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Residents face flood insurance increases

HONOLULU - Nearly 14,000 federally subsidized flood insurance policies in Hawaii will start to see premium increases as Congress looks to get a federal program out of a $24 billion hole.Legislation signed by President Barack Obama on Friday means homeowners won't see premiums jump all at once as scheduled under a 2012 overhaul.But the relief law calls for insurance rates for owner-occupied homes to increase by up to 18 percent annually, while businesses and second homes will see hikes of 25 percent a year.On Oahu, home to the World Cup of Surfing, more than 8,000 policyholders face the ...

Business / In Brief • Mar. 22, 2014

United mulls outsourcing some operationsHONOLULU - United Airlines is considering outsourcing some Hawaii ground operations, potentially leading to the layoff of more than 220 employees in Lihue, Kahului and Kona.The airline told workers at the three Hawaii airports and 12 small Mainland airports last week that it's examining market rates for ground operations work, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.The airline said it pays the same labor rates in all markets but its major competitors pay rates in line with each local market. United spokesman Christen David said the difference puts ...

Business/In Brief • Mar. 21, 2014

State investigates illegal solar panelsHONOLULU - The state is investigating solar panel systems that are being turned on without permission from Hawaiian Electric Co.KHON-TV reported Wed-nesday that the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is investigating the illegal photovoltaic systems because they've already damaged some homes.DCCA Consumer Advocacy Branch Executive Director Jeffrey Ono says officials are already seeing homes on Molokai that have had electronic systems burn out as a result.The Hawaii Solar Energy Association estimates there are more than a thousand ...

Dairy and cheesery win approval on Big Island

HILO (AP) - Hawaii land officials have approved a nearly 1,400 acre dairy farm and cheesery on the Big Island.The Hawaii Tribune-Herald said Monday that the business will be run by a family whose history in the dairy industry goes back several generations, to the Netherlands and, more recently, California.Mauna Kea Moo will include 200 milking cows and 100 dry cows. The Dutch Hawaiian Cheesery will include several flavors of hard cheeses named for different areas of the farm.Kees Kea, one of the farm's owners, says his family planned to open the dairy several years ago but had to wait ...

Names & Faces

Nadia S. Vlahos of Kahului has been recognized by Strathmore's Who's Who Worldwide Publication for her "outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of solar energy," according to an announcement.Vlahos has more than 15 years experience in the field of solar energy and is an energy consultant for Friends Solar. It does business on Maui, Oahu and Hawaii. The company provides solar panel system design, installation and maintenance, energy solutions and turn-key solar system installations.Vlahos is responsible for writing grants and consulting on energy and solar ...

Google adds a session to seminar on Wednesday

Due to stronger-than-expected demand, Google has added a second session to its free seminar Wednesday for Maui businesses looking to grow their online presence.The Maui Get Your Business Online workshop is part of a national Google program designed to drive economic growth by helping small businesses increase their online visibility to find new customers and to sell more products, according to the news release about the workshop.The session from 9 a.m. to noon at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center drew 100 registrants, prompting Google to add a second session beginning at 1 p.m.At the ...