Average rate on 30-year mortgage falls to 3.63 percent
WASHINGTON » Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell for the fourth straight week, with the benchmark 30-year rate again marking its lowest level since May 2013. The average for a 15-year mortgage, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, slipped further below 3 percent.
Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage declined to 3.63 percent this week from 3.66 percent last week. The rate for the 15-year loan slipped to 2.93 percent from 2.98 percent last week. A year ago the average 30-year mortgage stood at 4.39 percent and the 15-year mortgage at 3.44 percent. Mortgage rates have remained low even though the Federal Reserve in October ended its monthly bond purchases.
Hawaii hotels win TripAdvisor awards
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is the 20th-ranked overall hotel in the U.S. and the 16th-ranked hotel for luxury in the 2015 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Kapolei, is among the top 10 family hotels in the U.S., coming in at No. 8 in the category. Lesser-known Kalaekilohana in Naalehu on Hawaii island also is among the top 10 in the U.S. in TripAdvisor’s Small Hotel category, ranking at No. 8.
The Gili Lankanfushi Maldives was named the top hotel in the world, while the Langham Chicago tops the U.S. list.
The Travelers’ Choice Awards are broken into categories for different traveler priorities, such as luxury, bargain hotels, families, romance, small hotel, best for service and bed-and-breakfast inns.
TripAdvisor winners are chosen based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings specific to each award category, according to the company. For results, go to www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels.
8 isle restaurants among Yelp’s top 100
From the new to the tried and true, eight Hawaii food establishments are among the top 100 places to eat in the U.S., according to online review site Yelp.com.
Hawaii has two among the top 10, specifically Ono Seafood in Honolulu and Shark Pit Maui in Lahaina.
Dat Cajun Guy in Haleiwa is at No. 11, while Lahaina Luna Cafe on Maui is at No. 27, Da Poke Shack in Kailua-Kona is ranked 51st in the nation (right above No. 52, Poke Express in Las Vegas). In Honolulu, Murakame Udon is No. 53, while Your Kitchen is at No. 71, and longtime kamaaina company Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering in Waipahu is ranked at 91 among the top places to eat in the U.S.
Yelp data were analyzed to determine the most popular and well reviewed in 2014, giving more weight to recent reviews. Its inaugural list released last year analyzed 10 years’ worth of data. This year’s list encompasses traditional dine-in restaurants, food trucks and catering companies, and includes one cafe located in a coin-operated laundry facility.
Mauna Kea resort changes branding
The storied Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Hawaii island has become the first Hawaii resort to be added to the Autograph Collection, a unit of Marriott International, via a new marketing agreement. No personnel changes are planned.
Marriott added the property to its Autograph Collection, a so-called "lifestyle portfolio," to offer guests independent hotel experiences, as opposed to consistent, chain-type experiences that are the same around the globe.
The 50-year-old resort, built by globally known American businessman Laurance Rockefeller, was the first built on the Kohala coast, and gained notoriety in its early days as a secluded getaway popular with the rich, famous and powerful.
McDonald’s sued over franchisee behavior
Some McDonald’s workers who say they were fired because of their race are suing the fast-food giant, accusing it of dodging responsibility for the discrimination and harassment they say they endured.
The workers said in a federal complaint filed Thursday that about 15 African-American employees of some southern Virginia restaurants run by Soweva Co. were fired in May after several white employees were hired. Many of those fired were told by Soweva owner Michael Simon that while they were good workers, they "didn’t fit the profile" he was trying to build for the company, according to the suit.
McDonald’s Corp. said its franchisees "share a commitment to the well-being and fair treatment of all people who work in McDonald’s restaurants."
On the Move
» The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace has hired Megan Ramsey as collections manager. Her previous experience includes working at the Virginia Holocaust Museum, the Greenbrier Historical Society and the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum.
» Atlantis Adventures has announced two new appointments:
– Margie Lehman is the company’s director of sales. She has 20 years of hospitality sales experience in Hawaii, including a previous five-year tenure as a sales manager with Atlantis in 1996-2001. Prior to rejoining Atlantis, Lehman served as a director of business development for Polynesian Adventure Tours Gray Line Hawaii since 2010.
– Tana Samuelu as cruise manager for Atlantis Cruises. He previously served 10 years as a product manager and six years as cruise manager aboard the Navatek. Prior to rejoining Atlantis, Samuelu was a sales manager for Wet‘n’Wild Kapolei for eight years.
Ship Ahoy!
Today’s ship arrivals and departures:
Honolulu Harbor |
Agent |
Vessel |
From |
ETA |
ETD |
Berth |
Destination |
HL |
Horizon Enterprise |
— |
— |
2:30 a.m. |
51A |
Tacoma, Wash. |
WNLI |
Carnival Miracle |
Hilo |
8 a.m. |
11 p.m. |
02B |
Kahului |
MNC |
Mokihana |
Pier 52A |
— |
— |
32 |
— |
HL |
Horizon Spirit |
Los Angeles |
10:30 p.m. |
— |
51A |
— |