Hawaii leads nation in energy investment

Hawaii led the nation for the third consecutive year for per capita investment in energy performance contracting, a financing tool that allows government buildings to achieve energy efficiency savings without paying total expenses upfront, according to the Energy Services Coalition.

The Energy Services Coalition ranked the 50 states based on the amount invested in performance contracts for government buildings. Hawaii led the nation this year with $235.74 invested per capita. The ESC uses the savings from upgrades such as digital controls for energy systems, and lighting, plumbing and air conditioning improvements to repay the cost of installing the equipment. The $320.68 million in ESC contracts awarded in Hawaii since the program’s inception has resulted in an energy savings of nearly $900 million over the life of the contracts, according to ESC.

Delaware placed second with an ESC investment of $154 per capita. Ohio was third at $108.58 per capita.

Attorneys in isle cases hit national spotlight

Two attorneys who figured prominently in Hawaii bankruptcy cases have been taking center stage on the national scene.

Bruce Bennett, who represented Hawaiian Airlines and Liberty House in their Chapter 11 bankruptcies in Hawaii, is the lead attorney for the city of Detroit in its historic municipal bankruptcy trial that began Tuesday. The city is seeking to restructure billions of dollars in debt.

Maxwell Blecher, who represented go! parent Mesa Air Group Inc. in the lawsuit brought against it by Hawaiian Airlines, also represented Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in his attempt to retain ownership of the NBA team.

Silver Airways names new chief executive

Silver Airways didn’t waste any time in finding a replacement for David Pflieger, who was named Tuesday as the new president and chief executive officer of Island Air.

The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based regional carrier said that Chief Financial Officer Sami Teittinen has been appointed the new CEO and will take over that role on Friday.

Pflieger, who will begin his duties at Island Air on Oct. 1, will replace CEO Paul Casey, who will assume an advisory role on Island Air’s board. Casey previously served as CEO at Hawaiian Airlines and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Island Air is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, who also owns 98 percent of the island of Lanai.

Wingstop franchise opening in Mililani

The first Wingstop location in Hawaii will open at 10:30 a.m. Thursday following a blessing ceremony.

Located at The Gateway at Mililani Mauka, the franchised restaurant will serve the national chain’s traditional and boneless wings, as well as chicken strips with a variety of 11 flavors, both spicy and mild.

Side dishes are made with Idaho potatoes, but the Hawaii locations also will offer steamed rice and macaroni salad.

The restaurant, at 95-1830 Meheula Parkway in Mililani, will be open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight daily.

Franchisee Asia Pacific Restaurant Group LLC plans as many as 10 Wingstop locations in Hawaii.

Casino closures bring mass jobless filings

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. » Carrying identification documents and bitterness over their sudden joblessness, hundreds of ex-casino workers began filing for unemployment Wednesday morning, the first attendees at an assistance center that expects to process 5,000 newly laid-off workers over the next three days.

The session at the Atlantic City Convention Center came after a brutal weekend that saw two casinos, the Showboat and Revel, close. Officials from the state Department of Labor and the main casino workers’ union, Local 54 of Unite-HERE, helped displaced workers file for unemployment and gave them information on signing up for health insurance and other benefits.

By mid-September, Atlantic City, which started the year with 12 casinos, will be down to eight, and almost 8,000 people will be out of work. Trump Plaza is closing Sept. 16, and the Atlantic Club shut down in January. About 300 workers were lined up when the doors opened at 9 a.m. By early afternoon, more than 750 had been processed.

"It’s really depressing," said Dale Browne, who worked as a housekeeper at Showboat for 14 years. "People have mortgages, kids in school. We’re afraid the crime rate is going to go up. I want to say we’ll be all right down the road, but right now, it’s rough."

ON THE MOVE

Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa, has announced BradLogsdon as its director of sales and marketing. He was previously director of sales and marketing at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa. Logsdon has 27 years of various director of sales and marketing roles for Hilton.

Bank of Hawaii has promoted Lena Mori to senior vice president and facilities manager from vice president in corporate facilities. Mori joined the bank in 2009. As the construction and project manager, she led the efforts to construct the bank’s Center for Excellence, Cafe Blue and Surf Rider Room.

Title Guaranty has promoted Jason Aldridge to chief information officer. He was instrumental in the development of the PONO title system, which is TG’s latest product contribution to title research services in Hawaii. He was previously the chief executive officer of Mystech.