Kaiser opens Pearlridge Clinic

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii opened Friday its new $12 million Pearlridge Clinic.

The 7,000-square-foot facility offers family medicine, pediatric care and lab and pharmacy services.

As demand grows, Kaiser said the clinic can be expanded by an additional 5,000 square feet.

The facility on the third level of Pearlridge Center Uptown will open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information, call 808-432-5849 or go to kp.org.

Kalakaua Avenue makes ‘Great Street’ list

Waikiki’s famed Kalakaua Avenue has been named among the 2013 Great Streets by the American Planning Association as part of its "Great Places in America" program.

In addition to naming 10 Great Streets, the APA also selected 10 Great Neighborhoods and 10 Great Public Spaces, to mark National Community Planning Month.

The annual list, issued since 2007, recognizes unique and exemplary components of all communities, the organization said. The selected neighborhoods, public spaces and streets have been shaped by forward-thinking planning; they showcase diverse architectural styles, promote community involvement and accessibility, and foster economic opportunity, the group said in a statement.

Improvements planned for Lihue Airport

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is preparing designs for an $8 million upgrade at Lihue Airport.

Airports Division Deputy Director Ford Fuchi­gami told The Garden Island that the department wants to enlarge boarding lounges so passengers have more places to sit before flights.

He says air-conditioned walkways and new flooring and lights are also part of the upgrades.

Airports Division project manager Gene Matshu­shige says a design could be completed in six to eight months. Advertising for a construction contract would follow that.

He says the work likely will take a year to complete.

CBS extends Letterman pact through 2015

CBS announced Friday that it had extended the contract of David Letterman to continue to be the network’s late-night star through 2015.

The deal offers no indication that this would be Letterman’s final contract with the network, where he has worked since 1993 as host of "Late Show with David Letterman."

Letterman, 66, already has surpassed Johnny Carson as the late-night host with the longest tenure in TV history, having previously hosted NBC’s "Late Night" program for 11 years. Carson hosted the "Tonight" show on NBC for 30 years; with this new deal with CBS, Letterman would reach 33 years as a late-night host.

The decision also means Letterman will get an opportunity to see how he will fare against yet another entrant in the 11:35 network late-night competition. Jimmy Fallon is set to succeed Letterman’s longtime rival Jay Leno as host of "Tonight" in February. Letterman will now be in place for at least 18 months after that to witness how the new competition shakes out.

Fire caused by impaled battery, Tesla says

SEATTLE » The CEO of electric car company Tesla says a battery in a Model S that caught fire this week was apparently impaled by a metal object.

Elon Musk gave more detail in a blog post Friday about the fire that became an Internet sensation and unsettled Tesla investors. He also defended the car’s battery technology. Musk wrote in a blog post Friday that fires are more common in conventional gas-powered vehicles.

‘Hobbit’ trilogy costs $561 million so far

WELLINGTON, New Zealand » Making the movie trilogy "The Hobbit" has cost more than half a billion dollars so far, double the amount spent on the three movies in the "The Lord of the Rings" series.

That figure includes the major 266 days of filming with actors that was completed last year, although it doesn’t include an additional two months or so of "pick-up" shoots done this year. There will likely also be additional post-production costs as the next two movies are completed.

Through March 31, production had cost 676 million New Zealand dollars, or $561 million at current exchange rates, according to financial documents filed Friday in New Zealand, where the movies are being made.

Lockheed Martin to furlough 3,000 workers

BETHESDA, Md. » Lockheed Martin will furlough 3,000 employees Monday and potentially more in coming weeks due to the government shutdown.

The defense contractor said Friday that the furloughs will affect its business nationwide, and it is working closely with customers to assess the impact. It said the number of employees put on furlough will increase weekly if the shutdown continues, but did not specify how high the count could rise.

ON THE MOVE

Island Wealth Management has announced Mike Moss as its senior financial consultant. He has more than 30 years of industry and leadership experience, previously serving as Hawaii branch manager for VALIC Financial Advisors for 10 years.

The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii has appointed Bianca Mordasini as its director of communications and marketing. She has five years’ experience in the communications field, including working at Anthology Marketing Group at McNeil Wilson Communications and the Hawaii state Legislature.

The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel has appointed Vincent Logan as chef de cuisine. He was previously an executive chef at Ponte Winery in Temecula, Calif. He also held other culinary positions at the Aladdin Resort & Casino, Out•rigger Palms at Wailea, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and Fairmont Kea Lani.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: