First Wind gets financing for North Shore Oahu wind farm

First Wind    has closed on $236 million in financing for what will be the largest wind power project in Hawaii, the 69-megawatt Kawailoa Wind farm on Oahu’s North Shore.

A subsidiary of Boston-based First Wind closed on a loan of $220 million and $16 million in letters of credit for the project from lead lender Union Bank, along with Bayern AB, Rabobank    and Siemens Financial Services    , the company said in a statement. CIBC and CoBank also participated in the financing, the company said.

More at Pacific Business News

Turtle Bay expansion plans cut by 60 percent

The owners of the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore plan to build only 25 percent of the 2,500 new hotel rooms originally outlined in a 1985 master plan, according to a supplemental environmental impact statement preparation notice filed with the state.

More at Pacific Business News

Pipeline Masters on today; wave-face heights 10-18 feet

The opening day of the Billabong Pipeline Masters is on today at the Banzai Pipeline off Ehukai Beach.

Wave-face heights are in the 10- to 18-foot range.

Surfers expected to compete today include Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Sunny Garcia, Shane Dorian, Jamie O'Brien and Dusty Payne.

The Pipeline Masters is the final event of both the 2009 ASP World Tour and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Both titles will be decided at the Pipeline Masters.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Eddie Aikau big-wave contest on alert

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surfing contest is on alert for a possible day of competition tomorrow or Tuesday at Waimea Bay. Wave-face heights are projected to be in the 40- to 50-foot range, which would meet the requirement to run the prestigious contest.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

98 acres of Hawaii's North Shore is headed for a sealed-bid sale

Nearly 100 acres of agricultural land next to the Turtle Bay Resort on O'ahu's North Shore are headed for a sealed-bid sale, four years after a Florida-based investment firm bought the oceanfront property for $2 million with plans to subdivide it for potential residential use.

The property on Marconi Road includes an old home and a commercial building that once housed Hawai'i's first wireless telegraph station, established in 1901 under a contract with a company set up by the Italian inventor of the technology, Guglielmo Marconi.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

The Second Annual Business Expo

Aloha Members and Friends,

The Second Annual Business Expo is presented by First Hawaiian Bank. Early Bird Discounts are available until October 10th. So, sign up today!! Download the application on the North Shore Chamber of Commerce website.

Our Luncheon Speaker is Howard Dicus and we hope to have a very exciting keynote speaker as well. The seminars that our Education Chair, Karen Campbell from Waialua Soda Works, has put together are excellent. Bob Boyle of Turtle Bay Resort, the Event Chair, will be hosting us in their beautiful hotel and serving their wonderful food.

Are you looking to expand your business in the North Shore area? Sign up as an exhibitor by October 10th and get the Eartly Bird Discount.

Attendees: If you sign up for this great event, the Continental Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Reception AND six seminars are all included in your registration fee. It's a great bargain, educational and fun.

Mahalo to our Title Sponsor, First Hawaiian Bank, and sponsors Kamehameha Schools, North Shore News and Turtle Bay Resort.

Hope to see you there this year and remember to sign up before October 10th!

Aloha,
Antya Miller, Executive Director
North Shore Chamber of Commerce

North Shore Yoga Festival

True Union presents the North Shore Yoga Festival, an event designed to celebrate the many styles and philosophies that form the ancient practice of yoga. The North Shore Yoga Festival is the first of its kind in Hawaii, bringing together more than a dozen well-known yogis from the Islands and continental U.S. to lead innovate workshops and classes in order to promote yoga awareness. There will be four workshop sessions throughout the day, a keiki yoga class for children, as well as an evening concert by internationally acclaimed musician Ty Burhoe.

Surfers Yoga: Alignment and Fast Flexibility Techniques; Exploring the Parallels of Pilates and Yoga; Yoga Thai Massage Partner Class; Keiki Yoga; Free Your Hips, Free Your Mind; and much more.

Festival fee ranges from $20 for the music concert to $150 for a full day festival pass (four workshops, festival t-shirt, and Ty Burhoe concert). Visit True Union’s website at http://www.trueunion.org to register for festival events.

Contact Kate Baldwin at 757.651.0953 for more information on becoming an exhibitor or sponsor at the North Shore Yoga Festival.

Turtle Bay Resort will be offering a select number of rooms at a discounted rate for those attending the North Shore Yoga Festival. Contact Turtle Bay Resort 808.293.6000 for more information.

Phone: 757.651.0953; email: kate@trueunion.org; Web: www.trueunion.org.

