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THE 'REAL' REAL WORLD

Students go to work on Groundhog Job Shadow Day

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Genavi Pablico took part in Groundhog Job Shadow Day yesterday at Mililani Tech Park. A national event in its seventh year, Job Shadow Day gives youngsters a first-hand look into the workplace. The event is organized locally by Junior Achievement of Hawaii, the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association as well as others.

HAWAII

Aloha initiates cheap fares

Aloha Airlines has launched a Super Web Fare Sale with flights between Hawaii and its U.S. mainland destinations for as little as $139 one-way.

The special fares are only available from Aloha's Web site and the carrier's Internet partners. The sale runs through Feb. 17 and fares are good for travel from Feb. 2 through June 15.

The Honolulu-based carrier operates daily trans-Pacific flights between Hawaii and California, Arizona, Nevada and Canada; and daily flights between Reno and Orange County, Phoenix and Orange County, Sacramento and Burbank, Las Vegas and Burbank, and Las Vegas and Oakland.

The sale also marks the launch of Aloha's newly redesigned Web site. Customers who book online at www.AlohaAirlines.com can save 10 percent off of a phoned-in reservation.

For more information, call 1-800-367-5250.

Flower council changes name

The Hawaii Tropical Flower Council -- an umbrella trade organization that includes specialty floral groups such as the Hawaii Anthurium Industry Association, the Protea Growers Association and Hawaii Tropical Flowers & Foliage Association -- has changed its name to Hawaii's Flowers.

The growing importance of the Internet as a medium for floral purchases and competition coming from the Caribbean, Thailand and Central America prompted the change. The council said it wanted to create a brand or name that will be more effective in helping consumers and florists to differentiate between Hawaii flowers and foreign floral products.

In 2002, Hawaii floriculture industry's grower sales were $92 million. All U.S. domestic floral production in 2002 was valued at $420 million, while the total value of imports was estimated to be $522 million.

ASB wins lending honor

American Savings Bank has been named National Lender of the Year by Ways to Work Inc. for supporting the organization's Ways to Work Family Loan Program on Oahu. The bank's role in the program was recognized out of a field of 42 such programs throughout the nation.

Last year, ASB, the only bank in the state to offer the Ways to Work loan program, doled out nearly $150,000 in loans to low-income parents who could not get loans elsewhere. Since 2001, ASB has funded 93 loans totaling almost $250,000.

The purpose of the Ways to Work program is to provide loans that help qualifying parents on Oahu keep their jobs, get better jobs or stay in school. The loans range from $500 to $4,000 and may be used to help low- and moderate-income families purchase a used car, or pay for car repairs, child care or other needs.

Insurer DTRIC's rating upgraded

DTRIC Insurance Co. of Honolulu has had its financial strength rating upgraded to A-, or excellent, from B+, or very good, by A.M. Best Co., which rates insurers worldwide.

A.M. Best attributed the upgraded rating to DTRIC's solid business model, consistent growth and improved operating efficiency. DTRIC receives financial and business support from Japan-based Aioi Insurance, a member of the Toyota Group.

WORLD

Toyota to have record profits

Toyota Motor Corp. is poised to report a 34 percent profit gain to a record $9.4 billion this business year, reaping benefits of designing and producing more vehicles overseas.

Toyota will probably report net income of 237 billion yen in the quarter ended Dec. 31, according to the median estimate of four analysts polled by Bloomberg News.

Deduction available for hybrid vehicles

Car buyers who think green can get some green back from the IRS.

The Internal Revenue Service announced yesterday that buyers of the Honda Insight, model years 2003 and 2004, and the 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid are eligible for the clean-fuel vehicle deduction.

Taxpayers who purchase any of these new hybrid vehicles, or others certified previously, may claim a tax deduction of up to $2,000 for tax year 2003 or up to $1,500 for tax year 2004.

By combining an electric motor with a gasoline-powered engine, hybrid vehicles obtain greater fuel efficiency and produce fewer emissions than those powered solely by conventional gasoline-powered engines. Under current law, the clean-fuel vehicle deduction will be reduced incrementally until it expires in 2007.

For more information, see the instructions for Form 1040 or visit www.irs.gov.

The Toyota Prius, model years 2001-04; the Honda Insight, model years 2000-02; and the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid also have been certified by the agency.

Who did Parmalat hurt? Aflac!

Aflac Inc., the world's biggest seller of supplemental health insurance, said fourth-quarter profit fell 61 percent because of losses from Parmalat Finanziaria SpA bonds. New premium sales in the U.S. grew 7.7 percent.

Net income fell to $73 million, or 14 cents per share, from $186 million, or 35 cents, a year earlier, the Columbus, Ga.- based company said.