Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business

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Fuel-cell firm buys Kapolei site

Hawaii fuel-cell developer Hoku Scientific Inc. said it has purchased 2.2 acres in the Kapolei Business Park and plans to build its new headquarters and manufacturing facility on the site.

The rapidly growing start-up already occupies 7,000 square feet in Kalihi but needs more space to begin commercial fabrication of its proprietary hydrogen membranes, a key ingredient in fuel cells intended to provide cheap and clean energy to homes in Japan.

The facility will include office space, research-and-development labs and production space, Chairman and CEO Dustin Shindo said. He expects ground to be broken early next year.

No purchase price was given for the sale of the Kapolei site.

The company had earlier announced plans to buy a 38,000-square-foot facility in Maili, but walked away, citing zoning difficulties.

Hoku, which has a relationship with Japan's Sanyo Electric Co., has said Japanese companies plan to launch fuel cells for home use as early as next year, opening a potentially vast new market for Hoku.

Company owes $199K in back pay

A company that handles mail in Hawaii for the U.S. Postal Service has agreed to pay $199,300 in back wages to 57 employees, following a U.S. Labor Department investigation.

Worldwide Flight Services Inc., based in Irvine, Texas, had not paid wages required under the federal Service Contract Act for seven months starting Sept. 14, 2001, according to the department. The company also did not provide all the fringe benefit payments required under the act, department spokeswoman Deanne Amaden said.

Worldwide Flight performed the work as a subcontractor to Evergreen Aviation Ground Logistics Enterprises Inc., of McMinnville, Ore.

Amaden said the workers were responsible for offloading mail from aircraft and delivering it to Postal Service facilities to be processed. She said Worldwide Flight hadn't been keeping the accounting for the work being done under the federal contract separate from its jobs not covered by the contract.

Worldwide Flight "cooperated in the investigation, to sort through all the records and eventually figure out what happened," Amaden said.

Worldwide Flight Services could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Convention center hosts PestWorld

Hawaii is getting a $4.8 million injection of visitor spending this week from more than 2,000 people attending the PestWorld '04 Convention and Exposition at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel and Hawaii Convention Center.

The convention, which started yesterday and runs through Sunday, is being sponsored by the National Pest Management Association, a 65-year-old lobbying organization based in Dunn Loring, Va., which represents its 4,500 members and the pest control industry. It is the second time the organization has held its national convention in Hawaii, the last time being in 1994.

The visitor spending estimate is based on a formula used by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. The formula estimates that the convention will generate about $398,000 for the state's tax coffers.

HELCO exec to lead board

Warren H.W. Lee, head of the Hawaii Electric Light Co., has been named chairman of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, succeeding Roberta F. Chu.

Lee has served as the organization's vice chairman for the past year and joined it in 1991.

The board, a private nonprofit, was organized in 1984 to promote balanced economic development and job creation on the Big Island.

Shidler pulls Waikiki building off the market

The Shidler Group has taken the Pacific Business News Building in Waikiki off the market, for now.

The real estate investment firm said it feels it can get significantly more than its $12 million asking price by completing a renovation plan for the 10-story Kalakaua Avenue property, then selling it. It was bought in 1996 for $7.6 million.

The building went on the block in the spring. But Shidler Group managing director Larry Taff said the firm had "a change of heart" after sensing that the price was too low in today's strong office market.

"If we finish what we started, in three to four years we can probably get a lot more," he said. Renovation plans include a new roof, repainting the building and landscaping upgrades. Taff said the Shidler Group also plans to wire the entire building for high-speed Internet access.

Job fair tonight at Moanalua High

Oahu WorkLinks is co-sponsoring a job search and recruitment fair tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moanalua High School cafeteria.

Companies and agencies will accept applications and conduct preliminary interviews, with positions available in several sectors, including health care, construction, retail and law enforcement.

For more information, call 488-5630.

In other news ...

General Motors Corp. hopes to make its hulking Hummer lineup "more approachable" with a new midsize sport utility vehicle scheduled to go on sale next spring. The Hummer H3 is slated to make its international debut Wednesday.

