Earlier this year, retail job postings on the Microsoft web site revealed the company’s plans to set up its first Microsoft Store in Honolulu. Sure enough, shoppers at Ala Moana Center soon spotted the future location of Microsoft’s island invasion, positioned almost directly across from the state’s first and largest Apple Store. It’s one of [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Business'
Apple Expanding, Microsoft Launching in Hawaii
March 15th, 2013 by Ryan Ozawa · 4 Comments · Business, Technology
Frii App for iOS Finds Free Stuff in Honolulu
June 16th, 2012 by Ryan Ozawa · No Comments · Business, Hawaii, Technology
Declaring daily deal discounts an ‘old school’ fad, a local firm is betting that free stuff is the best way to connect businesses to new customers.
PLAYHawaii Acquired by CrowdSavings
October 7th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 2 Comments · Business, The Web
One down, still a few dozen more to go. Once described as the first group buying site in Hawaii, PLAYHawaii has been acquired by Florida-based CrowdSavings. “Even though Crowdsavings is one of the leading group buying sites on the mainland, they are committed to our hyper-local focus to help support local businesses and introduce them [...]
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‘Angry Birds’ In Real Life
October 5th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · No Comments · Business, Hawaii, Technology
Check out this real-life “Angry Birds” game, set up by local tech company HONBLUE (and sister company JET Graphics) yesterday at the Pacific Building Trade Expo. “Angry Birds” is one of the hottest, biggest video games out there, and it was inevitable that people would start to recreate it in three dimensions. There’s a huge [...]
Tags: angrybirds·games
Lowe’s Opens in Iwilei
April 21st, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 4 Comments · Business, Photography
It took nearly three years longer than planned, but Lowe’s Home Improvement finally opened its newest store in Iwilei. Lowe’s arrival further concentrates competition in the area for home improvement and big box retailers, as it’s situated right next door to a Home Depot, and half a block away from City Mill. Nearby, there’s also Best [...]
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Hawaii Amazon Tax Back from the Dead
March 25th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 7 Comments · Business, The Web
History may repeat itself. Last year, Hawaii bloggers, webmasters, and other online businesspeople rallied to fight a state plan to tax retailers like Amazon.com for business generated by local affiliates. The state was looking for extra cash, but opponents of the tax bill argued that Amazon.com would just drop its Hawaii partners. And that’s exactly [...]
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Hawaii Daily Deals Are Everywhere
February 12th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 3 Comments · Business, The Web
If three’s a crowd, the group buying space in Hawaii is an all out riot. In just the past week, several different group buying services announced new initiatives in Hawaii. Kanu Hawaii is preparing to unveil Kanu Values, in which the deals benefit community causes. A pair of local entrepreneurs launched VoteOnDeals.com, emphasizing the social side [...]
Tags: groupon·livingsocial·tippr
John Garcia on Audi’s Twitter Campaign
February 11th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 9 Comments · Business, People, Social Media
Honolulu designer John Garcia has been named one of ten finalists in a groundbreaking social media campaign by Audi. He moves onto Round 2, which kicks off on Monday, and with the help of the Hawaii social media community, he and his supporters could win $25,000 for charity. I was eager to find out how [...]
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Lunch at Padovani’s Grill
January 29th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 3 Comments · Business, Food, The Web
I wish I was enough of a foodie to say that I was always familiar with the background and talents of award-winning chef Philippe Padovani. But apart from knowing that he was one of the founders of “Hawaii Regional Cuisine,” I only truly became a fan of his after my coworkers and I developed an [...]
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Avatar Reality Changes Course
January 25th, 2011 by Ryan Ozawa · 1 Comment · Business, Miscellaneous, Technology
Earlier this month, Jim Sink, CEO of Honolulu-based game firm Avatar Reality, announced that the company was shifting its strategy for Blue Mars, once touted as a next-generation virtual reality environment that would challenge Second Life. As a result, most of the employees were laid off, including Sink. Avatar Reality is scrapping its substantial investment [...]
Tags: avatar·bluemars·games·virtualreality·vr
