Hawaii part of price-fixing settlement
HONOLULU - The Hawaii attorney general's office says consumers in the state could receive up to $300,000 in compensation under a nationwide settlement with three of the country's largest book publishers over price-fixing allegations.
Hawaii Attorney General David Louie says the state's share is part of a $69 million antitrust agreement agreed to by Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers LLC and Simon & Schuster Inc.
A lawsuit alleged a conspiracy to fix the prices of electronic books. The lawsuit and settlement stem from an investigation by the Connecticut and Texas attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division.
Consumers who purchased e-books from any of the publishers from April 2010 through May 21 can be compensated. Payments are to begin a month after a court approves the deal.
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Hawaiian seeks Kona-Haneda route
HONOLULU - Hawaii's largest airline is asking the federal government for permission to offer a daily nonstop route between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Kona.
Hawaiian Airlines would be the only carrier to fly from the Big Island to Japan. Japan Airlines stopped Big Island service nearly two years ago.
Hawaiian filed its application this week with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner says this is an opportunity to restore lost service that has hurt the Big Island's economy.
The airline would like to begin Haneda-Kona service in March.
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Man extradited to Hawaii in theft case
HILO - A southeastern Michigan man is back on the Big Island to face charges of embezzling money from a Kona coffee grower.
Forty-one-year-old John "Jason" Walaskay of Whitmore Lake, Mich., was arrested this month at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in suburban Detroit and has been extradited back to Hawaii.
He's been indicted on theft and other counts.
According to the indictment, Walaskay stole money from Kona's Best Natural Coffee while employed as comptroller. He could face up to 75 years in prison.
Bookkeeper Cathy Kleger said the company lost nearly $200,000.
Walaskay pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Trial has been set for Oct. 3.
