TheBuzz
TheBuzz
The bank that
says ‘Caymans’First Hawaiian Bank maintains a branch in the Cayman Islands. Among Hawaii's top three banks it's the only one that does.
"We've had an offshore branch there for about 20 years to allow us to conduct transactions in offshore markets," said Gerry Keir, executive vice president for corporate communications.
Despite the stealth-banking mystique of the Caymans, Keir was forthcoming. "Sometimes we place a small amount of overnight and short-term funds in the offshore market, giving us a higher rate of return and providing a diversification of our credit risk.
"Generally, offshore rates are slightly higher than domestic rates and the markets more liquid," he said.
Neither Bank of Hawaii nor American Savings Bank have branches in the Caymans, but in the Hawaiian islands, "we do have 71 branches statewide," said American Savings Bank Public Relations Director Lance Tomasu.
Not on EBay
An exclusive tour is up for auction as part of Hawaii Public Radio's Spring membership drive beginning April 24.Otherwise unavailable, according to a statement, it's a tour of the Keck Observatory on the Big Island.
"You could be a Nobel Prize laureate and not get into see the Keck, but if you're a member in exceptionally good standing ...," Hawaii Public Radio President and General Manager Michael Titterton said.
Pledge premiums include a new line of T-shirts, said Titterton, "resplendent with a large pocket watch, emblematic of (the theme) 'Time Well Spent.'"
A first this time will be remote broadcasts from neighbor islands. HPR Music Director Gene Schiller will broadcast from Borders Books Music & Cafe in Hilo on Saturday, April 27, and "Evening Concert" host Rodger Layng will do the honors live from Borders in Kahului on Sunday, April 28.
The fund-raising goal this time around is $365,000, the highest ever.
"They're always the highest goal ever," Titterton said. The October pledge drive raised $347,000, slightly ahead of the goal despite events of the previous month.
HPR pledge drives are conducted twice a year. "It's worse than taxes," Titterton quipped, then expressed regret he'd said that to a reporter.
In January HPR AM station KIFO was sold to Utah-based Diamond Broadcasting Corp., but the deal remains in escrow despite its anticipated February closing; the station recently underwent a frequency change from 1380 to 1370 for technical reasons. When the $500,000 deal was announced, Titterton said half the proceeds would help retire debt and the remainder would to toward re-engineering KIPO FM 89.3.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com