Business/In Brief • Oct. 12, 2013

October 12, 2013

Pflueger sentenced for tax evasionHONOLULU - A Hawaii car dealer who agreed to testify about his father in a manslaughter case has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for tax evasion.Alan Pflueger was sentenced Friday in federal court in Honolulu.Pflueger pleaded guilty last year to filing a tax return with unreported income in 2005.Pflueger is the son of James Pflueger, who took a plea deal earlier this year in a case involving the deaths of seven people on his property when a dam broke in 2006. James Pflueger pleaded no contest to reckless endangering charges in exchange for ...

Phishing websites target unemployed

October 10, 2013

HONOLULU (AP) - The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is warning the public about unauthorized websites that appear to be trying to get personal information from those seeking unemployment benefits.The department said Tuesday that the sites bear the state of Hawaii seal and are targeting those wanting to file unemployment benefits online.The websites ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers and birth dates.The department reminds the public that the only legitimate website for filing unemployment claims in Hawaii is at uiclaims.hawaii.gov.

Business/In Brief • Oct. 8, 2013

October 8, 2013

Larger subsidy sought to provide InternetHONOLULU - Hawaiian Telcom is asking the Federal Communications Commission for a larger subsidy to provide broadband Internet to rural areas in Hawaii.The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday that the telecommunications company is asking for the funds as part of the FCC's "Connect America" program.The FCC says Hawaiian Telcom has already received about $1.4 million to subsidize broadband service to more than 1,800 homes.The next phase of the program is expected to last five years, with $1.8 billion to be spent nationwide.The FCC plans to ...

Hawaii lawmakers hold health care reform hearing

October 5, 2013

HONOLULU (AP) - State lawmakers plan to hold a hearing next week on Hawaii's insurance exchange and other Affordable Care Act health care reforms.The hearing at the state Capitol on Wednesday will call on Hawaii Health Connector Executive Director Coral Andrews to provide an update on the insurance exchange.The state's insurance commissioner and Gov. Neil Abercrombie's Affordable Care Act implementation manager are also due to speak.The Hawaii Health Connector has had a rocky debut.As of Thursday, consumers still couldn't see prices and plans on the connector website - two days after the ...

Business/In Brief • Oct. 4, 2013

October 4, 2013

LIHUE - Kauai's electric utility wants to charge customers not using the company's wireless smart meters $10.27 a month.The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Wednesday it will ask the state Public Utilities Commission for permission to levy the fee.Smart meters allow utilities to remotely read customers' meters as well as connect and disconnect service.KIUC says about 10 percent of its 30,000 customers are opting not to use smart meters. The cooperative says it costs about $340,000 a year to send technicians to read old-style meters still in use at 3,000 homes and businesses.The ...

Business/In Brief • Oct. 3, 2013

October 3, 2013

HONOLULU - The number of Hawaii residents and businesses filing for bankruptcy fell in September to the lowest level in more than five years.The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported 153 bankruptcies were filed in September, down more than 4 percent from the same month a year ago. That's the smallest number since February 2008 when there were 141.Most were filed under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code, which calls for the liquidation of debtor assets.Oahu filings dropped 15 percent and Hawaii County cases fell 17 percent. Filings rose in Maui and Kauai counties.Bankruptcy filings in ...