Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Monday, September 8, 1997

Pleasant Hawaiian
expects record year

Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, which has brought mainland tourists to the islands since the 1950s, said August was a record month for its Hawaii bookings and that year-to-date numbers are close to the company's total for all of 1996.

The Westlake Village, Calif.-based company booked more than 45,000 island travelers in August, a 20 percent increase from a year earlier. Nearly 320,000 clients have visited the islands this year and the company expects to 1997 to beat the previous annual record of 362,000 in 1989, said Ron Heuer, president and chief operating officer.

Heuer said Hawaii, with air fares and hotel room rates still at the level of five years ago, offers good bargains. The low rates, however, mean some hotels can't make a profit, he said.

Owners of Puna land
selling off parcels

The purchase of 1,750 acres of former sugar cane land in Puna on the Big Island has been completed by American Bullion Minerals Ltd. for $1.6 million.

Some of the land that formerly belonged Amfac/JMB Hawaii Inc. is now being sold off in smaller parcels.

Joel LaPinta of Prudential Orchid Island Properties said four parcels ranging from 50 to 60 acres have gone on the market. The price is $3,000 an acre.

Vancouver, British Columbia-based American Bullion also plans to sell off some of its new property in 20-acre parcels, LaPinta said.

MCI says its reducing
rates on Sunday calls

ARLINGTON, Va. -- MCI Communications Corp. said today it reduced its rate for most long-distance calls placed on Sunday to 5 cents a minute.

The new rate applies to long-distance calls placed from one state to another. Calls made within bigger states, such as California or New York, will not receive the new rate.

MCI, the Washington-based telecommunications provider, said it will also offer the rate to its new international calling plan customers who call Canada on Sundays. The international plan has a $3 monthly fee.

MCI said its previous state-to-state rates ranged from 9 cents to 16 cents a minute.