Hawaii advance bookings show improvement

Condominium Connection, a Westlake Village, Calif.-based company that offers travel packages to more than 200 condominiums and hotels throughout Hawaii and Mexico, said advance bookings in its Hawaii business are making “;slow but steady improvement”; and that Mexico is already trending at 20 percent higher in sales over the next two quarters than a year ago.

Condominium Connection President Joseph Fienberg said hotels and condos in Hawaii and Mexico have been very aggressive in their pricing and added values this year. He said 15 new specials a week are coming in from Hawaii hotel and condominium suppliers and that he expects Hawaii room rates to be 8 percent to 15 percent lower now through at least the first quarter of next year compared with the year-ago period.

Harbors Users Group expands operational mission

The Hawaii Harbors Users Group has been restructured into an industry association with an expanded mission to promote the health and growth of Hawaii's commercial harbors system and support users of harbors facilities.

As part of the restructuring, Gary North, former senior vice president of Matson Navigation Co., has been named executive director of the nonprofit association that represents 15 companies and organizations that use Hawaii's harbors.

Mar Labrador, senior vice president and general manager of Horizon Lines, serves as chairman of the board. Rounding out the new HHUG leadership team are co-chairs Vic Angoco, vice president of Matson, and Douglas Won, vice president/area manager of Sause Bros Inc. Glenn Hong, president and chief executive officer of Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge, serves as secretary/treasurer.

HHUG was formed in 2005 to help the state identify and prioritize the improvement needs of Hawaii's nine commercial harbors, through which the majority of all consumer goods enters the state.

Weekly financial education series airs on cable TV

“;Take Charge of Your Money,”; an hourlong financial education television series that airs statewide, is airing weekly at 2 and 10 p.m. Sundays on various cable stations.

The series, which runs through Dec. 13, highlights information on consumer finance topics. It is sponsored by a coalition of nonprofit and government agencies including University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service; Honolulu Community College; Consumer Education & Information Association of Hawaii; Catholic Charities Hawaii; City & County of Honolulu Department of Community Services Elderly Affairs Division, and the state Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. The series is broadcast on Olelo Channel 55 on Oahu, Ho'ike Channel 55 on Kauai, MCCTV Channel 55 on Maui, Molokai and Lanai, and Na Leo Channel 55 in Hilo and Kona on the Big Island.

For more information, call 956-7138 or go to www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/tcyour$/.

COMING UP

» Today: Conference Board releases leading indicators for August.

» Tomorrow: Federal Housing Finance Agency releases July home price index.

» Wednesday: Federal Open Market Committee announces results of Tuesday interest rate-setting meeting.

» Thursday: President Barack Obama hosts the Group of 20 economic summit.

» Friday: Commerce Department releases durable goods for August.