Christmas in Honolulu

Honolulu is one of the top destinations for romantic Christmas travel, says MissTravel.com, a destination dating site. New York tops the list, followed by Cancun, Mexico; Paris; Bali, Indonesia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Prague, Czech Republic; Orlando, Fla.; Hono­lulu; Santorini, Greece; Milan, Italy; Boston; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

One Ala Moana units sell out in 29 hours

Prospective buyers snapped up the 103 available owner-occupant luxury condominium units at One Ala Moana in 29 hours last weekend.

Prices ranged from $583,000 for a one-bedroom, 760-square-foot unit to $8.85 million for a three-bedroom penthouse with 4,100 square feet of living space. The average sale price was $1.7 million.

The 17-story, 206-unit tower is planned to sit atop Nordstrom’s six-story parking garage at Ala Moana Center. The first 103 units of One Ala Moana were reserved for the project’s developers and investors.

Project personnel handed out numbers Friday to 258 people who were told to return on Saturday to sign contracts. Sales began at 9 a.m. Saturday, and by 2 p.m. Sunday the units were sold out.

By the end of Sunday, more than 400 numbers had been given out. Those who did not sign contracts can get on a waiting list in case those with sales agreements are unable to qualify or purchase a unit. Prospective buyers wanting to get on a waiting list can have their name added by going to 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 104.

Kapalama Pacific, Hawaii Central FCUs merge

Kapalama Pacific Federal Credit Union has merged with Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union. The merger was approved by the KPFCU board, its credit union members and the National Credit Union Administration.

Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union now has a combined membership of more than 13,000 members and total assets in excess of $157 million. HCFCU is a community-based credit union with membership open to all individuals who live, work, worship or attend school on Oahu, and to businesses and other legal entities on the island.

Hilton completes $4.3M pool renovation

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has completed a seven-month, $4.3 million renovation of its Tapa Pool.

The upgrade expanded the swimming pool’s deck space by more than 20 percent.

Designed by Group 70 International, the pool’s open deck now includes 127 chaise lounges and 3,000 square feet of natural stone and landscaping, including water features and tropical foliage. The pool also has been completely re-tiled with Oceanside Glasstile, which uses 86 percent recycled material.

Four Seasons Hualalai makes global top 50

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is the only Hawaii hotel among the top 50 in the world, as listed by Travel + Leisure magazine for its 2013 T+L 500 guide. With a score of 93.75, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai ranked 40th among resorts in the world on the list, topped by Singita Grumeti Reserves, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (98.25); Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Mont. (98.22); and Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in Australia (97.87).

Besting Hawaii’s top resorts were other ūber-luxurious properties in India, the Philippines, Costa Rica and Argentina, among other exotic locales.

Fourteen Hawaii hotels and resorts made the global list and follow Four Seasons Hualalai among state rankings, including No. 2 Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (88.13) and No. 3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (87.58).

The Halekulani was named the top hotel for location in Hawaii, while based on its point score it was ranked No. 12 among the 14 Hawaii hotels and resorts on the list.

The information is available online now and will be detailed in the January edition of Travel + Leisure available Dec. 21.

Electricity line worker ‘rodeo’ set for Kona

The first Hawaii Lineman’s Rodeo will be held Feb. 23 at the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area in Kailua-Kona. It is sponsored by a partnership of the Hawaiian Electric companies and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260.

Linemen are electrical workers who construct and maintain electric utility overhead poles and wires and underground cables. A lineman’s rodeo is a friendly competition among electric utility and contractor teams to highlight safety, skill and education in overhead electric work. Teams of three experienced line workers or apprentices compete in a "hurt man" rescue, pole climbing and other simulated challenges these trained professionals might face. More information is available at www.hawaiilinemanrodeo.com.

Japan in recession following revision

TOKYO » Japan’s economy is technically in recession after authorities said revised figures for the April-June quarter showed the economy shrank for two straight quarters.

The Cabinet Office said Monday that gross domestic product for the July-September quarter shrank 0.9 percent from the previous quarter, unchanged from the preliminary release.

Going back to the April-June quarter, however, GDP was revised to a 0.03 percent decline from the previous quarter, or a 0.1 percent contraction at an annualized pace.

Previously, the Cabinet had said second-quarter GDP grew 0.1 percent from the previous quarter.

The widely accepted definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

ON THE MOVE

Communications Pacific has hired:

>> Shere’e Young as an assistant account executive. She rejoined the company after serving as a news producer at KITV4, which she won an Emmy Award for best newscast in a medium market.

>> Theresa Webber as an account coordinator. She was previously working in human resources at 4Sight Technologies in Boston.

Diamond Head Theatre announced its board of directors for 2012-2013: Vernon Wong, chairman; Kelly Sanders, chairman-elect; Alan Hoffman, vice chairman; Susan Eichor, vice chairwoman; Richard Parry, secretary; Dean Shigemura, treasurer; and Rick Ching, immediate past chairman. Other executive committee members include Paul DeVille, Dennis Francis, Rick Chong and Christine Camp. Directors are Joan S. Bellinger, Ronnie Cantor, Sidney C.L. Char, Nancee Jenko Crispin, Hugh C. Damon, Christina Doane, Uson Y. Ewart, Kay Hampton, Joey Harris, Alton Kuioka, Gabe Lee, Jerry Lynch, Mariko Lyons, Dr. John Magauran, Jeanette Magoon, Sharon S. McPhee, Laurence Paxton, Dr. Bob Peterson, Rick Piper, Kelly Steiner, Dr. Kathleen C. Sulieman, Sisi Takaki, Paul Tremaine, Sharen Wago, Indru Watumull, Carolyn A. Berry Wilson, Wendell J. Wo and Michael G. Wright.