HomeStreet Bank has donated $159,000 to 26 different charitable organizations within a five-month period, during its “Vote Your Heart” social media campaign. Charities from different regions were awarded every two weeks. Regions included Hawaii; Puget Sound, Wash.; eastern Washington; Portland, Ore.; and California — all areas where HomeStreet has local branches.
Hawaii-specific winners included Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of East Hawaii (Hilo, $10,000), Family Promise of Hawaii (Honolulu, $10,000), Making Ends Meet (Aiea, $5,000), Project Hawaii Inc. (Keaau, Hawaii island, $3,000), Hope Services Hawaii Inc. (Hilo, $5,000) and Mutual Housing (Honolulu, $3,000).
Hawaii has fourth-lowest jobless rate
Steady, if modest, hiring during the 7-year-old recovery has pushed many states’ unemployment rates to rock-bottom levels. New Hampshire has the nation’s lowest rate, at 2.6 percent, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Labor. Massachusetts and South Dakota follow at 2.8 percent each.
Hawaii is tied for the fourth lowest in the nation at 2.9 percent. The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations released Hawaii’s number Thursday.
Alaska reported the nation’s highest rate, at 6.7 percent. New Mexico has the second highest, at 6.6 percent.
Existing U.S. home sales fell in December
WASHINGTON >> Americans retreated from purchasing homes in December as the number of properties listed for sale sank to its lowest level since 1999.
The National Association of Realtors also said Tuesday that sales of existing homes fell 2.8 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.49 million. For all of 2016, sales posted an annual gain of 3.8 percent to 5.45 million.
But the housing market has become trapped by a supply shortage that has pushed prices higher and might limit the potential for additional sales growth.
Philadelphia bars salary history requests
PHILADELPHIA >> Philadelphia has banned employers from asking potential hires to provide their salary history, a move supporters say is a step toward closing the wage gap between men and women.
Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney signed the measure Monday and said he’s confident the bill can withstand legal challenges.
Supporters contend that because women have historically been paid less than men, the practice of asking for a salary history can help perpetuate a cycle of lower salaries for women, continuing throughout their careers.
ON THE MOVE
Hawaiian Telcom has announced:
>> Neal Matsumoto is the new director of consumer direct sales. He brings to the company 16 years of sales and marketing experience, including previously serving as manager of multidwelling units for Time Warner Cable, which is now owned by Charter Communications.
>> Phyllis Freitas has been promoted to director of business sales. She has more than 30 years of sales experience and joined Hawaiian Telcom in 1978 as an operator.
Chaminade University of Honolulu has announced that Janet T. Davidson is the new associate provost for academic affairs. She joined Chaminade in the fall of 2005 and previously co-managed the university’s inaugural undergraduate research program. Prior to Chaminade, Davidson served as a research analyst for the state Department of Attorney General.
