Bank of Hawaii and SMBC Trust Bank in Japan signed a collaboration agreement today in Tokyo to provide access to select private banking services for Japanese clients entering Hawaii.

Bank of Hawaii, the state’s second-largest bank, and SMBC Trust Bank, a subsidiary of the $1.5 trillion Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., will offer their Japanese clientele enhanced personal service, including access to Bank of Hawaii’s Japanese-speaking private banking staff and to its trust and real estate specialists. Additional benefits of the agreement will include discounted wire transfer services between the two banks, seminar offerings and development of other products and services.

Kauai

Travel steady on 1-way bridge

Traffic has been steady on the one-way bridge between Haena and Wainiha as repairs to Kuhio Highway continue in the wake of devastating flooding last month.

Access is granted by the county using a placard system, The Garden Island reports.

Kim Tamaoka, county spokeswoman, said about 625 placards have been distributed to residents and about 180 to nongovernmental workers.

A week ago these communities were still cut off by the numerous landslides caused by the historic April flooding. Many on the North Shore are breathing a sigh of relief over having even limited road access. If they need to, they now can go grocery shopping or get to work.

There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done for full access to the area, sai Tim Sakahara, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

HDOT is estimating the cost of repairs for that part of the road at $40 million.