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Business/In Brief • Mar. 11, 2014

Ceremony to unveil memorial stampPEARL HARBOR - The USS Arizona Memorial will be commemorated in the form of a U.S. postage stamp.The National Park Service says the priority mail express stamp will be unveiled on Thursday.The ceremony at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center will include government and military speakers. Those who attend will have an opportunity to purchase the stamps, along with related merchandise at the Pacific Historic Parks bookstore.Daily, more than 4,000 people visit the USS Arizona Memorial, which sits atop the sunken battleship.

Business / In Brief • Mar. 8, 2014

Engineer Troy Ching receives awardMaui engineer Troy Ching has received the 2014 Young Engineer/Early Career Award from the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies, according to an announcement.He was nominated by the American Society of Civil Engineers Hawaii Section.Ching, who is headquartered in HDR's Maui office, was presented with the award Feb. 22 at the 2014 HCES Engineers Week banquet.Now in his seventh year with HDR, Ching has worked on numerous projects throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region. He has produced civil engineering, site development, utility infrastructure design ...

Increasing minimum wage: Will it help or hurt?

According to Senate Bill 2609, the premise for increasing the minimum wage is "to give Hawaii workers a higher wage that recognizes increased costs of living and enables them to build a better life."While we all want to eliminate poverty in Hawaii and our nation, we need winning solutions that avoid unintended consequences and improve lives.We have been sharing our concerns with legislators statewide on the high raises proposed in the two remaining bills.HB2580 increases the minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2018 as follows (It also increases the tip credit by 25 cents each year through ...

Business / In Brief • Mar. 7, 2014

Firm to sell Hawaii in Latin AmericaHONOLULU - An Argentina-based company has been selected to market Hawaii as a vacation destination for travelers in Latin America.The Hawaii Tourism Authority says it selected Focus/LATAM to help grow tourism and spending from Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.HTA President Mike McCartney says the Latin America market is an emerging one that has potential for growth.There were 28,000 visitors from the Latin America region last year, contributing $84 million in visitor spending.The contract with Focus/LATAM runs through March 2016.

Farmer sues over GMO rule

HILO (AP) - A Big Island papaya farmer is suing for relief from new registration requirements for growers of genetically modified crops.The lawsuit filed this week claims the county's new registration law is "burdensome and intrusive."Papaya crops are exempted by the county's new law restricting the planting of genetically modified crops to enclosed structures such as greenhouses. But papaya growers are still required to register with the county.Violations could include penalties of a fine of up to $1,000 per day.According to the lawsuit, the unnamed plaintiff cultivates a variety of ...

Business / In Brief • Mar. 6, 2014

Hawaiian suspends flight to TaiwanHONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines is suspending its nonstop service to Taiwan, saying the increase in demand it anticipated after a change to U.S. visa rules hasn't materialized.The airline said Wednesday the last flight from Honolulu to Taipei will take off on April 6. The final return flight will depart Taipei the following day.China Airlines also operates a nonstop flight between the two cities.Hawaiian's announcement comes just weeks after it said it would end its nonstop service between Honolulu and Fukuoka, Japan.Hawaiian CEO Mark Dunk-erley said the ...