Hawaiian to offer Maui-Oakland service
Hawaiian Airlines will add four-days-a-week nonstop service between Maui and Oakland beginning Jan. 11.
The carrier last flew between the two cities for four weeks during the last Christmas holiday season as well as in the summer of 2010 when it offered daily service.
Hawaiian said the flights will leave Maui on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1:25 p.m. and arrive in Oakland at 8:25 p.m. The return flight will depart Oakland on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:10 a.m. and arrive on Maui at 11:40 a.m.
The airline is offering an introductory round-trip fare of $298.40, plus fees, for travel between Jan. 17 and March 14. Tickets must be bought by Sept. 14.
UH library solar system to save $500,000
The University of Hawaii at Manoa expects to cut its electricity bill by $500,000 over the next 25 years with installation of a solar power system on the roof of Sinclair Library.
The 31.5-kilowatt photovoltaic system dedicated Thursday will produce enough energy to power about 135 homes a year, according to a news release from the university.
The $271,000 photovoltaic project is an "important early step" in the university’s long-term goal to deploy renewable energy at the flagship campus, according to the release. UH-Manoa is planning to spend $35 million to install about 5 megawatts of solar generating capacity that would provide about 7 percent to 10 percent of the campus’ energy needs.
The 140 solar modules at Sinclair installed by Hoku Solar are raised at least 24 inches from the rooftop to prevent shading and reduce heat load to the library rooftop, effectively reducing energy consumption by air-conditioned areas in the library. A monitoring system will provide output levels as well as provide email alerts if a system error occurs.
Queen’s buys imaging center in Pearlridge
The Queen’s Medical Center has purchased an imaging center in Pearlridge Center.
AccuImaging Pearlridge will be renamed Queen’s Imaging at Pearlridge. Services include bone density analysis, X-ray exams and MRIs. Queen’s Imaging is on the upper level of the mall.
Retailers report solid gains for August
NEW YORK » Americans kept shopping in August despite a month of bad news. Besides old worries about the economy, they faced higher prices for food and clothes. Wild stock market swings fueled concerns about another recession. Then Hurricane Irene hit in the middle of the important back-to-school shopping season.
Despite those factors, revenue in August among 26 retailers was up 4.6 percent at stores open at least a year — a key industry measure — according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. The gain is in line with the 4 percent to 5 percent that analysts predicted at the beginning of the month.
Retailers’ revenue results are closely monitored because consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity and is critical for a strong economy.
Jobless benefit applications fall to 409,000
WASHINGTON » Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that the job market may be improving slightly.
Weekly applications fell 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 409,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the first decline in three weeks.
A strike by Verizon workers drove applications higher during the previous two weeks. The strike has ended and is no longer affecting applications.
Starz won’t renew Netflix distribution deal
The premium cable channel Starz said Thursday that it would not renew its closely watched distribution deal with Netflix, lending the online streaming service a major — although not entirely unexpected — blow.
The deal is set to expire Feb. 28. Starz Chief Executive Chris Albrecht said in a statement Thursday that negotiations had ended.
The distribution deal is significant because Starz supplies a bounty of hit movies and several TV series to Netflix, helping retain some of the 25 million subscribers to the monthly streaming service.
Starz controls the online distribution of Sony and Walt Disney films, so films from those studios would no longer be on Netflix after Feb. 28.
Without a steady supply of high-demand films and shows, Netflix risks the ire of subscribers, many of whom have strong feelings about the service. The company angered some customers this summer by separating its DVD-by-mail and online streaming services, effectively raising the price for subscribers wanting both services.
ON THE MOVE
The Hawaii Government Employees Association has promoted:
» Leiomalama Desha to deputy executive director of Field Services. Desha was most recently an executive assistant to the executive director and field services officer.
» Jodi Endo Chai to senior adviser for communications and strategic planning. Chai was previously HGEA’s communications specialist and communications officer.
The Society for Marketing Professional Services has announced Mark Tawara as fellow of the organization. He was honored at the SMPS National Conference Awards Gala in Chicago on Aug. 25.
The Hawaii Asphalt Paving Industry has appointed Jon Young as executive director full time. He has 30 years experience in construction and real estate development.
