Ruth’s Chris Waterfront to close temporarily

The Waterfront Plaza location of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse will temporarily close for renovation beginning Monday.

"This year marks our 25th anniversary and the support of our community has been tremendous," said Randy Schoch, CEO of Desert Island Restaurants and Ruth’s Chris Hawaii franchisee, in a statement. A new 25-year lease was signed in April.

The renovation will modernize and brighten the interior and outside dining areas as well as the kitchen, which will be equipped with energy-efficient upgrades including refrigeration systems and air conditioning. The restaurant, at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., will reopen for dinner service on Oct. 13.

Kapolei industrial complex sold for $35M

A mainland investment partnership has bought an industrial building complex in Kapolei for about $35 million.

The project called Kapolei Trade Center was bought by New York-based Angelo Gordon & Co. and Los Angeles-based Metric Holdings Inc., according to broker Colliers International. The seller was an affiliate of lender iStar Financial Inc., which acquired the property through foreclosure repossession.

Kapolei Trade Center was developed with 221,000 square feet of industrial buildings at Kapolei Business Park by Newport Beach, Calif.-based developer Lowe and Archibald in 2008 but suffered from effects of the real estate downturn and economic recession. IStar foreclosed in 2010.

State settles 2011 food stamp lawsuit

The state said it has settled a 2011 class-action lawsuit for failing to issue food stamps in a timely manner outlined by federal law.

The Department of Human Services’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, said between Oct. 1, 2013, and Aug. 31, 2014, the average monthly timeliness rate for SNAP applications improved by 30 percent.

DHS has made "measurable improvements," consistently reviewing and determining eligibility for the program within 30 days and seven days for emergencies, Pankaj Bhanot, DHS’s Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division administrator, said in a press release Monday.

As a result, the U.S. District Court recently issued an order of settlement and dismissal of the class-action suit, Lehua Booth v. (DHS director) Patricia McManaman. Booth, a resident of Kihei, Maui, complained in the lawsuit that she did not get a response to her application for food stamps for at least three months.

SunRun to expand solar business in Hawaii

SunRun will open offices in Honolulu and Kona.

The San Francisco-based solar company announced it will hire more than 800 additional employees and expand or open 10 new offices across Hawaii, Arizona, California and Nevada by the end of 2014.

The range of positions includes field marketing associates, installers, electricians, site technicians, project and inspections coordinators, and branch coordinators.

Growing consumer demand is fueling the company’s expansion, SunRun said. Industrywide home solar installations were up 45 percent last quarter from the year-earlier period and are forecast to grow nearly 50 percent annually — more than any other segment of the market, the Solar Energy Industries Association said.

Interested applicants may visit the careers page at SunRun’s website, sunrun.com, to view and apply for positions.

Sales of U.S. new homes soared in August

WASHINGTON » U.S. sales of new homes surged in August, led by a wave of buying in the West and Northeast.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that new-home sales climbed 18 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000. The report also revised up the July sales rate to 427,000 from 412,000.

Newly constructed homes sold at the fastest clip since May 2008. It’s a clear sign of improvement for a real estate market that has been muddled in recent months, as the rebound in sales following the housing bust began to slow.

Sales of new homes are up 33 percent over the past 12 months. Median prices for new homes have risen nearly 8 percent during the same period to $275,600.

In the West, August purchases of new homes soared 50 percent compared to the prior month. Off the sharp August increase, sales in the West have nearly doubled in the past 12 months. Between July and August, sales grew 29.2 percent in the Northeast. Buying increased 7.8 percent in the South and remained flat in the Midwest.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii Restaurant Association has named Ann-Marie Avanni as the new operations manager. She is a founding partner of Folio Fine Wine Partners, a Michael Mondavi Family Co., as well as served as director of marketing for four boutique brands and sales manager for Robert Mondavi Corp.

Sacred Hearts Academy has appointed the following to its board of directors:

» Terence Enriques was named chairman of the 19-person board. He is a certified public accountant.

» Mitchell Kaaialii is vice president and area manager for First Hawaiian Bank in the Mililani area.

» Lester Fukuda is a professional engineer and the vice president principal-in-charge of HDR, a licensed engineering firm.

» Brandy Ann Sato is Kamehameha Schools director of K-12 curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Communications Pacific has hired Steven K. Lai as a company controller. He has more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. Prior to CommPac, Lai served as a controller for Easter Seals Hawaii as well as an accounting supervisor for General Growth Properties and a controller at Pearlridge Center.