Business Briefs
Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, April 24, 1996
Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, April 24, 1996
The department on Tuesday reported that employment increased in the public schools and the University of Hawaii as temporary hires began to show up in the totals. That brought a gain of 1,600 jobs from February, when the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent.
Offsetting some of March's gain in temporary hires were 400 job losses in business services, 300 in construction, 200 in transportation and 100 in retailing.
Among the neighbor islands, the lowest unemployment level, 3.1 percent, was on Lanai. Maui had a 6.5 percent jobless rate, Molokai was at 8.3 percent, the Big Island was at 8.8 percent and Kauai had a jobless level of 11.1 percent. Oahu unemployment was at 5.6 percent.
The firm on Tuesday attributed the results largely to improvements in its pineapple and resort
business, lower interest expenses and withdrawal from a money-losing joint venture.
In the pineapple business, Maui Land generated more money from selling about the same volume of fruit as a year earlier because it was able to charge higher prices. The company said its pricing was helped in part by a favorable ruling against rival Thai pineapple producers, who were accused of dumping pineapple on the market at below cost.
An order signed by Land Board chairman Michael Wilson shows that the board voted 3-2 to deny the request for a conservation district use-permit amendment.
The board does not intend to deliberate further or take another vote, Wilson said.
Helco President Warren Lee said the company and its lawyers believe there has been no conclusive decision. He said the six-member board needs four votes to take any action.
The utility wants to expand the Keahole power plant to produce an additional 58 megawatts of power.