HAWAII

Gas prices increase in some areas

For the second consecutive week, gasoline prices increased slightly in some areas of Hawaii, according to AAA. Statewide, the gas price average rose three cents over the past week at $2.30 a gallon.

Yesterday's average price in Honolulu was $2.25 a gallon for unleaded, up two cents from last week's price, eight cents less than last month, and $1.11 lower than this time last year. In Hilo, the average price was $2.44 a gallon, the same as last week, 5 cents less than last month, and 98 cents lower than this time last year. The average price in Wailuku was $2.48 a gallon, five cents more than last week, down 33 cents from last month, and $1.39 lower than last year.

Isle Coldwell offices donate $4,000

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties yesterday donated $4,000 to the Institute for Human Services. The money was collected from a companywide fundraising campaign this fall.

Staff and agents at some of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties' open houses collected monetary donations and held a recycling drive for IHS, which has assisted thousands of Hawaii's homeless individuals and families with shelter, meals and finding permanent homes.

Isle farm revenue down slightly

Isle farm revenue for 2007 totaled $579.1 million compared to the revised 2006 level of $579.6 million, according to a report released earlier this week by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Seven of the 20 ranked commodities in 2007 showed gains over the previous year: Seed crops, coffee, papayas, bananas, potted palms, dracaena potted and watermelon.

Record high levels were set for seed crops, which jumped 42 percent from 2006, as world demand for ethanol production has increased. Revenue declines included macadamia nuts, milk and eggs.

The department also reported that Hawaii's egg production was down 13 percent to 5.6 million in November from a year ago. Commercial beef production rose 8 percent in November to 534,000 pounds, while pork production slumped 25 percent to 225,000 pounds.

Milk production fell 29 percent to 1.5 million pounds in November from a year ago.

Hawaii agricultural exports to the mainland U.S. totaled $416.5 million in 2007, 2 percent lower than the revised 2006 estimate.

Foreign agricultural exports totaled $87.6 million in the 2007 federal fiscal year, down 6 percent from the pervious year's $93.2 million.

PEOPLE

Carpenters Union names best builder

The Hawaii Carpenters Union honored Russell Young, president and CEO of Albert C. Kobayashi Inc., General Contractors with the 2009 Outstanding Union Builder Award, which recognizes one Hawaii contractor for exceptional contribution to union construction in Hawaii and a cooperative approach to labor-management relations.

The employee-owned Albert C. Kobayashi Inc. is one of the state's largest locally-owned general contractors.

The award was presented Tuesday at a reception hosted by the Pacific Resource Partnership, an organization that promotes unionized carpentry through an alliance with the Hawaii Carpenters Union and 220 member contractors.

NATION

Hertz to eliminate 4,000 jobs

PARK RIDGE, N.J. » Rental car company Hertz Global Holdings Inc. said yesterday it will slash its work force by an additional 4,000 jobs worldwide as it further cuts costs to contend with deteriorating demand and vehicle values.

Local impact is unknown as calls to Hawaii offices were referred to corporate headquarters. The Star-Bulletin's calls were not returned.

The company expects to save $150 million to $170 million this year and take a related fourth-quarter charge of $20 million to $25 million.

This is only the latest round of job cuts for the rental car company, which eliminated 1,400 employees this fall. The company said this round of cuts, which will take place in its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter and first quarter of 2009, will come in its car and equipment rental operations as well as corporate and support areas.

Liver transplant may help Jobs

NEW YORK >> Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs is considering a liver transplant as a result of complications after treatment for pancreatic cancer in 2004, according to people who are monitoring his illness.

Patients with Jobs's condition can survive for 20 years or more from the time of their original cancer diagnosis, and the surgery often gives good results, said Steven Brower, professor and chairman of surgery at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah, Georgia.

On Thursday, Jobs announced that he was taking a five-month medical leave because his health issues were “;more complex”; than he originally thought.