Making Hawaii look good

Hawaii may not have the best reputation for a healthy business climate, but at least one major local company is doing quite well, thanks.

It’s Bank of Hawaii that has, for the second year running, been named Best Bank by Forbes Magazine. Bankoh managed to steer clear of most of the toxicity of the housing bubble that left so many other financial institutions on the Forbes list still mired in the economic quicksand.

Wilmington Trust Corp., from the bottom of the list, opened its stocking to find the Forbes equivalent of Santa’s lump of coal. Merry Christmas, folks. Come on out to paradise and learn from the masters. Not to rub it in, or anything.

A good deed rewarded

Congratulations to a Michigan swim coach and his two sons for receiving Carnegie Medal Awards for heroism for saving a couple from drowning off Kauai.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission recognized vacationers Keith B. Havens and sons Zachary, 20, and Zane, 18, of Albion, Mich., for saving Jason and Brittany Sorensen, who had been snorkeling off Kilauea on June 29, 2008. They were caught in a strong current and carried seaward, according to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

Keith Havens swam against the current and took Brittany to wadable water, then joined his sons in swimming against the current toward shore, towing Jason in a rescue tube.

The bronze medallion carries with it eligibility for grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continued assistance.