HMC files reorganization plan

Hawaii Medical Center LLC, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November of last year, submitted its reorganization plan in U.S. bankruptcy court yesterday.

HMC originally filed for the reorganization to prevent the closure of its two hospitals, HMC-East in Liliha and HMC-West in Ewa Beach after lender Siemens Finance declined to extend an existing loan.

Among some of the proposals in the plan, which has not been approved by the court yet, is to make HMC-East a nonprofit while keeping HMC-West as a for-profit limited liability company.

No hearing has been set for the plan yet, nor have debtors filed a disclosure statement.

Labor department extends hours

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations will begin offering extended hours at its Kaneohe satellite offices on Wednesday.

The satellite offices will provide unemployment insurance and job-placement services.

Unemployment insurance staff will be available at the Kaneohe office Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and work-force development staff will be available the same times Monday through Wednesday.

“;The Department is looking forward to providing greater convenience and service to our clients on the Windward side,”; said Director Darwin L.D. Ching. “;The increased hours should help to alleviate the wait times at our other offices and on the phone lines.”;

The Kaneohe offices are located in the Kaneohe Atrium Building at 46-005 Kawa St., Suite 205.

Financial literacy fair offered

The state will host a free financial literacy fair at Tamarind Park in downtown Honolulu on April 8.

The fair, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., was organized by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as part of Financial Literacy Month.

“;Financial education is an important part of everyday life and even more so in these difficult economic times,”; said DCCA's Commissioner of Securities Tung Chan. “;Whether it relates to managing income, consumer spending, buying a home, retirement savings, investments or taxes, we want consumers to be armed with accurate and useful information.”; Financial education information as well as other related services and programs will be offered at the fair.