True Union is owned and operated by Kate Baldwin. Kate is a renowned teacher and practitioner of Hatha, Raja and Bhakti Yoga. Kate is a Karma Yogi as well, and has been incredibly active in her community through organizations such as Team in Training, Make A Wish Foundation, Whitman Walker Clinic, Volunteers for the Visually Handicapped, and a number of others. Kate teaches yoga on Oahu at Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore Yoga Co-op, and Open Space Yoga. She was recently selected as one of lululemon athletica’s ambassadors to join efforts in spreading yoga awareness throughout the community.

Honolulu Council bill bans shark tours

The Honolulu City Council on Friday introduced a bill to ban shark tour operations.

Bill 67 calls for penalizing violators up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

...Currently, at least two shark tour operations — North Shore Shark Adventures and Hawaii Shark Encounters — operate on Oahu’s North Shore, where customers view sharks from a submerged cage.

More information at Pacific Business News

Pipeline Pro hoping to run today with 18-foot surf expected

The North Shore surfing scene was relatively quiet throughout the month of January, so several events are hoping for a rise in February.

Among the contests that could run this month:

• The HIC Pipeline Pro Trials men's surfing contest is expected to run at the Banzai Pipeline today, organizers announced late yesterday.

• The Turbo Pipeline Pro bodyboarding contest has a holding period of Feb. 16 to 27 at the Banzai Pipeline.

• The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and the Bank of Hawaii North Shore Tow-In Championship are still awaiting for a giant swell to hit O'ahu.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

Hidden gem on North Shore worth the effort

One of the island's most unique hikes, Kealia Trail and Access Road is also one of the most overlooked and unappreciated.

Sure, it's something of an acquired taste, but while its profile may not sound particularly attractive — a seemingly endless series of switchbacks at the start; steep climbs up a broad dirt trail; and close proximity to a popular hunting area — it does offer a great, elevated perspective of the activity around the bordering glider port, a safe but worthy challenge for trailrunners and other fitness buffs, and stunning views of Makua Valley and the Wai'anae Mountain range for hikers who don't mind also glancing at wire fences, shot-riddled hunting signs and an occasional water tank.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser

North Shore Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers

Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers (DARCs) will be established on Oahu to provide services and information to people whose property was damaged by the recent high winds, heavy rains and flooding.

Assistance and recovery centers will be open at the following locations and times:

Wednesday, December 17, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Haleiwa – Haleiwa Gym (Waialua Community Assoc.) 66-434 Kamehameha Hwy.
• Laie – Brigham Young University Hawaii, Aloha Center, Rooms 155 and 156, 55-220 Kulanui Street

Thursday, December 18, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Haleiwa – Haleiwa Gym (Waialua Community Assoc.) 66-434 Kamehameha Hwy.

Saturday, December 20, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Windward - Kualoa Ranch, 49-560 Kamehameha Highway
• Laie - Brigham Young University Hawaii, Aloha Center, Rooms 155 and 156, 55-220 Kulanui Street

State and city agencies and nongovernmental organizations, such as the Red Cross, will provide information about available services and assistance.

State Civil Defense is asking Oahu businesses, community groups, service clubs, and faith based organizations to join in this recovery effort. Please Contact Havinne Okamura at 733-4300 ext. 556 or email: hokamura@scd.hawaii.gov

Mayor to inspect storm damage

Mayor Hannemann and other top City officials tomorrow will personally inspect areas damaged hardest by yesterday’s storm.

“It is very important that we have a clear understanding of the scope and magnitude of the damage as we transition from response to recovery operations,” Mayor Hannemann said. “We also want to reassure people affected by the storm that this situation is a top priority.”

Accompanying Mayor Hannemann for the “Windshield Damage Assessment” will be City Managing Director Wayne Hashiro and Department of Emergency Management Director Mel Kaku.

The team will depart from Honolulu Hale at 9 a.m.

The City has al ready initiated damage assessment operations in conjunction with State Civil Defense and the American Red Cross, and is requesting that residents assist in identifying types of damage and assistance needed.

The City has al so established a speci al hotline for residents to report damage and assistance needs following yesterday’s storm.

The hotline number is 768-4385. The hotline will be staffed at the following times:

• Friday evening to 9:00PM

• Saturday and Sunday from 8:00AM to 4:00PM

• Monday thru Friday from 7:45AM to 4:30PM

Media Contact:

Bill Brennan, 527-6928

Big waves rolling in for Oahu's already busy North Shore

From his lifeguard tower at Waimea Bay, Kerry Atwood looked out over an ocean that was as calm as a bathtub this week but will begin pounding the North Shore as early as this afternoon with the first big waves of the winter — drawing even more crowds to an area that has stayed busy despite a sluggish economy.

More at the Honolulu Advertiser