Hawaiian springs available in 3 more states

Big Island-based Hawaiian Springs bottled water is now available in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, at 14 Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage stores.

The increased expansion “;allows us to share the benefits of Hawaiian Springs water ... with the discerning, health-conscious consumers in these areas,”; said Rick Hadley, Hawaiian Springs chairman and chief executive officer.

The water is also sold in Whole Foods, Mollie Stone's and other natural-food retailers on the mainland.

Apple to unveil its 'latest creation'

NEW YORK » Apple Inc. is inviting reporters to an event next week to see what it calls “;our latest creation.”;

The company e-mail yesterday offered no specifics about what it would display at the invitation-only Jan. 27 event in San Francisco.

But it comes amid speculation that Apple is close to unveiling a tablet-style touch-screen computer that is bigger than an iPhone but smaller than a standard laptop.

Tablets are one-piece computers with big screens and no keyboards. Such devices have been around since the early 1990s but haven't seen much success in the mainstream.

An Apple spokesman declined yesterday afternoon to provide more details on its plans.

American Air to increase bag fees

FORT WORTH, TEXAS » American Airlines said yesterday it is raising its fees on checked bags for passengers buying tickets starting Feb. 1.

The company said it is raising the charge for the first checked bag to $25 from $20 on flights in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. The fees apply to passengers on the company's American Airlines, American Eagle and American Connection flights. A second checked bag will cost $35, up from $30.

American Airlines last hiked its checked bag fees in July, when the price of the first bag rose $5 to $20 and the price of the second bag rose the same amount to $25.

Select passengers, including first- and business-class travelers and members of the armed services, will remain exempt from checked bag fees.

Airlines began instituting checked bag fees in 2008 to help offset soaring fuel costs. They have largely kept the fees in place, even though prices have fallen.

American Airlines said about 25 percent of domestic customers pay checked bag fees.

Tyco to buy Brink's Home Security

NEW YORK » Diversified manufacturer Tyco International Ltd. has agreed to acquire Brink's Home Security Holdings Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal worth $2 billion, the companies said late yesterday.

Tyco said it is paying $42.50 a share for the Irving, Texas-based provider of home security services, representing a premium of more than 35 percent over Brink's stock, which closed Friday at $31.42.

Tyco, which is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, said it will combine Brink's with its own ADT security business. The deal has been unanimously approved by board members at both companies, they said.

Tyco said the purchase of Brink's strengthens its position in the residential and commercial security industry.

Under the deal, Brink's shareholders will have the option to receive $42.50 a share, a combination of cash and Tyco stock or shares of Tyco alone. Tyco expects the deal to close in the second half of its fiscal year, which began Sept. 26. The purchase will increase Tyco's earnings by 7 cents a share starting the first full year after closing, Tyco estimated. Earnings will then increase by 14 cents a share after two years. The estimates exclude special items.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaiian Airlines has named Beryl Fajardo as director of leadership development and training. She has 27 years of management training and employee professional development, including nine years as senior manager of leadership development at Cisco Systems in San Jose, Calif.

Accuity LLP has promoted Kara Kitazaki-Chun to manager in its management consulting practice. She will oversee consulting services to both private and public organizations including management consulting, human resources consulting, business process improvement, high-technology due diligence, business evaluations and internal controls.

Whole Foods Market has hired Natalie Aczon as marketing supervisor for its Kahala store. She was previously associate director of development for the Honolulu Academy of Arts and director of operations for Coffee Partners of Hawaii.