Hawaii again tops in millionaires

For the third year in a row, Hawaii led the nation in number of millionaires per capita, according to an annual ranking released yesterday by the Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service.

About 6.9 percent of Hawaii’s households are millionaires. The survey defines a millionaire household as one with $1 million or more in investable or liquid assets. It does not include retirement plans and real estate.

After Hawaii, the top four were Maryland (6.8 percent), New Jersey (6.7 percent) and Connecticut (6.7 percent). These states have held their order of ranking since 2008.

"It is remarkable that the same four states have topped our millionaires ranking for three years running," says David Thompson, managing director of the Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service. "However, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut all share some important distinctions: They are small states with large concentrations of highly educated professionals and business owners, which are key ingredients to growing wealth."

Guest sues Hilton over bedbugs

A Louisiana woman filed a lawsuit yesterday against Hilton Hawaiian Village, alleging that she suffered bites from bed bugs during her two-day stay at the hotel in May.

Plaintiff Emilie Riles said she had bites on her back and stomach, according to the complaint filed by attorney Rustam Barbee in Circuit Court. Cynthia Rankin, regional director of corporate communications Hawaii for Hilton Worldwide, said the company had not seen the lawsuit and "as a matter of policy we cannot comment on pending litigation."

TV stations shun anti-McDonald’s ad

Miami » Some Florida television stations have refused to air a provocative anti-McDonald’s commercial, according to the doctors’ group that created it.

The ad depicts an overweight man lying in a morgue holding a half-eaten hamburger, with a woman crying over his body. The McDonald’s golden arch logo appears over his pale feet with the words "I was lovin’ it." It was created by the Washington-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit doctors’ group that promotes vegetarian diets.

SEC asked to delay financial rules

Washington » Two influential corporate interest groups filed a federal lawsuit yesterday to block a provision of the recently passed overhaul of financial regulation that would give shareholders more say in the boardroom.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable filed an administrative challenge asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to halt its implementation of new rules announced on Aug. 25 for the selection of corporate boards. The pair also petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for immediate review.

Japan’s factory output slowing

TOKYO » Japan’s factory output fell for the third straight month in August as cooling global demand led companies to cut production, adding to pressure on the central bank to do more to weaken the strong yen.

Industrial output fell 0.3 percent from the previous month, after a 0.2 percent decline in July, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. Industries contributing to the retreat included general machinery and iron and steel. The factory production figure, which fell far short of Kyodo News agency’s average market forecast of a 1.1 percent increase, is another piece of evidence that country’s export-driven recovery faces growing headwinds.

ON THE MOVE

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Robert "Skipp" Orr’s nomination for U.S. executive director to the Asian Development Bank. The position also holds the rank of U.S. ambassador. Orr was previously a commencement ceremony speaker for Hawaii Pacific University as well as a recipient of the fellow of the Pacific Award.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has hired the following:

» Sharon Thomson, vice president of brand management, communications and public relations.

» Nate Dyke as director of strategic communications.

» Laura M. Lott as public relations consultant. She previously managed community and public relations for Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Lincoln Jacobe has been appointed president of the Miss Hawaii/Miss America Organization. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Hawaii Pacific Entertainment, which specializes in music, sports and entertainment management as well as television and video production, promotions, events, communications and emerging new media.