Monster drink deadly?

HAGERSTOWN, Md. >>The highly caffeinated Monster Energy Drink has been cited in five deaths and one nonfatal heart attack, according to reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating. The Monster Energy Drink comes in 24-ounce cans and contains 240 milligrams of caffeine — seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola.

Isle bank accounts fatter, survey shows

Hawaii consumers’ average checking and savings accounts grew by double digits last year and are in the top five in the nation, according to Pitney Bowes Software.

The company prepared state-by-state charts reflecting average consumers’ checking and savings in 2011 compared with 2010.

Hawaii’s average non-interest-bearing checking account ranked second among 50 states and Washington, D.C., as it grew 13.1 percent to $4,305 in 2011 from $3,806 in 2010.

The largest account was in New Jersey, up 5.2 percent to $4,465 in 2011 from $4,245 a year earlier. The smallest average balance was in New Mexico at $2,206, down 5.8 percent from $2,341 the previous year.

Hawaii ranked fifth for average consumer savings account balance with $6,974 in 2011, up 11.7 percent from $6,242 in 2010.

Topping the scale in 2011 was New Jersey at $7,872, up 5.3 percent from $7,477 in 2010. The bottom state in savings accounts was New Mexico, down 8.8 percent to $4,119 from $4,515 in 2010.

Hawaii ranked best state for retirement

Hawaii was rated the best state for retirement in a study done by MoneyRates.com, a financial information website.

The study looked at factors influencing the quality of retirement, such as cost of living, property taxes, violent crime rates, property tax rates, climate and life expectancy for seniors.

Rounding out the top five states after Hawaii in order were Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Virginia. The bottom-ranked state was Michigan, followed by Pennsylvania, Alaska, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Hawaii took the top spot overall on the strength of a No. 1 ranking for senior life expectancy and a No. 2 ranking for climate, along with above-average scores in most other categories, according to MoneyRates.com.

On the Move

Young Bros. has promoted and hired the following: 

>> Chris Martin to regional operations manager II from superintendent of shoreside equipment in the maintenance department. Martin previously worked at Alaska Marine Lines.

>> Dane Martin as superintendent of shoreside equipment. He was previously manager of fleet, facilities and safety at Pacific Transfer.

>> Ross McDonald as the new director of health and safety. He was previously manager of contingency planning and compliance at Foss Maritime Co.

Gavarnie Holding, parent company of Hawaii Island Air and doing business as Island Air, has announced the appointment of Michael Rodyniuk as executive vice chairman to Gavarnie’s board of directors. He was previously chief operating officer of Exchange Income Corp.’s aviation segment.