HAWAII

Get out and eat for democracy

Nearly two dozen restaurants in Hawaii will donate up to 10 percent of proceeds earned today in support of Kids Voting Hawaii, a statewide voter-to-be education project.

"Rotarians asked them," said Linda Coble, Kids Voting Hawaii 2002 board chairwoman. "Some of these restaurants are places where our clubs meet," while others are frequented by individual members.

The list of eateries participating in "Dining for Democracy" is posted at American Savings Bank branches and at www.kidsvotinghawaii.org.

The restaurants are the latest businesses to support the project for which Commercial Data Systems Inc. and HEI Inc. developed a secure Web site. It provides teachers a system to download password-tokens for students, tells students their precinct and district and ensures that each student voter can only cast one ballot. The companies "have just made it happen in cyberspace," said Coble.

Hawaii income boosts ResortQuest

ResortQuest Inc., bolstered by a 4.1 percent increase in its Hawaii rental units, said today it had third-quarter net income of $5.4 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with $466,000, or 10 cents a share, a year ago. Revenues of $58 million slightly exceeded the $57.6 million in the same period of 2001.

The Memphis, Tenn.-based company, which through its Aston Hotels & Resorts subsidiary manages more than 30 properties in Hawaii, said its total gross lodging revenues had its lowest quarterly decline this year as it slipped 4.2 percent to $135.3 million from $141.3 million a year ago. The Hawaii resorts' same-store gross lodging revenues, which incorporates resorts operated for at least a year, increased slightly to $38 million from $37.5 million a year ago, benefiting from the gain in rental units. The increase represented the first time this year that a region surpassed prior year results.

Hiking firm noted for eco-tourism

Ecotourism professionals Hugh Montgomery and Kaulana Montgomery, owners of Big Island hiking firm Hawaiian Walkways Inc., have been awarded the new tour operator of the year award by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association.

The Montgomerys and their company, founded in 1984, were honored yesterday at an awards luncheon at Ala Moana Park's McCoy Pavilion.

MAINLAND

Clear Channel turns loss to profit

LOS ANGELES >> Clear Channel Communications Inc., the largest U.S. radio broadcaster, said today it swung to a third-quarter profit, benefiting from a rebound in radio advertising and reduced capital expenditures.

The San Antonio company reported a better than expected profit of $212.5 million, or 34 cents per share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $232.2 million, or 39 cents, a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, forecast earnings of 32 cents per share, according to research firm Thomson First Call.

Clear Channel owns and operates seven radio stations in Honolulu, the maximum number under single ownership allowed in a market of Honolulu's size. They include KSSK-FM/AM.

EchoStar tries to save Hughes merger

WASHINGTON >> Representatives from satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications Corp. tried to convince Justice Department officials yesterday to approve a proposed $18 billion merger with Hughes Electronics, offering to bolster a rival to preserve competition.

Under the revised plan, the company would give up some satellite capacity to strengthen Cablevision Systems Corp., according to House Energy and Commerce Committee spokesman Ken Johnson. The committee's staff was briefed on the changes last week.

Johnson said EchoStar would sell and lease its own satellites to a Cablevision subsidiary and would give Cablevision the capacity to deliver programs nationwide.

WORLD

Airline security costs grow by $3 billion

Rome >> Airlines worldwide are spending $3 billion more this year on increased security measures as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the International Air Transport Association said. The extra measures' benefits have been limited as some impeded business by discouraging travel, the airline-industry group said. Governments should take responsibility for protecting carriers while developing more effective technology, IATA said.

"Badly conceived security measures are badly hurting the airlines," said IATA Chief Executive Giovanni Bisignani. "Governments should implement and pay for aviation security, not the airlines, not the airports and not their customers who are already taxpayers."

Koizumi backs plan to clean up Japan banks

TOKYO >> Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi endorsed today a contentious plan to clean up the nation's banks, giving a major boost to his embattled financial services minister who has met with fierce opposition to his get-tough approach on Japan's bad-loan problem.

Heizo Takenaka, who became the country's chief banking regulator just one month ago, was forced to delay releasing the draft of his widely anticipated bad-loan plan last Tuesday after fierce objections from ruling party lawmakers.

"I approved (Takenaka's) basic policy," Koizumi said after meeting with Takenaka upon his return from an economic forum in Mexico. "I instructed that final coordinations be made with the ruling parties in line with Takenaka's plan."

Takenaka told reporters he and the reformist minister stood "firmly on common ground with regard to accelerating the disposal of non-performing loans."

Koizumi's support comes in the nick of time for Takenaka who is set to release his proposal tomorrow.