Credit union offers grants for teachers

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union is offering to help Hawaii public school teachers purchase supplies for their classrooms as part of an annual grant program.

Teachers may apply for grants ranging from $200 to $500 from Saturday through Sept. 30.

Applicants are asked to submit an essay on how grant money will help achieve classroom goals. Teachers who have not been awarded a grant previously will be given priority.

Since 2009 the credit union’s Investing in Education grant program has awarded about $136,000, including $20,000 last year that went to 45 teachers.

More information about applying can be found at hawaiistatefcu.com online.

Israel’s Teva buys drug firm for $40.5B

JERUSALEM >> Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. said Monday it is purchasing Dublin-based Allergan PLC’s generic pharmaceuticals business for $40.5 billion, in what Israeli analysts called the largest-ever acquisition by an Israeli company.

Statements from both companies say the deal will see Allergan receive $33.75 billion in cash and shares of Teva valued Monday at $6.75 billion. In light of the acquisition, Teva said it was withdrawing its $40 billion-plus takeover offer for pharmaceuticals company Mylan N.V.

Burger King’s sales get another boost from Chicken Fries

NEW YORK >> Burger King got a boost from the return of its Chicken Fries.

Parent company Restaurant Brands International Inc. said Monday sales rose 7.9 percent at Burger King locations in the U.S. and Canada during the second quarter. After taking Chicken Fries off the menu in 2012, Burger King had said last year it was bringing back the long, deep-fried piece of chicken as a limited-time offer in response to customer demands.

The campaign was so successful the company brought them back this year.

Apple Watch coming to Best Buy in August

MINNEAPOLIS >> Best Buy said it will begin selling the Apple Watch on Aug. 7, the first national retailer outside of Apple’s own stores to sell the smartwatch.

(However, the watch won’t be available in Hawaii until the holidays — at the earliest, a company representative said).

It will initially be available in more than 100 stores and on BestBuy.com, the retailer said Sunday in a posting on its corporate website. Another 200 stores (and possibly Hawaii) will have it in time for the holidays.

“The Apple Watch is a big addition to our stores and website, and we know our customers want it,” said Jason Bonfig, senior category officer at Best Buy, which is based in suburban Minneapolis. “We are excited to bring the Apple Watch to more consumers, especially with the holidays coming up.”

Best Buy said it will carry the Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch models, plus accessories. The release did not specify pricing, nor did it mention the Apple Watch Edition, which sells from Apple for $10,000 and up.

Republic stock plunges on possible flight disruptions

DALLAS >> Republic Airways warned that its operation of regional flights for the nation’s biggest airlines could be disrupted by a pilot shortage and labor standoff. Its shares fell 56 percent in trading Monday.

Republic disclosed late Friday that it had cut flying by 4 percent in early summer and was talking with American, United, Delta and US Airways about reducing its flying more through the first half of next year.

Work on first U.S. offshore wind farm gets underway

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. >> Construction has begun off Rhode Island’s coast on the nation’s first offshore wind farm, a milestone that federal and state officials say will help the fledgling U.S. industry surge ahead.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said Monday that lenders, regulators and stakeholders can now see a path forward.

Deepwater Wind is building a five-turbine wind farm off Block Island, R.I., which it expects to power 17,000 homes as early as next year. It began attaching the first of the steel foundations to the ocean floor Sunday. The first one touching the seabed is known in the industry as the “first steel in the water.”

ON THE MOVE

Servco Automotive has promoted Chris “Sung-il” Yoo to vice president and general manager of its Lihue-based Toyota and Subaru dealership, Servco Auto Kauai. He was previously a floor manager who oversaw Servco Toyota Honolulu’s Pre-Owned Car Center’s sales staff. Yoo began his career in 2004 with Servco as a member of Servco’s Management Associate Program.

P.F. Chang’s Waikiki has announced the following:

>> Blaise Pyun has been named the new executive chef. He joined the restaurant in 2011 as a restaurant manager and has extensive restaurant background in Honolulu, including serving at Chili’s Grill & Bar, California Pizza Kitchen, Buzz’s Steak & Lobster and Island’s Fine Burgers and Drink.

>> Dana Matsuoka was named director of sales for the restaurant’s Waikiki location at the Royal Hawaiian Center. She joined the restaurant in 2013 and had served as a restaurant manager. Matsuoka’s experience includes working as a general manager at Jamba Juice Hawaii for four years and as a floor manager at Gordon Biersch for two years.