Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire services
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HAWAII
Honolulu ranks 14th in tourism
Honolulu was the 14th top U.S. tourism destination in 2007, according to a report released Friday by economic financial analysis and forecasting company
Global Insight.
Honolulu rose one spot, edging out Houston and Santa Ana, Calif. New York City took top honors thanks to an influx of international visitors, the report said. Orlando and Las Vegas took second and third, respectively.
Honolulu needs 20 visitors to create one job, putting it near the top in terms of job dependence at 1.8 times the average of 100 cities ranked.
The study combines domestic and international travel volumes and spending data from D.K. Shifflet & Associates, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Global Insight.
Communications firm gets notice
Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is asking Hawaii's
Sandwich Isles Communications Inc., among two dozen other telecommunications companies, to account for billions in federal subsidies received to provide telephone service in underserved communities.
Sandwich Isles received $13,535 per line last year, according to Federal Communications Commission data.
The company's founder, Al Hee, said he has not yet received a letter, but that the company was recently audited and was fine. He did not disclose how much federal funding the company has received.
Sandwich Isles is a recipient of Universal Service funding to build a $400 million-$500 million telecommunications network linking Hawaiian Home Lands in the state.
BLOOMBERG NEWS
The union representing thousands of West Coast dockworkers late yesterday reached a tentative contract deal with shippers. Above, a semitrailer truck hauls a shipping container at the Port of Long Beach, Calif.
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Honeywell to design Hoku system
Honeywell International said yesterday it will design and implement the safety and process solutions systems for Kapolei-based
Hoku Scientific Inc.'s planned polysilicon plant in Pocatello, Idaho.
Hoku plans to produce 3,500 metric tons of polysilicon, the key material in making solar panels, for commercial shipments starting next year.
The company's systems will control all plant processes, as well as integrate safety technologies.
BUSINESS PULSE