Waikoloa Marriott on selling block
The Waikoloa Marriott likely will be sold in a few weeks.
Marriott Vice President Darryl Franklin has informed state labor officials that the Hawaii island resort could be under new ownership as early as May 3. The prospective buyer has not been revealed.
Officials say most of the 315 employees are covered by union membership; 49 are not. That leaves those nonunion workers at risk of losing their jobs if the new owner does not keep Marriott as operator. It is unknown at this time whether Marriott will continue to manage and operate the resort.
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement with Unite Here Local 5, the new manager of the resort — if it is not Marriott — will assume the union contract. Bumping rights, if any, will be governed by that agreement.
The four-star resort is owned by a Delaware limited-liability company with a Boca Raton, Fla., address.
Hawaiian Airlines flies more passengers
Hawaiian Airlines’ passenger traffic rose 6.9 percent in February as the rapidly expanding carrier offered more flights.
The state’s oldest airline said Thursday it transported 751,091 passengers last month compared with 702,890 in the year-earlier period. The load factor, or percentage of seats filled, slipped 1.9 percentage points to 81 percent from 82.9 percent.
Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, jumped 24.6 percent to 1.2 million from 982,571. Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, increased 21.8 percent to 992,093 from 814,343.
Learn how to identify investment fraud
A free workshop titled "Outsmarting Investment Fraud" is being held throughout the state starting next week.
The event will help Hawaii residents recognize the persuasive tricks of the trade used by investment con artists.
Sponsors of the event are AARP Hawaii, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Hawaii BBB and the Hawaii Office of the Securities Commissioner.
Tuesday’s event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii is full, but other workshops will be held Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu and from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the same day at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course in Kahului. Another workshop will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kona.
Registration is required. Call 877-926-8300 or go online at aarp.cvent.com/fraudwaipahu, aarp.cvent.com/fraudmaui or aarp.cvent.com/fraudkona.
Attendees will learn common tactics used by con artists skilled in persuasion, simple steps to protect oneself, how to verify if investment professionals are legitimate, and what to do if investment fraud is suspected.
Workshops offer retirement readiness tips
Free "ready for retirement" workshops, sponsored by AARP Hawaii, will be held Saturday and March 23.
The events are divided into three parts and include an introduction to AARP’s Social Security Benefits Calculator, an online tool that helps people decide the best age to claim Social Security benefits to meet their financial goals.
The workshops will offer a 10-step approach to planning for retirement, including creating a budget and preparing for the unexpected; what you should know about Social Security; and basic information about Medicare. Registration is required but AARP membership is not necessary.
Saturday’s event will be from 9 a.m. to noon at Leeward Community College, Building GT, Room 105. Find out more at aarp.cvent.com/readyforretirementlcc.
The March 23 event will be from 9 a.m. to noon at Ward Warehouse, Kakaako Room. Find out more at aarp.cvent. com/readyforretirement1132.
Call toll-free 877-926-8300 for information or to register.
Hot Topic to be acquired for $600 million
Hot Topic Inc., operator of more than 800 stores selling clothing, accessories and music to teens, agreed to be bought by private equity firm Sycamore Partners for about $600 million. (In Hawaii, Hot Topic operates stores at Pearlridge Center in Aiea, Prince Kuhio Center in Hilo, Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Kaahumanu Center in Kahului and Windward Mall in Kaneohe.)
The deal will require shareholder and regulatory approval. The offer of $14 a share is 30 percent higher than Hot Topic’s closing price the previous day.
Rate on 30-year mortgage ticks up to 3.52 percent
WASHINGTON >> Average rates on fixed mortgages were little changed this week, hovering near historic lows. Cheap mortgages have helped spur a recovery in the housing market.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage edged up to 3.52 percent from 3.51 percent last week. That’s near the 3.31 percent rate reached in November, the lowest on records dating to 1971.
The average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage held at 2.76 percent. The record low is 2.63 percent.
The lowest mortgage rates in decades have boosted home sales and helped the market rebound.
ON THE MOVE
Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations has announced the following promotions to senior account executives from account executives: 
>> Julie Hirano Kaneko joined the firm in 2011 and works for the corporate and public affairs group. Prior to joining SWAY, Kaneko served as a supervisor in a foreign personnel division for the largest English conversation school in Tokyo.
>> Andrea P. Oka has more than 15 years’ experience in advertising and public relations, including working in internal and external communications, collateral and special events for Easter Seals Hawaii.
Honolulu Board of Realtors has announced the election of the following 2013 HiCentral Multiple Listing Service officers: president Mark-Allen H. DeCastro of Mark DeCastro Realty & Associates and vice president Norman Noguchi of Marcus & Associates. Directors are Brian C. Benton, Georgiana Y. Fujita, John A. Harris, Rochelle Lee Gregson, Everett S. Kaneshige, Julie Meier, Earl S. Mente, Fuku Puckett, Darrell M. Takanishi, Gerry Tomonari, Kevin E. Miyama, Joe Paikai and Warren Wee.
