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Master appointed to oversee nurses funds

Federal District Court Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi appointed a special master yesterday to oversee the financial matters of the Hawaii Nurses Association and its collective bargaining organization until a hearing can be held to settle the dispute between them.

Both groups had earlier filed lawsuits over financial management of union dues. The union is asking the court to terminate its association with HNA. HNA asserts the union is not an autonomous body.

Kobayashi also consolidated the suits into one case. A hearing has been set for Jan. 5 before Federal Judge Helen Gilmor.

Technology mission to China

The state is inviting Hawaii environmental technology businesses on an export development trade mission to Beijing, China, Dec. 9-18.

China's environmental protection equipment and technology need to be updated to meet higher environmental protection standards, and there are tremendous opportunities for Hawaii companies, said Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The mission, organized in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service - U.S. Embassy, Beijing, will include participation in the 8th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference.

Interested Hawaii firms must submit a Gold Key Matching Service Grant Application, available online at www.state.hi.us/dbedt/ert/goldkey/questionnaire.html, by Oct. 24.

For more information, call Mark Want at 586-2751 or e-mail mwant@dbedt.hawaii.gov.

Meeting planners head to town

Some 110 meeting planners will attend the 6th Annual Pacific Rim Incentives & Meetings Exchange from Oct. 30-31 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Professionals invited to attend PRIME are key decision-makers of major companies, organizations and associations who plan and organize meetings in the Pacific. PRIME is produced by Pacific Marketing Corp. of Honolulu.

HMSA plan gets high marks

Health Plan Hawaii, the health maintenance organization plan of Hawaii Medical Service Association, has maintained its "excellent" accreditation status with the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

The NCQA conducts on-site surveys every three years to determine if health plans meet certain requirements. Areas assessed in the rating process include clinical quality, access to care and member satisfaction.

The "excellent" rating means the scores received by Health Plan Hawaii put it at or near the top 25 percent of all health plans in the United States. Health Plan Hawaii, founded in 1981, has 140,000 members.

Hawaiian, Northwest offer e-ticket

Hawaiian Airlines now has an e-ticketing arrangement with Northwest Airlines in which each airline can do electronic ticketing for the other's flights through their reservations centers, as well as at airports and ticket offices. Hawaiian said most U.S. travel agencies also should be able to handle e-ticketing for Hawaiian and Northwest by Oct. 18.

E-ticketing is a paperless system in which travelers show their identification at check-in to get their boarding passes.

SEC considers mutual fund rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission will consider new curbs on mutual fund trading to prevent abuses as it continues to investigate a widening fund scandal, the regulatory agency's head said yesterday.

The surprise announcement by SEC Chairman William Donaldson came after three investment companies pledged to make restitution to investors in mutual funds who lost money because of alleged improper trading.

Evidence has surfaced in the SEC's investigation that has convinced officials that new rules and restrictions should be considered.

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[Hawaii Inc.]

PROMOTIONS

>> SMG Hawaii has promoted Sonia Fiesta to Hawaii Convention Center finance director. She is responsible for overseeing financial analysis, budgeting, contracts and purchasing. She was hired by the center four years ago as accounting director.

ON THE BOARD

>> Hawaii Council of Associations of Apartment Owners elected Bouganville Condominium's Jane Sugimura as president. Other officers are Vice President Milton Motooka, Treasurer Agnes Ringle and Secretary Norman Dupont. Other directors are Frances Delany, Burt Goldenburg, Kenneth Kanehiro, Phyllis Okada Kacher, Dan O'Leary, Richard Port and Lyle Toepke.

>> Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii has named retired Bank of Hawaii President David Taylor as president of the board for 2003-04. Other officers are Vice President Sharon Ogawa Inamine, Secretary Suzanne Anderson and Treasurer Elsa Honma. The following were named as new board members: Nina Armstrong, Anita DiMauro, Sara Dudgeon, Molly Strode, Donna Borengasser, JoAnn Jozaitis, Robert Lung, Carol McNamee, Juan Alberto Montalbano, Renee Sonobe Hong, Kathy Nelson, Yvonne Nelson, Theresa Paulette Winn, Carolyn Staats, Wendy Suite, Heather Taylor, Greg Tjapkes, Licia Trotter and Mary Ann Whaley.