The Mālama Learning Center has received a pledge of $100,000 from Grace Pacific Corp. for the construction of its new home in Kapolei.

The center, to be built on 3 acres at Kapolei High School, is designed as a "living laboratory" for combining art, science, conservation and culture to promote sustainability in Hawai'i.

Grace Pacific already has paid $40,000 to MLC, and will complete the balance of the donation over the next three years.

Eight Inc. is designing the center, which will include a living wall with a vertical garden and green roof insulation that will bring natural ventilation into the building.

$4.2 MILLION MORE FOR AVATAR REALITY

Avatar Reality, the Honolulu-based creator of the Blue Mars online virtual world platform, said it had raised $4.2 million from investors that include Kolohala Ventures and co-founder Henk Rogers.

The funding brings investment in the company to more than $13 million.

"This investment is a strong endorsement of the progress we've made towards providing the next generation in virtual world platforms," said Jim Sink, Avatar Reality chief executive officer, in a news release.

Avatar Reality has more than 30 employees in Honolulu and San Francisco.

NOVASOL APPOINTS ADM. FALLON TO BOARD

Honolulu-based defense contractor NovaSol appointed retired Adm. William Fallon to its board of directors.

A 40-year Navy veteran, Fallon was head of Pacific Command at O'ahu's Camp Smith, and later, he was the top commander for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fallon lives in Virginia and will fly to Honolulu for board meetings, a NovaSol spokesman said. NovaSol, founded in 1998, specializes in the research and development of optical systems for military, homeland security and commercial applications.

— Advertiser Staff