New Apple system a hit
NEW YORK >> Apple says Mac users downloaded 3 million copies of Mountain Lion, its latest operating system, in the first four days it was available.
That makes it the fastest launch of an Apple operating system ever, the company says. It released Mountain Lion on Wednesday. Apple charges $20 for the software.
Abercrombie, Inouye headline energy event
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye will join representatives from the private sector and military as keynote speakers on the opening day of the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
The annual conference will include breakout sessions on a wide range of energy-related topics with resonance in Hawaii, including the use of undersea electrical transmission cables, the development of geothermal resources and the supply and pricing of biofuels.
The event will feature more than 100 speakers and moderators from Hawaii, the mainland and abroad. Conference organizers bill it as an opportunity to match chief executive officers with development partners from the U.S. military, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore and a multitude of regional finance and economic development offices from around the globe.
Isle electronic health records worth $14.9M
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded 247 Hawaii hospitals and medical providers a combined $14.9 million in incentives for using electronic health records. More than 100,000 providers nationwide have received payments, totaling more than $5.7 billion.
The EHR Incentive Programs, which began in 2011, provide payments to eligible professionals and hospitals as they adopt, upgrade or meaningfully use the technology to improve patient care.
Under the Medicare incentive program, eligible professionals can receive as much as $44,000 over five years.
To date, the state has not established a program for Medicaid providers to take advantage of the federal incentive program. In Hawaii there are roughly 6,500 Medicaid fee-for-service providers, including physicians, community health centers and hospitals.
Matson creates giving foundation
The Matson Foundation has been formed to administer all the corporate giving programs of Matson Inc.
The foundation established by former parent company Alexander & Baldwin Inc. used to administer such giving, but Matson and A&B recently separated.
The Matson Foundation generally will support nonprofit organizations that have the greatest opportunity to make a positive difference in the markets where Matson does business, the company said in a statement.
More information about the Matson Foundation, including grant application guidelines and leadership details, can be found at www.matson.com/foundation.
State mortgage originators get more time
Certain mortgage loan originators in Hawaii are being given more time to comply with a new state law that established licensing requirements.
Act 252 imposed new licensing standards on mortgage loan originators, including individuals and companies, affiliated with an insured depository institution regulated by a federal banking agency. The licensing requirement became effective July 1. But the Division of Financial Institutions of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said a transition period is needed, so affected entities will have until Sept. 30 to fully comply.
The agency is, however, requiring that affected entities have a sponsorship with a qualified mortgage loan origination firm and a unique identification number and record in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System to legally engage in Hawaii mortgage loan origination activity.
Chrysler rolls to $436 million profit
DETROIT » Chrysler’s almost total reliance on North America used to be a huge weakness, one that sent the company into bankruptcy protection.
Now it’s a major strength. The region is generating profits for the company while losses in Europe and slowing sales in South America and China are drains on other carmakers.
Chrysler, which sells almost 90 percent of its cars and trucks in the U.S. and Canada, made a $436 million profit in the second quarter. It was a huge turnaround from a year earlier, when the company lost $370 million, mainly because it refinanced government bailout loans.
The automaker, now majority-owned by Italy’s Fiat SpA, also backed an earlier profit forecast of about $1.5 billion for the year. Such a performance would have been unthinkable three years ago, when Chrysler nearly ran out of cash and needed a government bailout to survive.
Ailing Supervalu fires CEO, taps chairman
NEW YORK » Supervalu Inc. on Monday fired its CEO and tapped Chairman Wayne Sales to lead its turnaround efforts, just weeks after the grocer reported dismal quarterly results and suggested it might put itself up for sale.
The Minneapolis-based operator of Albertson’s, Jewel-Osco and other grocery chains said Craig Herkert, who was brought in as CEO in 2009 to help shake up things, was notified of his firing Sunday. In a letter to employees, Sales vowed to move more quickly to cut prices and make "tough decisions" regarding cost-cutting. He said the company’s "biggest enemy" is time.
On the Move
Hawaii Computer Training and Solutions has hired Johnathan Tyau as one of its IT applications instructors. He was previously an IT support technician in Hawaii.
Royal State Insurance has announced that Lori Ann Kilantang is operations manager of property and casualty. She has more than 25 years of insurance industry experience.
Gregory Mooers has been named chairman of the board of trustees at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. He is president of Mooers Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Mooers Corp.
IQ PR Inc., a strategic communications firm, has hired Shara Enay as account supervisor. She has experience in business and community affairs reporting, including as a staff writer for Hawaii Business magazine, and wrote for the Hawaii Herald.
