Pet hospital to pay underpaid workers

Waipahu Waikele Pet Hospital Inc. will pay $61,887 in back overtime to 85 employees, who also will receive an equal amount in damages.

Pet hospital officials agreed to pay the total amount of $123,774 following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division in Hono­lulu. Investigators found that the employer failed to pay overtime to receptionists, technicians, kennel attendants and other employees who had worked more than 40 hours per week.

"Employers cannot enter into agreements with employees to receive straight-time pay for overtime hours worked when they are lawfully entitled to an overtime premium," said Terence Trotter, the division’s district director in Hawaii, in a statement. "We appreciate the employer’s full cooperation in resolving this matter quickly and in fairness to the impacted workers."

HECO reaches power deal for Waianae site

Hawaiian Electric Co. submitted a power purchase agreement for a utility-scale solar project in Wai­anae on Friday.

HECO submitted the agreement for review to the Public Utilities Commission. Ka La Nui Solar, a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy Resources, will build, own and operate the 15-megawatt project.

The solar company responded to HECO’s invitation for renewable energy projects on Oahu that would help lower costs for customers. The companies that responded had to agree to sell energy at 17 cents per kilowatt-hour or below. The low cost per kilowatt-hour is locked in for the 22-year duration of the contract.

To qualify for the federal investment tax credit, the project must be in service by the end of 2016. Beginning in 2017, the tax credits are due to decline to 10 percent from 30 percent. Approximately 61,000 of Ka La Nui Solar’s fixed photovoltaic panels will span across 75 acres leased from Mountain View Dairy west of the Wai­anae Valley Road and Pili­uka Place intersection.

Alaska Air, attendants OK tentative pact

Alaska Airlines, which flies about one-fifth of its flights to Hawaii, and the Association of Flight Attendants said Thursday they have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier’s 3,300 flight attendants.

Once the tentative agreement is approved by the union’s leadership, Alaska’s flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in December.

HECO to hold forum on response plan

Hawaiian Electric Co. will hold a public forum Friday over the Integrated Demand Response Portfolio Plan that HECO submitted to the Public Utilities Commission in July.

The discussions will be held at the Energy Excelerator Loft at 1000 Bishop St., Suite 505. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The utility said it is looking for public feedback about new demand response programs, the role of demand response service partners, aggregators and the utility as well as ways to improve cost-effectiveness and emerging technologies.

To RSVP, call 543-4632 or email energyscout@hawaiianelectric.com by Tuesday.

ON THE MOVE

The Plaza Assisted Living, "The Plaza," has hired Lea Owan as director of sales and business development. She was previously a sales account executive at KHON Channel 2, where she managed and implemented "The Elderhood Project," a weekly program focused on seniors and caregivers.

Anthology Marketing Group has promoted the following in its public relations group:

» David Pettinger to vice president. He also is responsible for directing the professional development of junior staff members for the PR group.

» Kelley Cho to senior account executive. Her responsibilities include the securing of online, print and television media exposure by travel and meetings trade journalists for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Meet Hawaii.

» Anna Koethe to account executive. She provides publicity and business development support for public affairs and travel clients, which include the Polynesian Cultural Center, Battleship Missouri Memorial and Hawaii Meth Project.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

HONOLULU HARBOR