BUSINESS BRIEFS
Building show attracts 24,706
Advertiser Staff and News Services
A record 24,706 people attended the Building Industry Association's 13th annual Home Building & Remodeling show at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.
The four-day event, held from Thursday through Sunday, included dozens of seminars by Hawai'i's top contractors, suppliers and other industry experts.
Chartered in 1955, the BIA of Hawaii is a professional trade organization that represents the local building industry and its associates and is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders.
CPK OPENS OUTLET IN KAILUA
A new, smaller version of California Pizza Kitchen opened in Kailua on Monday, the fifth restaurant for the chain in Hawai'i and its first here designed for quicker take-out and sit-down service.
The California Pizza Kitchen ASAP, which opened in Kailua Town Center, is 2,700 square feet, or about half the size of a prototypical CPK.
The new company-owned restaurant carries a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, soups, salads and beverages. There are 104 indoor and outdoor seats as well as a take-out counter. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
$3.2M INVESTED IN 2 LOCAL FIRMS
New Orleans-based venture capital fund Advantage Capital Partners on Monday said it invested $3.2 million in two local companies — AssistGuide Inc. and Hawaii Biotech.
Assistguide, which develops technology for elder care, will use the money to launch a new product. Hawaii Biotech, a drug developer, will use the money to fund tests of its influenza and West Nile vaccine.
Advantage said it has invested $10 million in Hawai'i companies in the past three years.
PLASTIC PIPING OK IN CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California homebuilders on Monday won the right to use less-expensive plastic water piping instead of copper, ending a two-decade-long battle against groups that warned of plastic's potential health hazards.
Developers called the decision by the California Building Standards Commission a victory for consumers because it will reduce plumbing costs in new homes and when doing retrofits.
