Horizon rescinds fuel-surcharge fee

Horizon Lines, the state's second-largest ocean shipper, has withdrawn its fuel-surcharge increase of 5 percentage points that was scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 27 for its mainland-Hawaii service. The increase would have boosted the surcharge that customers pay on their shipments to 33 percent. The surcharge will remain at 28 percent.

The shipper also rescinded its fuel-surcharge increase of 5 percentage points for its trade between the mainland and Guam/Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. That surcharge, which would have gone to 34.5 percent, will remain at 29.5 percent.

Horizon, which gave no reason why the surcharge was withdrawn, could not be reached for comment. However, its chief rival, Matson Navigation Co., never matched the increase and remains at the same level as Horizon is now.

PM Realty's Bittick to leave firm

Matt Bittick, senior vice president and principal broker with PM Realty Group, will be leaving the firm to start his own real estate venture at the end of this month.

Bittick, who joined PMRG in 2002, said opening his own business is a natural progression of his work with Class A office leasing and investment sales.

“;PMRG handles everything a mile deep, from its relationships with employees and clients to its competence in executing assignments,”; Bittick said. “;My association with PMRG has been a mile deep on all fronts, and at the same time I'm looking forward to starting this new venture.”;

Linda Gee, PMRG's senior vice president and regional manager, will assume principal broker duties after Bittick's departure.

Tommy Bahama may expand to Japan

NAI ChaneyBrooks, a real estate and retail consulting company with corporate headquarters in Honolulu and Tokyo, has been tapped to help Seattle-based Tommy Bahama explore entry into the Japanese market.

ChaneyBrooks will oversee the search and development for an appropriate licensing partner for Tommy Bahama's wholesale and retail business in the men's, women's and accessories categories.

Tommy Bahama has become a popular and sought-after lifestyle apparel brand in the Asian market. The expansion into Japan would be a natural extension of Tommy Bahama's positioning in Hawaii and around the globe.

Hilton Waikoloa to hold job fair

Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island will hold a job fair tomorrow to fill 30 positions within the resort. The fair will be held in the Queen's Ballroom at the resort from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Positions are available in the culinary, food and beverage, and front-office departments and also at the Kohala Spa. Interviews will be conducted on site.

“;We know that many people are looking for employment right now, and we feel fortunate to be in a position to hire workers,”; said General Manager Debi Bishop.

Applicants can view and apply for specific positions online at http://www.hiltonfamily.jobs and are encouraged to apply prior to attending the job fair.

Opel prepares to slash jobs

AURORA, Ontario » As many as 10,500 Opel jobs in Europe could be cut, nearly half of them in Germany, said the co-chief executive of Magna International Inc.

The plans is drawing criticism in countries where the automaker has operations.

Siegfried Wolf said yesterday that part of his company's plan for General Motors Co.'s European unit envisions about 4,500 possible job cuts in Germany, where Adam Opel GmbH is based, under plans outlined in July.

Opel employs some 49,000 workers in Europe and has plants in Spain, Britain, Poland and Germany.

Magna and Russia's state-owned Sberbank agreed last week to take a 55 percent stake in Opel.

American Air mulls JAL stake

American Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, might buy equity in Japan Airlines Corp., which is expecting its fourth loss in five years, two people familiar with the plan said.

American also plans to expand code-sharing with Japan Air, its partner in the Oneworld marketing alliance, the people said yesterday, asking not to be identified because the discussions aren't public.

ON THE MOVE

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has hired Craig Nakamoto as a health and regulatory lawyer in the Legal and Government Relations Department. He has more than 20 years' hospital counsel and compliance administration experience.

HHawaii Tourism Authority and International Festivals and Events Association sponsored 10 Hawaii professionals who graduated from the Certified Festival & Event Executive program. They are the first graduates worldwide of the new CFEE Fast Track Program. The graduates are Moani Akana, Stephanie Donoho, Lorie Farrell, Judith Fox-Goldstein, Alice Moon, Claudia Kalaola, Lori Mellenbruch, Clare Mawae, Mark Santoki and Winston Welch.