AAA Hawaii, Masaki's and NAPA offer car care clinic

To help motorists take better care of their vehicles and avoid costly repairs, AAA Hawaii, Masaki's Auto Repair and NAPA Auto Parts are presenting a free car care clinic from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 20.

Masaki's Auto Repair is an AAA-approved auto repair facility, meaning it is an independent business regularly inspected by the AAA that meets stringent standards.

The clinic will feature an oil change demonstration, tire checks, battery tests and brake inspections. Masaki's Auto Repair is at 211 S. Beretania St. Participants must register in advance by 5 p.m. Feb. 13. Call Masaki's at 943-1550 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Whole Foods to open first store on Maui next month

Whole Foods Market will open its first Maui store in Kahului at Maui Mall on Feb. 24.

Doors will open at 9 a.m., and the first 200 shoppers who spend $50 or more will receive a free reusable bag. The tote, which is exclusive to Whole Foods' Kahului store, depicts a pineapple, representing Hawaiian hospitality and Maui's deep agricultural history.

For a complete list of opening-week festivities, go to www.wholefoodsmarket.com/maui or call (808) 872-3310.

Taxpayers can write off Haiti donations for 2009

WASHINGTON » Taxpayers will be able to write off charitable donations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts when they file their 2009 taxes this spring, under a bill that received final congressional approval Thursday and was later signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Obama has enlisted two former presidents—George W. Bush and Bill Clinton—to help raise money for quake victims.

Under current law, donors would have to wait until they file their 2010 returns next year to take the deductions. Donations made by the end of February will now be allowed to be deducted from 2009 returns.

Lawmakers hope the accelerated tax break will encourage more donations. U.S. residents have already donated millions, with the American Red Cross collecting more than $127 million since the Jan. 12 quake.

The quake earlier this month killed an estimated 200,000 people in Haiti, left 250,000 injured and made 1.5 million homeless, according to the European Union Commission. A powerful aftershock caused even more damage.

Coming up

» Today: National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for December.

» Tomorrow: The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index.

» Wednesday: Federal Reserve announces decision on interest rates.

» Thursday: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

» Friday: Commerce Department releases fourth-quarter gross domestic product.