Bankoh to open new branch in Hilo

Bank of Hawaii plans to open a new branch in March in conjunction with the new Safeway in the Makaala Center in Hilo. The new in-store facility at 381 E. Makaala St. will be the bank’s 71st branch statewide and the 12th on the Big Island. Bank of Hawaii will be hiring seven people for this branch.

Molokai gets Mobi wireless upgrade

Hawaii-based wireless provider Mobi PCS has activated a new cell site in Kaunakakai.

The goal is to provide enhanced in-building and street coverage for all residential areas in Kaunakakai and to strengthen coverage northwest toward Kualapuu and east toward Kakahaia. On Molokai, Mobi provides service through Molokai Cellular, an authorized dealership.

Wahiawa hospital joins health group

Wahiawa General Hospital has agreed to be part of a network for Medicare Advantage members enrolled with Humana Inc., a Kentucky-based health and supplemental benefits company.

Under the agreement, members of Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans, including those in its preferred provider organization and fee-for-service plans, have in-network access to Wahiawa General Hospital, a 160-bed facility.

The agreement also includes in-network benefits for Humana’s Medicare Advantage members at Wahiawa General’s specialty clinic.

Humana Medicare Advantage is an alternative to original Medicare. For more information, go to www.humana-medicare.com or call toll-free 866-355-6152.

Outlook bleak for home construction

WASHINGTON » U.S. homebuilders are coming off their two worst years in more than a half-century, and the outlook for this year is only slightly better.

Economists say it could take three more years before the industry begins building homes at a healthy rate. In the meantime, the housing downturn is dragging on the broader economy, with a quarter of the jobs lost since the recession tied to the construction field.

Builders normally help lead the economy out of a recession. Construction projects fuel growth and that leads to more hiring. But a year and a half after the recession officially ended, builders are struggling to compete in markets flooded with unsold homes, many of them foreclosures that are depressing prices.

Homebuilders broke ground on 587,600 homes in 2010, just slightly better than the 554,000 started in 2009, the Commerce Department reported yesterday Those are the lowest annual totals on records dating back to 1959.

ON THE MOVE

Honolulu Academy of Arts has appointed Stephan Jost as its new director. He was previously a director of Vermont’s Shelburne Museum as well as director of Mills College Art Museum in Oakland, Calif.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America has named Nicole Mahrt as public affairs director for the West region. She will be working at the Association of California Insurance Companies’ Sacramento, Calif., office.

The Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corp. has elected the following 2011 officers: Ralph Mesick, chairman; Alan Yee, vice chairman; David Kamimura, treasurer; Keith Ishida, secretary. Gwen Yamamoto Lau will continue as president. New board members are Alan Arizumi and Linda Lewis Ezuka.

The Cooke Foundation is presenting awards of $5,000 each to three Oahu schools: Mokulele Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Roosevelt High School. The schools will receive the 2010 Cooke Foundation Beautification Awards for enhancing the overall appearance and ambiance of their campuses.