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Business Briefs Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire [ FAST FACTS HAWAII ] BACK TO TOP \| Fuel-cell firm buys Kapolei site Hawaii fuel-cell developer Hoku Scientific Inc. said it has purchased 2.2 acres in the Kapolei Business Park and plans to build its new headquarters and manufacturing facility on the site. The rapidly growing start-up already occupies 7,000 square feet in Kalihi but needs more space to begin commercial fabrication of its proprietary hydrogen membranes, a key ingredient in fuel cells intended to provide cheap and clean energy to homes in Japan. The facility will include office space, research-and-development labs and production space, Chairman and CEO Dustin Shindo said. He expects ground to be broken early next year. No purchase price was given for the sale of the Kapolei site. The company had earlier announced plans to buy a 38,000-square-foot facility in Maili, but walked away, citing zoning difficulties. Hoku, which has a relationship with Japan's Sanyo Electric Co., has said Japanese companies plan to launch fuel cells for home use as early as next year, opening a potentially vast new market for Hoku. Company owes $199K in back pay A company that handles mail in Hawaii for the U.S. Postal Service has agreed to pay $199,300 in back wages to 57 employees, following a U.S. Labor Department investigation. Worldwide Flight Services Inc., based in Irvine, Texas, had not paid wages required under the federal Service Contract Act for seven months starting Sept. 14, 2001, according to the department. The company also did not provide all the fringe benefit payments required under the act, department spokeswoman Deanne Amaden said. Worldwide Flight performed the work as a subcontractor to Evergreen Aviation Ground Logistics Enterprises Inc., of McMinnville, Ore. Amaden said the workers were responsible for offloading mail from aircraft and delivering it to Postal Service facilities to be processed. She said Worldwide Flight hadn't been keeping the accounting for the work being done under the federal contract separate from its jobs not covered by the contract. Worldwide Flight "cooperated in the investigation, to sort through all the records and eventually figure out what happened," Amaden said. Worldwide Flight Services could not be reached for comment yesterday. Convention center hosts PestWorld Hawaii is getting a $4.8 million injection of visitor spending this week from more than 2,000 people attending the PestWorld '04 Convention and Exposition at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel and Hawaii Convention Center. The convention, which started yesterday and runs through Sunday, is being sponsored by the National Pest Management Association, a 65-year-old lobbying organization based in Dunn Loring, Va., which represents its 4,500 members and the pest control industry. It is the second time the organization has held its national convention in Hawaii, the last time being in 1994. The visitor spending estimate is based on a formula used by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. The formula estimates that the convention will generate about $398,000 for the state's tax coffers. HELCO exec to lead board Warren H.W. Lee, head of the Hawaii Electric Light Co., has been named chairman of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, succeeding Roberta F. Chu. Lee has served as the organization's vice chairman for the past year and joined it in 1991. The board, a private nonprofit, was organized in 1984 to promote balanced economic development and job creation on the Big Island. Shidler pulls Waikiki building off the market The Shidler Group has taken the Pacific Business News Building in Waikiki off the market, for now. The real estate investment firm said it feels it can get significantly more than its $12 million asking price by completing a renovation plan for the 10-story Kalakaua Avenue property, then selling it. It was bought in 1996 for $7.6 million. The building went on the block in the spring. But Shidler Group managing director Larry Taff said the firm had "a change of heart" after sensing that the price was too low in today's strong office market. "If we finish what we started, in three to four years we can probably get a lot more," he said. Renovation plans include a new roof, repainting the building and landscaping upgrades. Taff said the Shidler Group also plans to wire the entire building for high-speed Internet access. Job fair tonight at Moanalua High Oahu WorkLinks is co-sponsoring a job search and recruitment fair tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moanalua High School cafeteria. Companies and agencies will accept applications and conduct preliminary interviews, with positions available in several sectors, including health care, construction, retail and law enforcement. For more information, call 488-5630. In other news ... General Motors Corp. hopes to make its hulking Hummer lineup "more approachable" with a new midsize sport utility vehicle scheduled to go on sale next spring. The Hummer H3 is slated to make its international debut Wednesday.	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —