Lease applications for state agricultural land available

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for lease negotiations on several parcels of state agricultural land—two parcels are located in Hanapepe, Kauai, and three in Waimanalo on Oahu.

Interested people should submit an application to the Agricultural Resource Management Division. The deadline is 3 p.m. Thursday. To qualify, a potential lessee must:

» Be a U.S. citizen who has resided in Hawaii for at least three years; or

» Is a permanent status alien who has resided in the state for at least five years; and

» Is a bona fide farmer or new farmer as defined in the Hawaii Administrative Rules.

The parcels available include Lot 10-A, Hanapepe, Kauai, 4.246 acres; Lot 10-B, Hanapepe, Kauai, 6.730 acres; Lot 9, Waimanalo, 3.742 acres; Lot 14, Waimanalo, 5.14 acres; and Lot B, Waimanalo, 1.4 acres.

The leases are for 35-year terms and are designated for diversified agriculture only. Each parcel has an upset minimum annual rental and the lease will be issued by a negotiation process. In addition to the annual rental, each parcel has a rent of 1 1/2 percent of gross proceeds from the agricultural operation.

For more information, go to hawaii.gov/hdoa/Info/application-open-for-ag-parcels-on-kauai-and-oahu; or contact ARMD on Oahu at 973-9476; on Kauai at 274-3141, ext. 39476; on Maui at 984-2400, ext. 39476; on Molokai and Lanai at (800) 468-4644, ext. 39476; and on the Big Island at 974-4140.

Oceanic extends PowerBoost to all Internet customers

Oceanic Time Warner Cable has extended its PowerBoost feature to all Road Runner Internet service customers at no additional cost.

PowerBoost harnesses available network capacity to provide a short burst of speed that will jump-start the downloading of large files and save users' time, the company said.

Attorney and consultant to address business group

Makana Risser Chai will address the Hawaii Society of Business Professionals this month on taking businesses from surviving to thriving.

Chai is a certified change consultant (by the Vital Corp. of Canada), an attorney and a member of the Laughtrack Improv Theater of Honolulu.

The Jan. 28 luncheon at the Mauna Kea Ballroom of the Hawaii Prince Hotel begins at 11:30 a.m. with sign-in, and will adjourn at 1:30 p.m.

Reservations are $32 and can be made online at www.hsbp.biz. For more information, call 537-2356.

Coming Up

» Today: Alcoa Inc. releases fourth-quarter financial results. Treasury auction.

» Tomorrow: Commerce Department releases international trade for November.

» Wednesday: Treasury releases federal budget for December.

» Thursday: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims. Commerce Department releases retail sales for December.

» Friday: Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for December.