Women in Hawaii paid 82 percent of male wages

The ratio of Hawaii women’s earnings as compared to men’s ranks within the top half of the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A wide gap still exists, however.

In 2012, Hawaii women had median weekly earnings of $689, or 82.1 percent of the $839 median weekly earnings of men, BLS said.

That compares with nationwide figures of $691 a week for women, or 80.9 percent of the $854 median for men.

The Hawaii women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio puts the Aloha State at No. 17 among the 50 states and District of Columbia. Overall, women’s weekly earnings in Hawaii ranked 21st, and men’s, 26th.

2 more chances to get Ramen Burger

The original Ramen Burger made famous by New Yorker Keizo Shimamoto that had hundreds of people line up outside a Kakaako restaurant last week, will be offered two more times in Honolulu.

Shimamoto will return to Mark Noguchi’s Taste Table at 667 Auahi St. beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday until 500 burgers sell out.

He will prepare another 500 Ramen Burgers at the Eat the Street event at 555 South St. from 4 p.m. on Jan. 31.

The burgers cost $10 each and sales will be limited to two per customer.

Guide gives isle restaurant, resorts 5 stars

La Mer restaurant at Halekulani and two Four Seasons Resorts have won five-star ratings by the Forbes Travel Guide, formerly known as the Mobil Travel Guide.

The high-end restaurant at Halekulani is noted as a new addition to the Forbes list though it has long been high-rated by international travel publications and guides, and is the only Hawaii restaurant to receive five stars.

The only five-star-rated hotels in Hawaii are the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii island and the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea on Maui.

The 56th annual star rating lists include 15 new five-star hotels, 16 new five-star restaurants and five new five-star spas around the world.

Of the 296 four-star hotels, 186 four-star restaurants and 149 four-star spas worldwide, Hawaii has six hotels, four restaurants and seven spas.

Four Seasons Hualalai makes top 10 list

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu in Kailua-Kona is the only Hawaii hotel among the top ten hotels in the U.S., according to online travel site TripAdvisor. com.

It was ranked ninth among the top 10.

The 2014 Travelers’ Choice Awards For Hotels, which also honor various sorts of lodgings from bed-and-breakfasts to luxury resorts, are compiled from the feedback of site users who visit the rated properties.

The list of winners cites Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina, Switzerland, as the top hotel in the world, and the Grand Del Mar in San Diego as the top hotel in the U.S.

Other awards were presented in categories, such as Top Luxury Hotel in the World (Akademie Street Boutique Hotel and Guesthouse, Franschhoek, South Africa), Top Luxury Hotel in the U.S. (the aforementioned Grand Del Mar), the top small hotels, the best family hotels, the best B&B and inn.

This is the 12th year of the TripAdvisor lodging awards.

Hawaii to host global robotics games

The Texas-based Robotics Education & Competition Foundation has selected Hawaii to host the VEX Robotics Summer Games.

The international STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event will welcome as many as 200 teams from elementary, middle, high school and colleges from around the world to compete in the VEX IQ Challenge, VEX Robotics Competition and VEX U from July 10 through 12 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

The summer games are being organized and managed by Friends of Hawaii Robotics, in conjunction with the Hawaii State VEX Steering Committee and the REC Foundation.

Stalls for rent at auto-parts swap meet

Organizers of OHANA Cruz Nights’ 25th Auto Parts Swap Meet March 1 are seeking participants for the 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. event at Aiea High School.

OHANA is an acronym for Oahu Hot rods Automobile N’ Antiques.

Stalls are available for rental beginning at $25, plus $5 for additional stalls until the Feb. 26 pre-registration deadline. Stall prices double on the day of the event.

A fundraising concession stand will support Project Graduation and will offer food, soda, water and shave ice.

For more information and registration forms, email Larry Baird at lnnbaird@aol.com or call 423-1198 after 1 p.m.

Chevrolet car, truck take top honors

DETROIT » General Motors’ Chevrolet brand swept the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck/Utility of the Year, giving the resurgent Detroit automaker another boost at this month’s annual auto show in Detroit.

The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray received the car award, and the truck was the Silverado. The Chevy sweep came after General Motors Co. made the most appearances on this year’s list finalists, which also included the Cadillac CTS and Mazda3 on the car side and Acura MDX and Jeep Cherokee on the truck/utility side.

The Cadillac ATS took top car honors last year.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

HONOLULU HARBOR 

ON THE MOVE

Title Guaranty has promoted Jeremy Trueblood to branch manager of its main office. He has more than 10 years of escrow servicing, transaction expertise and management experience. Trueblood started as an escrow associate for Title Guaranty in 2004 and was promoted to escrow officer, then to assistant branch manager in 2013.

Cades Schutte has announced Michi Momose as an associate in the litigation department. Before joining Cades Schutte, Momose served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Richard W. Pollack of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Queen Lili’uokalani Trust has announced Rhondalee "Kehau" Harrison as an executive assistant at its Kailua-Kona office. She previously served as a wealth administrator in private client services at Bank of Hawaii’s Kailua-Kona Branch.

Honolulu HomeLoans has announced that Brad Hennington has been promoted to assistant vice president loan manager. He has more than 10 years of experience as a direct lender, mortgage loan officer and depository lender.