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* Tom Bell, a 22-year-veteran of the hospitality industry and president of Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts, recently was elected president of the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association.Bell replaces Mike Jokovich, the former general manager of Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, who transferred to the Mainland.Bell, who attended Punahou School on Oahu, also is a college lecturer and is a director on the board of Guenoc Wine Inc., director/secretary of the Kaanapali (Resort) Operations Association and a director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, a news release said.His resume ...

Business / In Brief • Aug. 3, 2013

Man indicted in investment schemeHONOLULU - A Honolulu federal grand jury has indicted a man accused of another Hawaii-based investment scheme.The indictment alleges Curtis Wayne Ross defrauded more than $167,000 from four people in Hawaii.Ross is ordered to appear in Honolulu to answer wire fraud charges. The FBI says he moved away from Hawaii and is believed to be living in Atlanta.According to the indictment filed Thursday, he offered false investment opportunities in international diamond and gold transactions, as well as renewable energy industries.He purported to be a ...

Business/In Brief • Aug. 2, 2013

Debate over GMO regs draws crowdLIHUE - The debate over a bill allowing Kauai County to regulate pesticides and genetically modified crops drew about 600 to the Kauai Veterans Center in Lihue, with hundreds more gathered outside.The Kauai County Council held the public meeting Wednesday on the bill that would force corporations on Kauai to make public the application of restricted or experimental pesticides, if use exceeds 5 pounds or 15 gallons within a year, KITV reported.It would also require all GMO fields or storage facilities to be identified by geographic location and tax map key. ...

Business/In Brief • Aug. 1, 2013

Hawaiian Air adds more seats to TahitiHONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines is adding more seats to its weekly flights to Tahiti.The airline says it is responding to increased demand for service to Papeete, Tahiti.Starting Nov. 2, Hawaiian will change the aircraft serving the route with one that adds 30 more seats.That's also when Hawaiian begins adjusting its Tahiti flight schedule by moving departure and arrival times one hour earlier.The airline says the new schedule allows travelers to board the popular Paul Gauguin Cruises ships in Tahiti.*****Festival showcases Hawaii productsHONOLULU - ...

Business/In Brief • July 31, 2013

Man pleads guilty to securities fraudHONOLULU - A financial adviser is pleading guilty to swindling $2.2 million from Honolulu city employees and retirees.The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Bruce Harada pleaded guilty Tuesday to securities fraud and money laundering.According to an indictment, the 55-year-old was an independent financial adviser for ING North America Corp. when he committed the crimes from April 2007 to May 2012.Prosecutors say he convinced at least 22 people to withdraw money from their deferred compensation accounts to reinvest in a mutual fund he claimed was ...

Business / In Brief • July 25, 2013

HONOLULU - A new report touts Hawaii as a leader in solar energy.The report released Tuesday by Environment America ranks Hawaii third in the nation per capita for solar installations. The group says Hawaii's solar capacity last year grew by 57 percent, bringing it to a total of 191 megawatts.Gov. Neil Abercrombie says the ranking demonstrates the state's commitment to achieving clean energy goals. He says barriers are being removed to allow more people to invest in and benefit from alternative sources of energy, such as solar.There were 12 states profiled in the report. The group says ...