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There’s no denying that refurbishment of the 677 Ala Moana building vastly improves its appearance. We’ll have to see how the $14 million renovation investment made by its owner, Redico, pays off. So far, that part looks good, too, with an uptick in tenant occupancy.
It would be interesting to see what it will take to completely rebrand the building, which is still known by its "former" name, the Gold Bond Building. The trading stamps that were redeemed at the old Gold Bond offices have been gone for decades, but in social media and elsewhere, it’s still wearing that label.
Rail claims settlements hard to come by
Motorists who claim their vehicles are damaged by work to build Oahu’s elevated-rail transit system should not expect much help from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.
Of 60 claims filed related to work along Kamehameha Highway and the H-1 freeway, HART has paid only three so far, for a total of $1,363.53. Twenty-three claims have been denied, and another 34 claim investigations are pending.
At that rate, legitimate claims may go unfiled, because motorists believe it’s not worth the trouble.
