Hawaiian Springs expands to mainland

Hawaiian Springs LLC, which has been distributed predominantly in the islands since 1995, has expanded operations to the mainland.

“;While other processed waters can leach minerals and nutrients from the body, Hawaiian Springs natural water is filtered through 13,000 feet of volcanic rock and is among the purest in the world,”; said Rick Hadley, chairman and chief executive of Hawaiian Springs.

Local credit union warns of fraud involving accounts

Honolulu Federal Credit Union is warning of an apparent scam involving text and recorded phone messages seeking personal and account information from members and nonmembers.

The messages indicate their account has been suspended pending verification or that a debit card has been blocked. Both types of fraudulent messages leave a phone number with instructions to call and provide information to reactivate their accounts.

Honolulu Federal Credit Union does not contact its members in these ways and is advising everyone not to respond.

HPU offers free marketing to isle firms and nonprofits

Hawaii Pacific University's graduate-level integrated marketing course is seeking three Hawaii businesses or nonprofits to work with this summer to bring fresh ideas to their marketing programs.

“;In the last 10 years the class has written marketing plans for over 75 companies, including Zippy's, Waikiki Beach Walk, Maui Brand Sugar, Wahoo's Fish Tacos, Waikiki Aquarium, Vera Wang Boutique and the Hawaii Theatre,”; said course instructor Bob Sigall.

The students not only will come up with strategies, but also will create or redesign promotional materials and advertising pieces, write new slogans, design public relations strategies or suggest new niches and how to go after them.

Companies interested in participating in the program can contact Sigall at 847-2046 or e-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Transient accommodations tax increases July 1

The state Department of Taxation is advising those who pay the transient accommodations tax (TAT) that the Legislature passed Act 61, increasing the TAT to 8.25 percent from 7.25 percent on July 1 and to 9.25 percent on July 1, 2010.

Monthly and calendar year quarterly or semiannual TAT filers may continue to use the forms in their TAT booklets by simply multiplying by .0825 instead of .0725 in the “;rate”; column. Fiscal year quarterly and semiannual filers must use the revised TA-1 form (periodic transient accommodations tax return) on the DOTAX Web site. All calendar year and fiscal year filers must use the revised TA-2 (transient accommodations tax annual return and reconciliation) on the DOTAX Web site. Both the TA-1 and TA-2 forms will be available this summer on the Web site, http://www.hawaii.gov/tax.

Coming Up

» Tomorrow: U.S. Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for April; and National Transportation Safety Board hearing on US Airways Fight 1549, which landed safely in New York's Hudson River on Jan. 15—through Wednesday.

» Wednesday: U.S. Commerce Department releases international trade for April; Treasury releases federal budget for May; and Federal Reserve releases Beige Book.