Online voting for the seventh annual American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter People’s Choice Award began Friday and runs through June 28.
You can view and vote on 43 architectural projects posted at www.aiahonolulu.org, both built and unbuilt.
Submissions include the Alapai Transit Center, Hawaii Nature Center’s Rain Pavilion, Lanai High and Elementary School classroom buildings, Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and the Windward Community College Library Learning Commons, as well as multiple residential projects.
The winner will be feted as part of the AIA Honolulu Annual Design Awards gala July 24 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.
Food, gas push up U.S. wholesale prices
A rise in food and gas costs drove a measure of wholesale prices up sharply in May. But outside those volatile categories, inflation was mild.
The U.S. Labor Department said that the producer price index rose 0.5 percent in May from April. Gas prices rose 1.5 percent last month, and food costs increased 0.6 percent. The increase last month followed a 0.7 percent decline in April and a 0.6 percent drop in March, both of which were driven by steep declines in gas prices.
Core prices, which exclude food and energy, rose just 0.1 percent in May. That matches the April increase.
Microsoft brings Office to iPhone, not iPad
NEW YORK » Even as a pared-down version of Microsoft’s Office software package arrived on the iPhone, the company is holding out on extending that to the iPad and Android devices as it tries to boost sales of tablet computers running its own Windows system.
Microsoft also isn’t selling Office Mobile for iPhone separately. Instead, it comes as part of a $100-a-year Office 365 subscription, which also lets people use Office on up to five Mac and Windows computers. Microsoft made the app available through Apple’s app store.
Microsoft Corp. is treading a fine line as it tries to make its subscription more compelling, without removing an advantage that tablet computers running Microsoft’s Windows system now have: the ability to run popular Office programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Chrysler to freeze 8,000 workers’ pensions
Chrysler Group LLC said that it is freezing the pensions of roughly 8,000 U.S. salaried employees at the end of the year.
The U.S. automaker said it is making the move to stay in line with industry trends and to comply with Internal Revenue Service regulations.
The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based company declined to detail the specifics of the IRS issue but said it is currently in compliance. Company spokeswoman Shawn Morgan said the compliance matter is not related to underfunding of the pension.
U.S. companies in general have moved away from traditional, or “defined benefit,” pensions due to the cost. General Motors made a similar move last year when it froze traditional pension benefits for 19,000 salaried workers hired before 2001. Such pensions guarantee a specific payment to retirees.
Smithfield Foods’ quarterly profit falls 63%
RICHMOND, Va. » Pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc.’s profit sank nearly 63 percent in the fourth quarter as feed costs rose and its exports to China and Russia declined.
The Smithfield, Va.-based company, whose brands include Armour, Farmland and its namesake, said it earned $29.7 million, or 21 cents per share, for the period that ended April 28. That’s down from $79.5 million, or 49 cents per share, a year ago, when its results included a $16.8 million benefit from insurance reimbursements. Revenue rose more than 3 percent to $3.32 billion. Smithfield has been in the spotlight recently after it agreed May 29 to a $4.72 billion takeover offer from the majority shareholder in China’s largest meat processor.
IMF sees progress for U.S. economy
WASHINGTON » The U.S. economy is on sounder footing than it was a year ago but is still being restrained by government spending cuts and tax increases, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF’s annual report on the U.S. economy noted that the underlying fundamentals are gradually improving: Home prices and construction are rising, household finances have strengthened and employers are steadily adding jobs. The outlook was much more optimistic than IMF’s 2012 report.
Still, the IMF forecasts economic growth of just 1.9 percent this year, the same as its April forecast. That would be down from 2.2 percent in 2012. And it’s below many private economists’ expectations that the U.S. economy will grow more than 2 percent this year.
On the Move
Remedy Intelligent Staffing of Honolulu has promoted Kelly Nishimura to staffing manager. She has been with the company since 2011 and was previously working as a membership director at The Pacific Club.
Hawaii Pacific Federal Credit Union has promoted Mark Hirae to vice president of lending from assistant vice president of loans. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and joined the credit union as a loan manager in 2010. Prior to Hawaii Pacific Federal Credit Union, he worked for HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union for 20 years in various positions, including vice president of loan administration, vice president of branch administration, branch manager and loan review officer.
Bill Chee was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Hawaii’s Top 100 Realtors event last month. He is the founder, president and chief executive officer of Prudential Locations. Chee was recognized for philanthropic efforts as well as for his role as a visionary in Hawaii and at the national level.
