Hawaii isle plant earns clean air permit
Big Island Carbon LLC has received a clean air permit from the state Department of Health, following review and approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The plant had been operating on a different sort of permit, but the new one will allow for installation of the company’s power plant, said Rick Vidgen, CEO.
The power plant will capture and reuse much of what otherwise would be “burned in a flare stack.” The plant will produce much of its power from its own manufacturing process.
The company converts macadamia nut shell feedstock into granular activated carbon that can be sold for use in absorption and filtration of gases, for example.
Tourism agency funds available for events
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is looking to fund events and programs under its County Product Enrichment Program and will welcome proposals from organizations in each county for events during calendar year 2012.
The CPEP has funded such events as the Hawaii Book and Music Festival on Oahu, E Kanikapila Kakou on Kauai and Mealani — A Taste of the Hawaiian Range & Agricultural Festival in Hawaii County.
Written proposals are due Nov. 14. Interested groups can learn more about CPEP funding and the application process at a series of free workshops beginning Oct. 12. Workshop details can be found at is.gd/HTAWorkshops.
Fergus & Co. buys Kahului business center
Honolulu-based Fergus & Co. LLC has purchased Wakea Business Center II, a multitenant industrial facility on Maui, from A&B Properties Inc., the company has announced. The terms were not disclosed. The Kahului business center comprises three warehouses totalling 61,500 square feet on 4.42 acres. Earlier this year Fergus & Co. bought 12.8 acres of the Kahului cannery complex from Maui Land & Pineapple Co.
Manufacturing shows modest increase
WASHINGTON » Manufacturing grew at a faster pace in September than in August, though the pace of growth remains weak.
The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its manufacturing index rose to 51.6, up from 50.6 in August. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The increase follows two months of declines.
Measures of production and exports grew, while a gauge of new orders was unchanged. Factories also added workers, the report said. The ISM is a trade group of purchasing executives.
Construction spending up, pace still weak
WASHINGTON » U.S. builders increased spending on homes, office buildings and other projects in August after a big decline in July.
The gain is modestly good news for the economy, but it still left the construction industry far below levels considered healthy.
Construction spending rose 1.4 percent in August, the Commerce Department said Monday. The increase followed a 1.4 percent drop in July, which had been the biggest setback in six months.
Analysts noted that much of the increase stemmed from a jump in spending on government projects, such as roads and schools. But with many states and cities short of cash, gains of that size aren’t expected to continue. And private construction is still not healthy.
Yahoo and ABC unite in news partnership
NEW YORK » ABC News and Yahoo Inc. are joining to deliver more online news to their audiences. With the deal, ABC News content will be prominently featured on Yahoo News, the most visited news website in the world. It will also show up on Yahoo’s popular front page.
The partnership comes as a growing number of people turn to the Internet for news and other information. The two news organizations have a combined online audience of more than 100 million users per month in the U.S. — something ABC News President Ben Sherwood noted was “the size of the Super Bowl audience.”
While the deal helps ABC grow its online reach, Yahoo News can drive further traffic to its own site by featuring original, made-for-online content.
Both companies will maintain editorial control of their own content.
SHIP AHOY!
Today’s ship arrivals and departures:
HONOLULU HARBOR
| Agent |
Vessel |
From |
ETA |
ETD |
Berth |
Destination |
| TNC |
Golden Princess |
Hilo |
6:15 a.m. |
11 p.m. |
10 |
Nawliwili, Kauai |
| HL |
Horizon Enterprise |
— |
— |
8 a.m. |
51A |
Tacoma, Wash. |
| TNC |
Westerdam |
San Diego |
9:30 a.m. |
— |
02B |
— |
| MNC |
Manulani |
— |
— |
2 p.m. |
53A |
Guam |
| ISS |
NYK Floresta |
Japan |
10 a.m. |
— |
01A |
— |
|
ON THE MOVE
Kualoa Ranch has announced the following:
» Dean Tasaki moves to special events manager from special events coordinator. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the special events and destination management industry.
» Kiana Washington will serve as special events coordinator. She has more than five years in the wedding industry and previously worked at the Native Hawaiian Cooperative, Hale Ku‘ai.
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union has named the following new positions:
» Tricia Buskirk is now vice president of corporate development and marketing. She has more than 20 years of financial institution experience, including working at Hawaii State Federal Credit Union in Honolulu.
» Pablo Penaloza is now vice president of administration. He was previously at BMS Inc. in Irvine, Calif.
» Rosemarie Sakane-Elarco moves to the position of vice president of retail delivery from organizational development and training officer. She has more than 20 years of financial services experience.
