Honolulu ranked as most pricey for holiday
Honolulu is the most expensive tourist destination in the U.S. for the upcoming Presidents’ Day weekend, according to CheapHotels.org. Maui is the fourth most expensive, and Hawaii island is ranked No. 10.
The travel website based its rankings on hotel rates for the period from Friday through Monday.
CheapHotels.org found that travelers will have to spend $294 in Honolulu; $289 in Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; $287 in Key West, Fla.; $279 on Maui; $275 in Marathon, Fla.; in Colorado, $272 in Aspen, $250 in Vail and $245 in Breckenridge; $244 in Islamorada, Fla.; or $239 on Hawaii island.
City housing least affordable, Realtors find
Honolulu has the lowest housing affordability rating in the U.S., according to the National Association of Realtors.
The trade group’s index of housing affordability in 150 markets for 2012 puts the city dead last with a rating of 73.7, meaning a household with a median income would have only 73.7 percent of the income needed to qualify for a median-priced, existing single-family home. Honolulu’s rating rose 8.2 points from 2011.
The Detroit-Warren-Livonia market in Michigan is No. 1 in affordability, with a rating of 571.1 for 2012.
Virginia firm buys isle waterworks company
Virginia-based Ferguson, the nation’s second-largest waterworks company, announced Tuesday the acquisition of Fluid Systems Hawaii Inc., which distributes underground water supply and wastewater drainage products on Oahu, Maui and other islands.
"The company was a good fit for our waterworks business since they already have experienced industry personnel and an established location," Ferguson CEO Frank Roach said.
Ferguson, which has been in business for 60 years, has 194 waterworks locations and 1,600 employees.
Mamaki of Hawaii purchase completed
Texas-based UMED Holdings Inc. has completed its acquisition of the last 20 percent of Mamaki of Hawaii Inc., a Kau-based producer of mamaki herbal tea and extract on Hawaii island. The initial purchase deal was announced in October.
UMED is a diversified holding company that owns and operates businesses in various industries, including energy, oil, gas, mining, aerospace, software, food and beverage.
ON THE MOVE
Monsanto Hawaii has appointed Carol Reimann as Maui community and government affairs manager. She was previously an executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii board of trustees has selected Dr. Kim-Anh T. Nguyen as president and chief executive officer. She was previously a medical director for eight years at the Blood Centers of the Pacific in San Francisco.
The Hawaii Cord Blood Bank has announced its new members to its board of directors: Shelee Kimura, manager of investor relations at the Strategic Planning and Budgeting for Hawaiian Electric Industries; and Mark Arimoto, associate general counsel for Hawaiian Airlines. In addition, the board of directors of HCBB has elected the following individuals as board officers for this year: Judi Young, chair; Pat Coppo, vice chair; Ruth Igawa, treasurer; and Nez Calaro, secretary. Ann Teranishi serves as the former chairperson of the board.
