‘Off the Map’ ratings rise slightly

"Off the Map," the Hawaii-based freshman drama from ABC, improved slightly in the weekly ratings war Wednesday night.

The episode drew 4.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen figures released yesterday by the network. Last week the medical drama attracted 4.3 million viewers.

The new CBS drama "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" won the hour with 9.8 million viewers, which was down from the 13.1 million viewers it drew when the show debuted last week. NBC’s "Law & Order: SVU" finished second with 8 million viewers.

Among adults 18-49, "Off the Map" fared better this week than last week, attracting 1.7 percent of the total TV viewing audience and 5 percent of those who were watching TV at the time.

Junior Achievement to honor 4

The Junior Achievement of Hawaii Business Hall of Fame will induct four local business leaders at a ceremony and dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 11 at the Hale Koa Hotel.

Inductees are former Sen. Richard Henderson, The Realty Investment Co.; John Morgan, Kualoa Ranch; Robert Taylor, Maui Divers Jewelry; and Shelley Wilson, Wilson Home Care. They will join a group of 73 men and women who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its founding in 1990.

A committee comprised of Hawaii Business Roundtable, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Smart Business Hawaii and Hawaii Council on Economic Education selected the laureates. Past inductees include Paul Loo, Dwayne Steel, Mitch D’Olier, Robin Campaniano, Chatt Wright and Richard Kelley, M.D.

For ticket information for the Hall of Fame dinner, call Carolyn Fujioka at 951-1160.

Boeing wins $35 billion tanker deal

WASHINGTON » The Air Force awarded a $35 billion contract to build the next generation of air refueling planes to Chicago-based Boeing Co., delivering a major economic boost yesterday to Washington state and Kansas and likely ending nearly a decade-long struggle to replace its fleet of Eisenhower-era tanker aircraft.

"What we can tell you was that Boeing was a clear winner," Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said in announcing the decision at the Pentagon.

The decision was a surprise as defense analysts and even some lawmakers had expected European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. to capture the contract. It was a blow to Alabama, which had been counting on EADS to assemble the aircraft at a long-shuttered military base in Mobile.

Production will occur in Everett, Wash., Wichita, Kan., and dozens of other states. Boeing has said the contract will mean some 50,000 jobs. 

30-year mortgage rate dips to 4.95%

NEW YORK » The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell below 5 percent this week as investors sought more Treasury notes amid growing tension in the Middle East.

Freddie Mac said yesterday that the average rate on the 30-year loan slipped to 4.95 percent from 5 percent. It hit a 40-year low of 4.17 percent in November.

The average rate on the 15-year fixed home loan fell to 4.22 percent from 4.27 percent. It reached 3.57 percent in November, the lowest level on records dating back to 1991.

The average rate on one-year adjustable-rate home loans edged up to 3.40 percent from 3.39 percent.

ON THE MOVE

Unyong Nakata has been promoted to director of development for the Shidler College of Business at University of Hawaii at Manoa. She started in the Estate and Planned Giving Office in the UH Foundation in 2006 and was promoted as associate director of development for the Shidler College in 2008.

The Consular Corps of Hawaii has named the following new officers: Leoncio R. Cardenas, 2011 dean of Consular Corps; Kusuma Cooray, vice dean; Nina Fasi, secretary; Annie Kaneshiro, treasurer; M. Jan Rumi, auditor; Nicklaus R. Schweizer, historian; and Patricia Lee, immediate past dean.

Robertson Properties Group has named John Manavian as executive vice president for real estate, design and development. He will be responsible for oversight of the firm’s real estate portfolio, development projects and roll-out of ArcLight Cinemas. Manavian joined the company in 1997 as director of real estate development and has been responsible for the oversight and development of more than 4.5 million square feet of new retail projects.