The Bloomberg Honolulu Star-Bulletin Index is a price-weighted index designed to measure the performance of Hawaii-based companies. The index was developed with a base value of 100 as of December 31, 1999. A chart of the index which shows the weekly performance of its members is published weekly in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

---

---

Deal boosts grower

Big Island macadamia grower ML Macadamia Orchards LP, benefiting from Hershey's purchase of Hawaii's top nut processor, led local stocks this week in the Bloomberg Honolulu Star-Bulletin Index.

ML Macadamia rose 10.3 percent to close Friday at $4.27, following Monday's announcement that Hershey Foods Corp. will buy Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. for $112.4 million, plus assumed debt of $17.6 million. ML Macadamia sells all of its nuts to Mauna Loa.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. trailed the index, dropping 2.1 percent to close at $33.

---

SOURCE: BLOOMBERG NEWS STAR-BULLETIN GRAPHIC