Surfer Moore signs deal with Subaru

Honolulu native Carissa Moore, a three-time women’s surfing world champion, has entered into a partnership with Subaru Hawaii.

Moore, the current world champion, will be featured in the company’s marketing efforts across the state. Subaru Hawaii, which sells vehicles across a network of six dealerships statewide, is the only Hawaii-based company to sponsor Moore.

“While Carissa is undisputedly an outstanding surfer and athlete, she’s also an amazing human being,” said Rick Ching, president of Subaru Hawaii. “Her humble nature, confidence and desire to give back to her community make her an ideal role model for young women and men throughout the world.”

Moore, who was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in 2014, became the youngest female world champion in history when she won in 2011 at age 18. She was voted Top Female Surfer by Surfer Magazine that same year. Moore also was named Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic in 2012, and Glamour Magazine named her a Woman of the Year in 2013.

Big Isle restaurant expanding to Japan

The Hawaiian Style Cafe, a popular Hawaii island restaurant, will open in the busy Ginza district of Tokyo on March 27 with a grand-opening celebration set for March 31.

Hawaiian Style Cafe, with locations in Waimea and Hilo, is known for its huge portions of local-style comfort food, including oversized pancakes.

Owner Guy Kao‘o realizes that diners in Japan don’t generally eat as much as Americans in one sitting, but felt it important to preserve the restaurant’s core identity, according to a statement.

“We plan on giving the people of Japan the most authentic taste of Hawaiian home cooking that they can get,” he said.

The restaurant expansion follows a partnership agreement, two-year location search and kitchen trials.

Testing revealed kalua pork and cabbage to be among the best-received items in the restaurant’s newest market.

Following the Tokyo opening, Kao‘o is looking to expand in the other direction — to the mainland.

The Hawaiian Style Cafe first opened in Waimea in 1993, and was purchased by Guy and Gina Kao‘o in 2005. The couple expanded the concept to Hilo in 2012.

30-year mortgage rate rises to 3.73 percent

WASHINGTON >> Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose this week for the third straight week. Long-term rates have reversed the upward trend that took hold at the start of the year amid economic anxiety and market turbulence.

However, rates still remain at historically low levels at the start of the spring home-buying season. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage increased to 3.73 percent from 3.68 percent last week. The benchmark rate is closer to, yet still below, the 3.78 percent level it marked a year ago.

The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages rose to 2.99 percent from 2.96 percent last week.

The Federal Reserve decided this week to keep a key interest rate unchanged in light of global pressures that risk slowing the U.S. economy. As a result, Fed officials expect to raise rates more gradually this year than they had envisioned in December. The officials now foresee two, rather than four, modest increases in the benchmark short-term rate during 2016.

Prices of U.S. government bonds rose sharply after the Fed decision was announced Wednesday.

On The Move

The YWCA of Oahu is honoring female leaders who’ve made contributions to their professions and in their community, at its 39th Annual LeaderLuncheon at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel on June 14, noon to 1:30 p.m. Here are two of the leaders to be honored:

>> Donna Tanoue is vice chairwoman of Bank of Hawaii and president of the Bank of Hawaii Foundation. Her experience includes serving as special-duty attorney general to the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, commissioner of financial institutions for the state, partner at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel and chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

>> Betty White has been head of school for Sacred Hearts Academy since 1991. White is also the first representative from Hawaii to serve as a trustee on the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, served on the board of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and is an active member of the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Accreditation Team.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: