Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, June 12, 1996
Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, June 12, 1996
Honolulu this year climbed to 88th, compared with 102nd a year ago, according to a reader survey.
Despite bitter-cold winters, Madison, Wis., ranks first.
Home to a University of Wisconsin campus and a vibrant economy boasting just 1.5 percent unemployment, Madison beat out the nation's other 299 biggest metropolitan areas.
On the opposite end of the list, but not far from Madison geographically, Rockford, Ill., ranked dead last at No. 300. Money cited subpar prospects for future job growth and a below-average health care system.
Money's ranking of the best places has become an annual rite, generating much media attention. The list is compiled by polling readers to see what factors are most important to them, collecting data and using them to rank the 300 largest metropolitan areas.
The factors deemed by readers as most important this year were: a low crime rate, clean water, clean air, plentiful doctors, many hospitals, rising housing values, good schools, low property taxes, low income taxes and strong state government.
The original loan was made in 1991, and it has been extended another five years.
The security for the loan is two 18-hole golf courses at Kaanapali, Maui, which together are appraised at $125 million.
ERS officials said the extension is in the fund's best interest because the ERS is likely to make more money by extending the loan than it would have by calling in the principal and interest that was due this month.
Jeff Cavanaugh, an investment adviser to the ERS, said that under terms of the new loan, the ERS will be paid not only the principal and interest but also a share of any increase in value of the golf courses, whether they are sold or not.
IAT signed a letter of intent to buy 100 percent of the fresh fruit producer, and the sale is expected to be completed by the end of summer, said Abelardo Sanchez, chief operating officer of Fresh Del Monte.
Fresh Del Monte is the world's third largest producer of fresh bananas and the largest marketer of fresh pineapples.
Dole Food Co. of West Lake Village, Calif., and Chiquita Brands International Inc. of Cincinnati are the world's largest and second-largest banana producers.
IAT is a closely-held Chilean fresh fruit producer based in Santiago.