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HAWAII
Hoku wins Prudential contract
Alternative energy developer
Hoku Scientific Inc. said yesterday it will install an 87-kilowatt photovoltaic system at
Prudential Locations' Oahu headquarters on Kapahulu Avenue.
The system is expected to generate more than 136,000 kilowatt hours of solar electricity each year. The project is part of an ongoing renovation of the real estate company's flagship office.
The system will produce enough electricity during its lifetime to power the equivalent of 382 homes for one year and offset nearly 2,160 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
First Insurance lowers auto rates
First Insurance Co. of Hawaii said last week it has lowered its rates for personal auto insurance by an average of 8 percent.
On its First Select Portfolio package policy, which combines homeowners, auto and umbrella insurance, rates were lowered by an average of 8.2 percent. The company said the success of the First Select policies allowed the company to cut rates.
State discounts for e-renewals
The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said yesterday it is offering a 25 percent credit on the renewal fee and a 10 percent discount on the compliance resolution fund fee to contractors who renew their licenses online.
The state's 12,000 licensed contractors are required to renew their licenses every two years. During the last renewal cycle in 2006, more than 3,000 contractors renewed online.
Online renewals will be accepted through midnight on Sept. 30 at http://pvl.ehawaii.gov/renewals.
State to help former park workers
The state said last week it will help 44 employees laid off last week by Oahu's Sea Life Park in a rapid response session to be held at 1:30 p.m. today.
The meeting will be located at the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations offices at 830 Punchbowl St. and will provide services such as skills assessment, counseling, career planning and training.
First Hawaiian opens Guam branch
First Hawaiian Bank opened its new Tamuning branch yesterday on Guam at Route 1 on South Marine Corps Drive in the heart of the commercial district.
The 10,425-square-foot, full-service branch offers consumer banking, business banking and wealth management personnel, as well as drive-through tellers and ATM stations. The smaller, original Tamuning branch, which was at Photo Town Plaza, closed on Friday.
First Hawaiian has 58 branches in Hawaii, three on Guam and two on Saipan.
NATION
Disneyland prices going up
LOS ANGELES » As if rising gas and food prices weren't enough, a ticket to the Magic Kingdom will cost a few bucks more.
The Walt Disney Co. said it has raised one-day ticket prices at its domestic parks. The higher prices went into effect yesterday.
Tickets for those aged 10 and older to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., rose from $71 to $75, while tickets for children aged 3 to 9 went from $60 to $63.
At Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., one-day prices rose from $66 to $69 for those aged 10 and older, and went from $56 to $59 for children aged 3 to 9.
BUSINESS PULSE