Hawaii resorts named among the best

Five Hawaii properties in the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide family of hotels made it into top slots in the annual "readers' choice" list in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The two Lanai hotels marketed in Starwood's "Luxury Collection," the Lodge at Koele and the Manele Bay Hotel, were in the top 100 identified by the Conde Nast readers as the best hotels in the world.

Those two were also in the "Top 25 Pacific Resorts," along with three other Hawaii Starwood resorts, the Orchid at Mauna Lani, on the Big Island; the Princeville Resort, Kauai; and the famed "Pink Palace" in Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

The two Lanai hotels are operated as Starwood Luxury Collection franchises but managed by the owner, Castle & Cooke Inc. The Orchid and Princeville, also in the Luxury Collection, are managed by Starwood, as is the Royal Hawaiian, marketed in the Sheraton Resort category.

Other Hawaii resorts in the Pacific top 25 list are: Kahala Mandarin Oriental; Ritz-Carlton Kapalua; the Four Seasons properties at Hualalai and Wailea, Halekulani; the Hyatt Regency resorts on Maui and Kauai; Grand Wailea; Mauna Lani Resort; Mauna Kea Beach Hotel; Alii Tower at Hilton Hawaiian Village; Fairmont Kea Lani; and Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Kaiser adds new benefits for federal employees

Kaiser Permanente's medical benefit plan for federal employees will now include chiropractic and acupuncture coverage as well as discounts on other alternative health services.

The open enrollment period when federal employees choose health plan coverage began yesterday and closes Dec. 10. Currently, about 17,000 federal employees have Kaiser coverage.

The additional benefits will be provided through the American Specialty Health network of providers. The company also provides alternate health benefit services for the state's largest insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Big Island looks for ag distribution help

The Big Island's Biosystems Technology program is soliciting proposals for programs that will help speed up marketing and distribution of the island's agricultural products.

The amount of agricultural inventory increased significantly since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Companies interested in bidding must have experience with agricultural production, processing, distribution and marketing both at the local, national and international level. The request for proposal must describe specific action that the company plans to take and show potential partnerships for implementing the plan. For more information, contact Susan Matsushima (808) 255-5777 or e-mail alluvio@aloha.net.

In other news ...

Japan's four-day-old ban on U.S. poultry imports may be lifted in a day or two after tests found no evidence of avian influenza virus on a Connecticut chicken farm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

Japan is the sixth-largest export market for U.S. poultry, with purchases valued at $131.6 million last year.