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Business / In Brief • June 1, 2013

Businesses partner to offer wedding and event serviceMaui Catering Services is expanding its business to provide wedding and event planning, the company announced.The Paia-based catering company, which has been operating for more than 10 years, has partnered with Hang Ten Weddings and Kaimana Estate to offer guests a one-stop shop for weddings and events. In addition to their catering services, the business will offer affordable all-inclusive wedding and event packages."Many of our clients have busy lives and lack the time needed to plan their ideal destination wedding," owner and ...

$64M in Stafford loans in Hawaii as D.C. mulls rates

HONOLULU (AP) - The White House says college students in Hawaii have borrowed more than $64 million in subsidized college loans that are the subject of debate in Washington over interest rates.President Barack Obama on Friday urged Congress to prevent an increase in student loan rates. He says rising college costs unfairly saddle young people with more debt as they begin their adult lives.Interest rates on new subsidized Stafford loans are set to double, from 3.4 to 6.8 percent, on July 1. Lawmakers from both parties say they want to avoid the increase but are divided over how to ...

Cargo shipments between Hawaiian Islands decline

Cargo shipments between Honolulu and six Neighbor Island ports declined by 3.9 percent in the first quarter of 2013, according to the Young Brothers' quarterly shipping report.Young Brothers transported 31,144 cargo items between Honolulu and Neighbor Island ports in this year's first quarter, down from 32,416 items in the first quarter of 2012."It's disappointing to start the year with a decline," said Glenn Hong, president of Young Brothers. "Nevertheless, it's a continuation of the volatility we've experienced in quarterly comparisons of intrastate cargo volumes over the last few ...

Business / In Brief • May 31, 2013

LIHUE - The U.S. Department of Labor wants to fine the Kauai Beach Resort nearly $50,000 for safety and health violations.The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it cited the resort for 14 violations. Serious violations include improper storage of propane tanks and unsafe electrical work by untrained maintenance staff.The resort faces a total of $48,000 in proposed fines after a routine OSHA inspection in February.More than 270 employees work at the Lihue resort.The hotel said in a statement that the items OSHA brought to management's attention have been ...

Limited-release beer features Maui-raised lemongrass

Maui Brewing Co. collaborated with brewer Lost Abbey of California in using 100 percent Maui-raised lemongrass in a limited release beer, a news release from the beer company said.Lemongrass Saison is a 5.5 percent alcohol by volume beer utilizing white wheat, oats, pilsner malt, lemongrass, citra and Nelson Sauvin hops. This limited-release beer has been available since mid-April in 12-ounce cans and draft.The Lost Abbey is a brewery located in San Marcos, Calif., and is famous for its Belgian-inspired beers.In total, about 500 barrels were produced, out of which about 400 barrels was ...

Business / In Brief • May 25, 2013

Kauai police: Uptick in counterfeit moneyLIHUE - Kauai police are warning about an uptick in counterfeit bills being used on the island.Assistant Chief Roy Asher says once someone accepts a counterfeit bill, there's almost nothing that can be done to recover lost funds.Asher says police are urging business owners to be more careful when accepting payments.Police say counterfeit cash ranges from false bills printed on regular paper to actual low-value bills that are washed and reprinted with a higher denomination. Authorities say washed bills are tougher to spot because counterfeit pens ...