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Business/In Brief • Jan. 30, 2014

Dairy farm aims to be operational in 2015WAIPOULI, Kauai - Backers of a proposed dairy farm on Kauai said they hope to be producing milk for customers next year.Hawaii Dairy Farms wants to break ground in the spring if it gets the required building permits, Amy Hennessey, communications director for the sole investor Ulupono Initiative, told the Kauai Economic Development Board on Tuesday.Hawaii Dairy Farms would be located on more than 580 acres in Mahaulepu near Koloa, The Garden Island reported. Operators say 70 percent of the diet of the dairy cows would be Kikyu grass and 30 percent ...

Shoppers may be affected by data breach

HONOLULU (AP) - State officials say nearly 10,000 Hawaii shoppers may have been affected by a data breach at Neiman Marcus.The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on Tuesday urged Hawaii residents to take precautions if they believe they are affected.Neiman Marcus says 1.1 million debit and credit cards used at its stores may have been compromised in a security breach last year.The high-end retailer said Visa, MasterCard and Discover have found 2,400 Neiman Marcus and Last Call customer cards that were used fraudulently. Last Call is Neiman Marcus' clearance chain.Neiman ...

Topaz Goldsmith & Gallery in Kihei is holding a closing sale for its jewelry store, although the owners report that the date of the final sales has yet to be decided.Currently, repairs, watch batteries and designing is continuing as usual.The store is at 2395 S. Kihei Road, Suite 117.For more information, call 879-5877 or send email to topaz.gg@hawaiiantel.biz.The business' website is www.mauitopaz.com.***Closet opens. Rebecca's Closet Resale, a "trendy second-hand store," has opened at 310 Alamaha St. in Kahului, according to an announcement and the store's Facebook page.Its hours ...

Business/In Brief • Jan. 25, 2014

First Hawaiian sets record for total assetsHONOLULU - First Hawaiian Bank says its profits dropped 3 percent to $51.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2013 as the company set a record for total assets.Bank officials said Friday that First Hawaiian's total assets grew to $17.1 billion as of Dec. 31.First Hawaiian CEO Bob Harrison says the asset growth has been steady year by year. He says he expects steady growth to continue in 2014 with construction projects underway and the economy improving.The bank had $13.6 billion in deposits and $9.5 billion in loans and leases as of the end of ...

Proposed council bill shows no love for farmers

Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran has proposed a "Bill Relating to Pesticides and Genetically Modified Organizations" that is really close to a bill already passed on Kauai. If passed, it would be devastating to Maui County's agricultural industry.The bill threatens farmers by putting horrendous burdens on those who purchase or use in excess of 5 pounds or 15 gallons of any single restricted-use pesticide during the prior calendar year. They must disclose the use of all pesticides of any kind during the following calendar year, and:* Post warning signs in areas where pesticides may ...

Business/In Brief • Jan. 24, 2014

HONOLULU - An affordable rental housing nonprofit organization is honoring the late union and social activist Ah Quon McElrath with a plaque.The Hawaii Housing Development Corp. will unveil the bronze plaque at Wisteria Vista Senior Apartments in Honolulu today.McElrath spent most of her career as a social worker for the International Longshoremen's and Warehouse Union.She pushed the state Legislature to increase unemployment benefits for workers and improve workers' compensation and disability insurance.She also secured federal funds to build homes for low-income workers.Hawaii Housing ...