Business briefs
American Air fined
DALLAS » The government fined American Airlines for failing to tell passengers it would cost up to $30 to redeem vouchers they got for giving up seats on oversold flights. American stopped charging the fees late last year. It agreed to pay half the $90,000 fine, and the other half will be waived if the airline complies with federal rules on the vouchers for one year. American issues about 250 such vouchers every day.
HECO and union resume bargaining
Negotiators from Hawaiian Electric Co. and the union representing the majority of the company’s workers were back at the bargaining table yesterday.
The workers, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, rejected a tentative contract agreement on Feb. 18. Negotiators had reached the tentative agreement on Jan. 31, the day a three-month contract extension was due to expire.
After rejecting the tentative agreement, workers took a strike authorization vote that authorizes union leadership to call for a strike on their behalf should it become necessary.
HECO has said it remains hopeful a contract agreement can be reached that balances the needs of employees and customers. The union did not return calls seeking comment.
Hoku selects new president
Hoku Corp. announced yesterday the appointment of industry veteran Jeremy Xiaoming Yin as president of the Honolulu-based company.
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Yin replaces Scott Paul, who will continue in his role as CEO of Hoku.
Before joining Hoku, Yin served since 2007 as founder and managing director of SinoTransPacific Ventures, a private equity firm headquartered in Los Angeles. SinoTransPacific was involved in business advisory services with Tinwei New Energy, Hoku’s largest shareholder.
Prior to SinoTransPacific, Yin was a founding member of LightCross Inc., a California-based manufacturer of semiconductor optical networking and switching components. LightCross was merged with Arroyo Optics in 2005 to form Kotura Inc.
Alaska Air offers Hawaii fare sale
Air travel between Hawaii and several West Coast destinations got cheaper yesterday with the launch of a fare sale by Alaska Airlines.
One-way fares range from $159 to $199 for flights to and from the West Coast cities of Bellingham, Wash., and the California cities of Oakland, San Jose and San Diego. One-way fares between Hawaii and Anchorage or Fairbanks in Alaska range from $259 to $279.
Several restrictions apply, including dates by which travel must be completed on various routes. More information can be found on the airline’s website at www.alaskaair.com.
La Mer makes Diners’ Choice list
La Mer restaurant at Halekulani in Honolulu is the only Hawaii restaurant on the OpenTable.com Diners’ Choice Top 50 list of restaurants providing the best service in the United States.
The high-end eatery overlooking Waikiki is rated among internationally renowned restaurants including The French Laundry in California and Daniel, Le Bernadin and Per Se in New York City.
The list was derived from more than 7 million reviews submitted by OpenTable users, who use the site to make dining reservations online. Not all restaurants participate with OpenTable. The site also lists its top-rated restaurants by state.
Visit www.opentable.com/best-hawaii-restaurants.
On the Move
Kobayashi, Kanetoku, Doi, Lum and Yasuda has announced Gordon Ciano as its newest partner. He has 40 years of accounting experience in insurance, hospitality, banking and real estate industries and was previously an audit partner and partner-in-charge of human resources and recruiting for KPMG LLP Honolulu office.
Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced the following new Realtor associates:
» Candice L. Johnson was previously a substitute teacher for the Windward school district and ‘Iolani School.
» Elliot Domalewski has been in real estate since 2009 and was previously a server at the Outrigger Canoe Club as well as a photographer and in film production.
» Calen Kim-Walker was previously an administrative assistant at Kailua Baptist Preschool as well as an owner of a nail salon in Kailua.
» Chris Lancaster started in real estate in September and was previously a Realtor associate at Keller Williams Realty.
» Deborah Low was previously owner and manager of Times Coffee Shop in Kailua as well as Kaneohe/Fishcake, a furniture store/art gallery.
