Hawaii gets $703,100 labor grant

Hawaii will receive $703,100 as part of $48.7 million in funding for 37 states and the District of Columbia to implement re-employment and eligibility assessments for beneficiaries of unemployment insurance, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday.

Two states, Kentucky and South Dakota, are receiving grants for the first time, while 35 states, including Hawaii, and the District of Columbia, are being awarded additional funds to continue their initiatives.

The funds will be used to conduct in-person assessments in One-Stop Career Centers.

The in-person assessment includes an eligibility review, labor market information, development of a re-employment plan and referral to re-employment services or training.

For more information, go to www.doleta.gov.

Borders says sale likely by end of July

NEW YORK » Borders Group Inc. hopes to name a bidder by July 1 and sell itself by the end of that month, according to bankruptcy court filings. Forty stores previously targeted for closing, including three in Hawaii, are also getting a temporary reprieve.

The bookseller, which filed for bankruptcy protection in February, said in papers filed Friday it plans to name a “stalking horse” bidder by July 1. A “stalking horse” is an initial bidder for a company in a bankruptcy auction. A higher bidder might materialize.

Borders also said a financing condition that required it to close 40 of its 400 remaining stores has been amended because it had not reached lease-extension agreements with landlords.

The Ann Arbor, Mich., company will now close the stores only if a sale does not occur by the end of July. The three Hawaii stores in limbo are the Borders at Pearlridge Center and two Borders Express stores, one at Royal Hawaiian Center and in the Town Center of Mililani.

Borders already has closed five Hawaii stores, one each in Kailua-Kona, Hilo, Kahului, Lihue and Waikele Center on Oahu.

Tetris Online releases new iPad game

Honolulu-based Tetris Online Inc. has released Feevo HD for iPad, a match-four puzzle game for all ages. Feevo HD is a follow-up to Feevo, released recently for Facebook users.

For the iPad, Feevo HD challenges players to clear pieces from the game board by matching four or more similar shapes. The game offers two difficulty levels, Fever Mode, or the more frenzied Blaze Mode.

Feevo HD players can use Facebook Connect to challenge Facebook friends’ Feevo game scores. The introductory price of the game in the App Store is $2.99.

Lynden expands Hawaii ocean service

Lynden International has expanded ocean freight service to Hawaii, including warehousing, distribution, consolidations, multiple pick-up and delivery options, as well as full container-load and less-than-container-load options for customers.

The company also has named Patrick Omura as business development manager. He will be based in Honolulu and has 21 years’ experience in sales management for YRC Worldwide and Servco Pacific Office Products.

Lynden has offices in Honolulu and on Maui.

ON THE MOVE

Chris Tanaka debuted on Hawaii News Now Monday night as the news organization’s new sports director.

Before joining KGMB-TV, KHNL-TV and KFVE-TV, which operate jointly under a shared services agreement, Tanaka worked his way up to lead sports anchor at KDVR-TV and KWGN-TV, merged television stations in Denver. He also worked as sports director at KFBB-TV in Great Falls, Mont., and for the Fox Sports Network in Los Angeles.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the Hawaii News Now team,” Tanaka said in a statement. “The station has strong leadership behind the scenes, and a great anchor team on camera. I’m looking forward to working with Mike Cherry to create the best sports team in Hawaii.”

Lynden International has named Patrick Omura as business development manager. He will oversee the company’s gateway operation in Los Angeles to develop and support traffic between Lynden’s offshore partners and U.S. offices. He has 21 years of experience including sales management for YRC Worldwide in Hawaii.

Marukai Corp. raised $153,572 over a two-month period for Aloha for Japan in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and tsunami disasters. Marukai launched the initial effort through a donation of $10,000, contacted its vendors for their cooperation, and set up a process by which customers, employees and the community could contribute.