CARGO BRIEFS
Cargo crisis hits 7-Eleven stores on neighbor isles
HILO » The end of Aloha Airlines has produced bare shelves where fresh sandwiches normally sit in neighbor island 7-Eleven convenience stores.
There are few if any cold ham-and-cheese sandwiches, few hot chicken sandwiches, few fresh salads left.
7-Eleven Hawaii General Manager Glenn Nagatori said yesterday he is working on "many solutions," looking for cargo space to carry such perishable food to the neighbor islands. He hopes to have the problem solved by next week.
Meanwhile, there is still plenty of beer and snacks on 7-Eleven shelves.
Labor Department will meet workers idled in shutdown
The Hawaii Labor Department will hold meetings today to help the nearly 300 Aloha Airlines cargo employees who were laid off this week.
The state's rapid-response team will be on hand to provide services including skills assessment, individual counseling and career planning, along with information on welfare assistance and medical benefits. The schedule is as follows:
Oahu: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Princess Ruth Keelikolani Building, 830 Punchbowl St., Suite 310
Maui: 10 a.m., ILWU Local 142 Meeting Hall, 896 Lower Main St., Wailuku
Kauai: 9 a.m. ILWU Local 142 Meeting Hall, 4151 Hardy St., Lihue
Big Island: 9 a.m. Hilo, Office of Housing and Community Development, 1990 Kinoole St., Suite 104
Kona: 9 a.m. Kaiwi Square, 74-5565 Luhia St., Suite C-4
First Friday party will raise money for Aloha alumni
The public can help raise funds to help jobless former employees of Aloha Airlines who need emergency medical assistance by attending a First Friday block party tomorrow in the area fronting Murphy's Bar & Grill.
Nuuanu and Merchant streets will be sectioned off for the 6-10 p.m. fundraiser. Live entertainment will be provided, and Aloha Airlines memorabilia and T-shirts will be on sale.
Aloha Airlines filed for bankruptcy March 20 and shut down passenger service April 1, leaving thousands of employees suddenly without jobs.
The monthly First Friday Chinatown arts event, sponsored by the city, is organizing the block party with support from Don and Marion Murphy, the Lokahi Giving Project, KHON2 and other donors.