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Upcountry Veterinary Services in Makawao will close by March 31

Upcountry Veterinary Services in Makawao has stopped its practice and will close its office by the end of March, according to a news release.Its veterinarian, Ron Moyer, said he has been dealing with "declining health" for the past two years and has been unable to find a suitable professional to take his place.The office will remain open through the end of March for customers to buy supplies and pick up their animal's records to take to other veterinary offices.The office also is looking for those willing to adopt cats, ducks and goats.For more information, call 572-9665.* * *NEW NAME, ...

Honolulu considers limits on condo unit conversions

HONOLULU (AP) - The Honolulu City Council is considering limiting hoteliers from converting hotel rooms to condominium units.The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Thursday that the council advanced a bill unanimously that would require hotel owners to get permits if they want to convert 20 percent or more of their rooms to condos.Members of a group organized by Unite Here Local 5, a union for hotel and health care workers, were rallying in support of the bill Thursday. The union says condo properties employ fewer people."This is just one step toward protecting our good, local jobs, and I ...

New executives named to head Montage Kapalua Bay

Montage Kapalua Bay, formerly The Residences at Kapalua Bay, has named two new executives to head the luxury hotel group's newest property, which is set to open this spring in West Maui.The 24-acre Montage Kapalua Bay will soon feature a 50-suite resort as well as 56-unit residences for sale.Richard Holtzman, who has been in the hospitality industry as an executive for more than 30 years, will oversee management of all operations for Montage Kapalua Bay as vice president and managing director. Earlier in his career, he spent seven years in Hawaii as president of Kukui'ula Development Co. ...

Business/In Brief • Mar. 13, 2014

Geothermal power expansion on holdHILO - Hawaii Electric Light Co. is putting the brakes on an effort to expand geothermal power on the Big Island after an independent observer criticized the utility for lacking sufficient planning.The state Public Utilities Commission assigned Boston Pacific Co. to be the independent observer. In a letter to the PUC, Boston Pacific said the utility was "putting the cart before the horse."Boston Pacific said that HELCO should study whether there's a need for the project and identify alternatives.That's prompting HELCO to wait until a power supply ...

Business/In Brief • Mar. 12, 2014

87-month sentence for fraud schemeHONOLULU - A former Hilo resident has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for a scheme that netted more than $1.2 million.The U.S. Attorney's office says Justice Wade Smith was sentenced Monday to 87 months in federal prison.Prosecutors say he falsely claimed he would repay investors with interest using money he was to inherit from a family trust or with money he would get as a law enforcement contractor.He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. He also pleaded guilty to willfully failing to file a 2012 tax return, when he ...

Coffee farmers worried about pending land sale

HILO (AP) - Kau farmers are anxious over the pending sale of lands where they've worked to cultivate some of world's best coffee.Rusty's Hawaiian owner Lorie Obra told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald the uncertainty has her worried. Her lease is up next month, she said.Obra started the coffee farm with her late husband, Rusty, about 15 years ago. The farm on 12 acres of leased land made the Roasters Guild's top 10 list in a 2012 global competition.Coffee farms cover 300 acres of the 5,880 acres on the market, said California-based real estate firm Kennedy Wilson, which is handling the sale.The ...