic blueberries, and organic spinach.

For PlantBaby Co-Founders Lauren and Alex Abelin, this is the first step to realizing their vision of creating safe plant-based food options for kids. Six months after their son Alakai was born, they needed to find him suitable plant-based, soy-free, and dairy-free infant formula supplements. After researching and feeling dissatisfied with the options available, they sought to create products to suit his needs along with the 40% of kids who have chronic health conditions nationwide who need healthier solutions than the ones offered on the market already.

"Since launching just six months ago, we've seen constant consumer demand," said Co-Founder Alex Abelin. "This fundraising round will support continued research and development of new plant-based culinary innovations and continued growth of the brand to make PlantBaby itself a vehicle to create positive change for children's health and well-being of children everywhere."

"We are thrilled to support the great work being done by Lauren, Alex, and the rest of the PlantBaby team," said Tom Mastrobuoni, Chief Investment Officer for Big Idea Ventures. "The non-dairy space is highly competitive, but the PlantBaby team has created a unique product that features cleaner label ingredients and appeals to the most precious consumers of all, our children."

About PlantBaby:

PlantBaby is a future-forward nutrition movement developing a portfolio of clean-label, organic, plant-based foods, beverages, formulas, and supplements to support children on their nutritional journey from infancy into adulthood. Founded in 2020 on Kauai, Hawaii, PlantBaby is dedicated to restoring harmony in our food and agricultural systems by supporting regenerative agriculture and sourcing climate-friendly crops. PlantBaby is proud to partner with Farmer's Footprint and Planet FWD, two organizations committed to building a healthier Planet Earth.

For additional information, visit https://www.plantbaby.co/, https://www.kikimilk.com/ and @kikimilkco.

About Big Idea Ventures:

Big Idea Ventures (BIV), the most active food technology investor in 2021, is solving the world's greatest challenges by supporting the world's best entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers. BIV develops the most globally strategic funds, delivering significant investor returns while addressing real world challenges. BIV is focused on alternative protein with its New Protein Fund and commercialization of university intellectual property with its Generation Food Rural Partners fund. Learn more: https://bigideaventures.com/.

Related link: https://www.plantbaby.co/

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved. ID:NEO2022

Business, Free News Articles, Software, Travel and Tourism

Kulana Media Productions LLC Launches New Version of Vacation Countdown App Website with Integrated Travel Blog and More Travel Content

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Kulana Media Productions LLC is excited to announce the launch of their updated Vacation Countdown App website. This version includes an integrated travel blog as well as a redesigned home page. New content will be published three times a week and include travel tips, the best destinations for travelers, and reviews about the best travel products.

The goal of the travel blog is to offer a more personal, behind-the-scenes look at destinations as well as travel tips from experts. In addition, the website will feature the latest travel news about traveling in 2022, interesting travel deals, tips for solo travelers, and tips on how to use the app.

"I'm excited about our new travel blog on the website and I think it will really help people plan their vacations," said Simone Kirstein, Ph.D., CEO of Kulana Media Productions LLC. "Our team is doing a fantastic job and we'll be providing readers with valuable information about destinations, travel tips, and the best travel products."

The Vacation Countdown App website is a perfect addition to the app itself. The app allows travelers to count down the days until their next vacation and has been used by over 3 million people around the world. Now app users can see the travel blog content right inside the app, which will help inspire them about their next trip.

Kulana Media Productions LLC launched its popular Vacation Countdown App in 2014 and has continuously been working on new and improved versions of the free app. The next version is scheduled to be released in spring 2022. The new version of the app will include a number of exciting new features, including the ability to create more than one packing list, as well as new games and a surprise feature. Kulana Media Productions LLC is looking forward to releasing this new version and hopes that it will help people all over the world get excited to take their next vacation!

For more information about Kulana Media Productions LLC or the Vacation Countdown App website please visit https://www.vacationcountdownapp.com/ or send an email to info@vacationcountdownapp.com.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/I67fpa7Zdt0

Related link: https://www.vacationcountdownapp.com/

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Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles, NonProfit and Charities

Kids Read Now closes the opportunity gap for K-3 students – Hawaii students to get free books this summer

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Kids Read Now is excited to partner with Ka'ewai Elementary to mail books directly to their students' homes over the summer. Ka'ewai Elementary is the first school district in Hawaii to partner with Kids Read Now to eliminate learning loss and close the opportunity gap for their students. The number of students coast-to-coast in the Kids Read Now program continues to grow with almost 400,000 books being mailed to students in 2020 alone!

Most students will experience reading skill loss over a typical summer break from school. Creating home libraries is key to preventing a steep learning slide due to summer break and recent extended school closures.

"Educators, parents, and students love the KRN program, and it has been proven to eliminate the summer slide and even help kids gain up to 2.5 months of learning over the summer," said Leib Lurie, CEO of Kids Read Now.

The Kids Read Now K-3 summer reading program mails eight new books to students and includes exciting multicultural, fiction, and nonfiction titles loved by children. Mailing books builds ongoing enthusiasm but does not require in-home technology. Each book includes guided discussion questions to help improve reading skills and increase family engagement.

The ninth book of beautifully illustrated creative writing prompts concludes the program so children can write their own stories. Best of all, kids keep their new books!

Kids Read Now is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the singular mission to eliminate learning loss for all K-3 students.

To learn more about Kids Read Now, please visit https://kidsreadnow.org/.

*VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/513510815

Related link: https://kidsreadnow.org/

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Business, Free News Articles, Manufacturing, Product Launches

Hawaii’s First N-95 Mask Factory Opens Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 in Kona

KONA, Hawaii -- Kona Mask Co. LLC, located in Kailua-Kona near Costco, will begin producing N-95 and flat-pleated masks using two automated machines. "We can produce 1 million masks every 3 weeks made right here in Hawaii," says Nicolas Garcia, CEO of Kona Mask.

Garcia saw the need for a local manufacturer to provide PPE rather than one based thousands of miles away.

Garcia adds, "We are inviting Mayor Harry Kim, members of the Coronavirus Task Force, government officials, and local leaders who helped inspire this concept, to walk through the factory on Saturday, October 17 at 10 a.m."

For further information, contact Nicolas Garcia, 808-365-6989 or email pilot3155@gmail.com

Factory address: 73-4820 Kanalani Street, Bay 9, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Other newsworthy items:

* Captain Nicolas Garcia retired from United Airlines on April 1, 2020 after 46 years as a pilot.

* The mask factory was inspired after the Pandemic was declared and Garcia could not find a mask for his fiancé, Amy Colombo, a United Airlines flight attendant.

* The funding came from Garcia selling his home and retirement savings.

* Garcia ran a successful airline soap factory during the 1980s AIDS Crisis.

* The factory will be staffed by locals with manufacturing experience.

* The factory mural was painted by Katana Leigh and will be unveiled on Saturday.

More information: https://konamaskco.com/

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1014s2p-kona-mask-factory-300dpi.jpg

*Photo caption: CEO Nicolas Garcia and United Airlines flight attendant Amy Colombo poised to make millions of N-95 masks at The Kona Mask Co.

Related link: https://konamaskco.com/

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Books and Publishing, Business, Entertainment, Free News Articles, Product Launches

Deuxmers Releases New Titles by Peter Shaindlin and by Lee Siegel

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Deuxmers Publishing announces the release of two new novels by Lee Siegel, "Typerotica" and "Horseplay"; and a long-awaited collection of new poems by Peter Shaindlin, titled "Ravens, Nights."

"Deuxmers is pleased to have widely published and acclaimed author Lee Siegel as one of its authors, which represents a consequential achievement in expansion of our portfolio," said Omer Kursat, the managing editor of Deuxmers Publishing.

"Typerotica" (ISBN 978-1944521097) is a hilariously comedic and poignantly nostalgic portrait of an aspiring artist as a young man. Consisting of the typed manuscripts of two love stories, it illustrates an analogy: typing was once to literature what sex is to love. As a fifteen-year old, Lee Siegel is dazzled by a then contraband copy of Henry Miller's "Tropic of Cancer," and decides that he must become a writer. He imagines that in order to do that he needs to learn how to type and then go to Paris to drink French wine, smoke French cigarettes, and have sex with French women. "Typerotica" chronicles Siegel's enrollment in a typing class, his subsequent amorous and literary adventures in Paris, and eventually his friendship with Henry Miller.

If we are to believe Lee Siegel, the author of "Horseplay" (ISBN 978-1944521103) is actually a horse, yes, a talking horse named Gulliver. According to Siegel, "Gulliver dictated the series of twelve stories that are sublimely romantic and yet bawdily down to earth, occasionally melancholy but fundamentally hilarious. Horseplay is indisputably one of the greatest books ever composed by a horse."

"'Ravens, Nights' (ISBN 978-1944521073) - from tranquil pastorales to coarsely hewn cityscapes, erotic ruminations, grandiose reveries, and reimagined haiku to pictographic poesy-is a unique collection that represents an informed homage to the modern canon while staking new territory within the noumenon of twenty-first-century culture," said Mr. Shaindlin.

Frank Stewart, in his review of "Ravens, Nights" stated, "Here is lyric poetry that testifies to the gratitude we must ultimately feel for being alive. Gratitude for forests, seas, stars, gardens, houses, cathedrals, bus stops, and trains-in spite of-and perhaps because of-the world's brevity and ours."

About Lee Siegel

Lee Siegel, Emeritus Professor of Religion at the University of Hawaii, has published eight novels, four non-fiction books, and a translation of Sanskrit love poetry. Siegel's writing has earned him a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, two Residency awards at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, a Visiting Fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford, and the Elliot Cades Award for Literature. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Siegel_(professor_and_novelist) )

About Peter Shaindlin

Peter Shaindlin is a writer, poet, fine art photographer and musician as well as a significant and influential cultural critic. A Visiting Fellow and Research Scholar at the University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College, Mr. Shaindlin has four published works including "Citizen Steele." Mr. Shaindlin is also a renowned fine art photographer represented by Westwood Gallery of New York City. He studied fine arts, creative writing and humanities at Mannes College and New York University. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Shaindlin )

About Deuxmers Publishing

Founded in 2011 in Waimanalo, Hawaii, Deuxmers Publishing is an independent publisher of fiction, poetry and photography books, with a mission of preserving individual voices and visions to be made available for future generations. Learn more at: http://www.deuxmers.com/.

*IMAGE link for media (SFW): https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0807s2p-dexumers-books-300dpi.jpg

MEDIA CONTACT:
Omer Kursat, Principal
Deuxmers Publishing
Email: omer@deuxmers.com
Phone: +1 (808) 259-5394

Related link: http://www.deuxmers.com/

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