Subaru Hawaii seeks $35,000 for nonprofits

Subaru Hawaii is conducting a community-based "Share the Love" sales campaign where it will donate $250 for each new 2014 or 2015 Subaru vehicle sold —up to $30,000 — through Dec. 31 to a group of local Oahu nonprofits. The nonprofits are Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Hawaii Island Humane Society, Maui Humane Society, Kauai Humane Society, Hawaii Wildlife Fund and the Hawaiian Humane Society.

In addition to raising funds for the nonprofit partners, the "Share the Love" sales campaign helps each local charity get its message out to the community.

To sweeten the deal for the nonprofit partners, the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite participating nonprofit organization at Subaru Hawaii’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SubaruHI. At the end of the campaign, Subaru Hawaii will award the organization with the most "votes" an additional $5,000, meaning the nonprofits overall could earn up to $35,000.

The event, which is in its fourth year, began Nov. 1. Subaru Hawaii has partnered with Hawaii nonprofits to donate more than $100,000 through the campaign since its inception.

Ko Olina renovation to cost 487 their jobs

About 487 employees at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina will be terminated from their jobs next January in preparation for the planned conversion of the property into another luxury hotel under the Four Seasons name.

Dan Banchiu, the JW Marriott Ihilani’s general manager, notified the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations of the planned changes Wednesday.

In August, Jeff Stone, Ko Olina’s master developer, informed employees of the JW Marriott that his company will be repurchasing the hotel after Marriott’s management agreement expires at the end of this year.

Ko Olina is buying the hotel from New York-based investment firm Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers.

Stone, in a letter to Ihilani workers dated Thursday, said the hotel will be closed throughout 2015 and reopen under "one of the top luxury resort brands in the world."

HTA puts out bid for South Korean rep

The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state’s tourism agency, is reissuing a request for proposal for tourism destination representation services in South Korea.

The HTA’s contract with its current Korean vendor ends Dec. 31. The new contract, which will be awarded in December, will run from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016. However, it may be extended at the HTA’s discretion.

Applications, which became available Friday, are due by Nov. 21. They are available at the HTA office on the first level of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kala­kaua Ave. They also can be downloaded at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org.

The HTA has said that it will vet applicants based on qualifications, experience, sales and their marketing approach and price. Inquiries regarding the RFPs should be directed to the HTA procurement officer, Ronald Rodriguez, either in person at HTA’s office, by telephone at 973-2255 or via email at ronald@gohta.net.

Yellen vows clear signals for rate policies

PARIS » Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said Friday that the Fed is striving to clearly communicate its intentions on interest rates in order to minimize surprises that could disrupt financial markets both in the United States and globally. She said central bank policymakers understand that moving from a period of very low interest rates to more normal rates will lead to more volatility in financial markets. But she said the normalization of rates will be an important sign that economic conditions are "finally emerging from the shadow of the Great Recession."

Yellen’s comments came in a speech at a conference sponsored by the Bank of France. The Fed last week ended its bond-buying program, but its first increase in rates is not expected until mid-2015.

U.S. consumer borrowing hits $15.9 billion

WASHINGTON » U.S. consumers increased their borrowing in September with gains in credit card debt and auto and student loans. The Federal Reserve says overall borrowing rose $15.9 billion following a $14 billion gain in August and a $22.8 billion July increase. The gains have pushed total consumer debt to a record level of $3.27 trillion. The category that includes credit cards showed a $1.44 billion increase in September. The category that covers auto loans and student loans increased $14.48 billion.

Rising levels of consumer borrowing coupled with strong employment growth are viewed as good signs that consumers are confident about taking on more debt.

ON THE MOVE

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced that David E. Glab has rejoined the firm as an IT manager, head of technology. He has 20 years of IT experience, including serving as the senior IT manager, head of technology for Contra Costa Superior Court in Cali­for­nia, as well as a senior application technical specialist at American Savings Bank in Hono­lulu.

Island Air has announced the following new promotion and appointments: 

» Cory Kohler to director of reservations, scheduling and interline. She previously worked for Aloha Island Air under former owners Aloha Airgroup as well as its sister company, Aloha Airlines.

» Frank Fenlon has been appointed to director of quality assurance and inspection. He has more than 20 years of technical experience, including serving as the senior systems engineer at U.S. Airways as well as implementing and managing the maintenance program for all fleets at Hawaiian Airlines.

» William "Dee" Airman to director of safety and security. He has extensive background in security and safety management, including serving as a manager of flight training for Northwest Airlines, regulatory compliance manager at Emirates Airlines and director of system operation center at Porter Airlines in Canada.