HAWAII

Workshop on using census data offered

A free census workshop is being held on Jan. 27 in Honolulu to help assess data for Hawaii from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

“;The U.S. Census Bureau surveys about 7,500 households, 500 group quarter people, covering about 22,000 people each year in Hawaii,”; state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Theodore Liu said in a statement. “;The training will ensure our government agencies and businesses understand the data and data collection methodology, and make good uses of them in policy making and business planning, especially in this critical economic time.”;

Morgan Walls-Dines, Census Bureau information specialist from the Los Angeles regional office, will conduct the workshop. The workshop will contain an overview of the Census Bureau's survey Internet pages. An update of 2010 census activities will also be provided.

Interested participants are urged to sign up soon for one of the two, three-hour workshop sessions. To register or for more information contact Naomi Akamine of DBEDT at 586-2486 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

First Home Instead senior care opens

Hawaii's first Home Instead Senior Care office has opened, serving Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head. Home Instead is an independently owned and operated company that is part of an international franchise chain.

Home Instead has been established to help a growing senior population stay safe in their homes or care communities. The company's employees, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured, provide companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands and shopping that can help keep seniors independent.

Home Instead is located at 2421 Tusitala St. in Honolulu. Call 923-7700 or visit http://www.homeinstead.com for more information.

Isle crude oil imports fell in October

Hawaii's imports of foreign crude oil in October declined by 25.2 percent compared to a year ago. Through October, Hawaii's imports of foreign crude oil decreased 12.7 percent from 2007, and imports of foreign jet fuel also decreased 15.2 percent during the same period.

Hawaii's gasoline use in October decreased 25.3 percent from 2007 and fell by 8.3 percent during the first 10 months of 2008, according to data released earlier this week by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Through October, Hawaii's consumption of diesel oil for highway use was 2.9 percent lower than in 2007.

As of December, registered gasoline passenger vehicles were 938,424, a decline of 0.9 percent from 2007. 

Go! and Aloha contract team up

Go! announced that beginning today, Aloha Contract Services will provide full passenger service, ramp operations support and baggage services for all go! flights operating in Kahului, Maui; Lihue, Kauai and Kona, on the Big Island. The contract will cover approximately 46 flights per day and have a value of $6 million per year.

Passengers who register for go! Miles frequent flyer program are able to earn go! Miles redeemable for travel and can earn 500 miles just by registering online. Members of the program also receive go!'s monthly newsletter with frequent opportunities to win free neighbor island and mainland vacation getaways! Additional information is available and tickets can be booked online at http://www.iflygo.com or by calling toll free 1-888-IFLYGO2.

Alcoa to cut its work force

PITTSBURGH » Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. says it's cutting about 13 percent of its global work force and slashing spending and output due to the economic downturn.

The Pittsburgh-based company says 1,700 contractors also will be cut and that it's implementing a global salary and hiring freeze.

As a result of its actions, Alcoa expects fourth-quarter charges of between $900 million and $950 million. The company expects to report quarterly results Jan. 12.