Food banks given credit union donations

Hawaii Foodbank and its neighbor island food distribution partners have received $39,772, or the equivalent of 66,286 pounds of rice, from 29 credit unions on Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai.

The “Have a Rice Day” fundraising event ran from Sept. 9-Nov. 10. Each credit union gave away plastic rice paddles imprinted with the credit union’s logo to members who donated 20-pound bags of rice or cash equivalents.

Money and rice donations were distributed to Hawaii Foodbank, Maui Food Bank, The Food Basket (Hawaii) and Hawaii Foodbank — Kauai.

More than 810,000 residents are members of credit unions in Hawaii and Guam.

Grants open to Kahuku community groups

Community and nonprofit organizations that focus on issues involving the Kahuku area — from Turtle Bay to Malaekahana — are invited to apply for grants from the Kahuku Community Fund, which is administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation.

The fund was established in 2005 by the estate of James Campbell as a way to encourage the community’s educational and recreational opportunities, improve social conditions such as economic self-sufficiency and health and reduce crime, poverty, substance abuse and domestic violence. The fund also aims for greater understanding of traditional and contemporary cultural arts, practices and regional values.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to all groups, but grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 are offered only to tax-exempt 501(c)3 organizations or those that have a financial sponsor.

Details are available online at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org. Applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 1.

Hawaiian starts Fukuoka ticket sales

Hawaiian Airlines began selling tickets Wednesday for its new daily nonstop service between Fukuoka, Japan, and Honolulu that begins April 16 from Hawaii. Fukuoka will be the third Japan destination Hawaiian has added since it began flying from Tokyo in November 2010 and Osaka in July.

The Fukuoka flight will depart Honolulu daily at 1:20 p.m. and arrive in Fukuoka at 6:40 p.m. the next day. The return flight will depart Fukuoka at 9 p.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 10 a.m. the same day. Hawaiian will initially use a 264-seat Boeing 767-300 ER on the route.

Consumers back to shopping after lull

NEW YORK » Consumers are again doing some holiday shopping after taking a break following their spree over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to data from research firm ShopperTrak.

ShopperTrak, based in Chicago, reported late Tuesday that sales for the week that ended Saturday rose 10.6 percent from the previous week, though business fell 1.9 percent compared with the same week a year ago. Consumers spent a total of $14.76 billion on Saturday and Sunday.

ShopperTrak recently reported that for the week ending Dec. 3, sales declined 22.5 percent from the week before, which included the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday. That’s expected to be the biggest day of the year.

CEOs remain grinches about hiring

WASHINGTON » Two-thirds of chief executives of the largest U.S. companies say they don’t plan to increase hiring or will cut staff in the next six months, mainly because of sluggish growth in the United States and financial turmoil in Europe.

The Business Roundtable said Wednesday that about one-third of its member CEOs expect to add employees and spend more on large equipment in the next six months. That’s little changed from three months ago. More than

40 percent plan to keep their work forces steady. About a quarter expect to cut jobs.

The group predicted in its quarterly outlook survey that the economy will expand 2 percent next year. That’s not enough to produce job growth. Instead, existing employees will be expected to handle any increased business.

Delta predicts $800M profit this year

NEW YORK » Delta Air Lines Inc. says it expects an $800 million profit this year, and it will be solidly profitable in 2012.

The company says in a filing that it will earn $1.1 billion in 2011 if special items are excluded. Analysts surveyed by FactSet were expecting adjusted net income of $977 million.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki has appointed Kathleen Lee hotel assistant manager. She started her hotel career in 2000 and has held positions in marketing, housekeeping, front office and guest services, including catering sales and event manager at Courtyard Emeryville California.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has appointed Laura M. Lott director of community and public relations. She has 20 years of media and communication experience, including with HMSA, the state Department of Health and as former producer with KHON2.

Pacific Beach Hotel has appointed Kathleen Forceville sales manager in domestic and international markets. She was previously a district sales manager for Avon products in Hawaii and national sales and marketing manager for Aveda Corp. in Minneapolis.

The Standard, a new nightclub due to open this month, has announced Dani Chu as its general manager. Chu has eight years of experience in the food and beverage industry.