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Barnes & Noble for sale
NEW YORK >> The last remaining national bookstore chain is being taken off the shelf and dusted off for sale. Barnes & Noble founder Leonard Riggio disclosed in a regulatory filing Monday that he wants to buy the company’s stores and website, but not the business that makes the Nook e-reader or the company’s college bookstores.
Mainland price rise spurs isle egg shortage
Local eggs were in short supply through the past month as a spike in mainland prices brought them more in line with the cost of the island product, a local distributor said.
"We are presently experiencing an egg shortage. Egg production is moving upward, and we ask for your patience as we continue to provide … households in Hawaii with fresh local eggs," said Lois Shimabukuro of Ka Lei Eggs, the largest egg distributor in Hawaii.
When the price of mainland eggs jumped in January, there was an unanticipated demand for local eggs, which depleted supply before island farmers increased production in February to prepare for the Easter holiday, she said.
"We didn’t anticipate strong demand so our inventories were depleted, so we’re trying to catch up," Shimabukuro said. She couldn’t predict how long the shortage would last. "It all depends on the weather. If there’s a lot of wind, rain, it hampers egg collection. It might take a few weeks."
Tourism group targets New York, Chicago
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has launched a $500,000 marketing campaign designed to increase visitors numbers from New York and Chicago.
The "Living in the Moment" marketing blitz began Feb. 18 and will run through March 17 . The effort hopes to increase demand from the two cities to levels that will support current air service, John Monahan, bureau president and CEO, said in news release.
"We are aware that carriers serving the islands from those markets have lowered fares to attract passengers. However, we also know that unprofitable routes don’t last very long," Monahan said. "By launching this campaign, we’re being proactive in our efforts to support these important routes," he said.
While Hawaii marked record visitor arrivals and spending last year, there is still opportunity for growth, particularly from those cities, Mike McCartney, Hawaii Tourism Authority president and CEO, said in a news release.
State ranks well in auto loan payments
Hawaii had the 11th-lowest auto loan delinquency rate in the nation last quarter during a time of the year when some borrowers’ financial obligations temporarily take a back seat to spending on holiday shopping.
The rate of auto loans with payments late by 60 days or more was 0.27 percent, an improvement from both 0.47 percent in the year-earlier quarter and 0.28 percent in the third quarter of 2012, credit reporting agency TransUnion said Monday.
Despite the impressive payment record, Hawaii had the 10th-highest auto loan debt per borrower in the nation at $14,831. That was an increase from both $14,251 in the year-earlier quarter and $14,381 in the third quarter of last year.
Nationally the rate of delinquent auto loans payments was 0.41 percent in the last three months of 2012. That’s down from 0.46 percent a year earlier but up from 0.38 percent in the previous quarter.
In the fourth quarter, bank auto debt per borrower increased for the seventh consecutive quarter, rising 5.4 percent to $13,747 from $13,045 a year earlier, TransUnion said.
Florida firm offers mortgage default help
The state has provided toll-free phone numbers to contact a Florida company that settled allegations last month over "robo-signing" documents and other improper conduct related to mortgage loan default servicing.
Hawaii was among 45 states that shared a $120 million settlement with Lender Processing Services Inc. and its subsidiaries LPS Default Solutions and DocX.
The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced Monday that consumers can reach the company at 800-767-8674 regarding their cases.
Lender Processing Services primarily provides technological support to banks and mortgage loan servicers. Business clients with questions about document execution can reach the firm at 866-854-8935.
The settlement requires that the company and its subsidiaries reform business practices and, if necessary, correct documents it executed to assist homeowners.
Airline bumps up flights to Oceania spots
Hawaiian Airlines is adding 31 seasonal flights in September and October between Honolulu and its three Oceania destinations — Sydney and Brisbane in Australia and Auckland, New Zealand — which launches March 13.
The new flights will add about 8,800 new seats on the three routes during a peak travel period for Australian and Kiwi travelers.
"Demand for our services in Australia and New Zealand is particularly strong during this period when schools are out and families are on holiday," Hawaiian Chief Commercial Officer Peter Ingram said Monday.
Hawaiian is increasing its Sydney-Honolulu service from daily to 10 flights per week from Sept. 11 to Oct. 19, adding 17 extra flights. Between Brisbane and Honolulu, Hawaiian is increasing from three to five flights per week from Sept. 13 to Oct. 14, adding 10 more flights.
For its service connecting Auckland and Honolulu, Hawaiian is increasing from three to four flights per week from Sept. 19 to Oct. 11, adding four extra flights.
On the Move
Xerox Hawaii has appointed Weston Kurisu to marketing representative. His territory will be in the Downtown Honolulu district. Prior to joining the company, Kurisu was a sales manager for Pacific Office Automation in Oregon.
SCORE Hawaii has announced Jimmie Bush is its new chapter chairman and district director. He has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate leasing and sales and is an entrepreneur, business owner, publisher and business coach/mentor.
The University of Hawaii Foundation has announced the following new hires and staff changes:
>> Kellie Ann Aki Takenaka is the foundation’s new director of development for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering. She was previously a senior campaign executive at the University of Oxford in England.
>> Kimo Kai has been hired as the associate director of scholarship development. He was previously a project manager and special assistant to the chairman of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
>> Margaret Shiba is the new director of institutional advancement at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. She has been with UH Foundation for the last eight years as a chief development officer for UH Hilo.
>> Kristi Bates is the new director of development for UH Manoa. She has been with the foundation since 2007, serving as director of development for the UH Cancer Center as well as associate director of development for the College of Engineering.
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