Caliber Funding opens offices in isles

Arizona-based mortgage lender Caliber Funding has expanded to the islands with the opening of offices on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, serving the residential lending market with conventional, FHA and VA home loans.

The company uses a proprietary online program and touts faster service than traditional mortgage brokers or banks.

Mobi activates new cell site in Kau

Honolulu-based Mobi PCS said it has activated a new 3G cell site in the Kau district of the Big Island to upgrade in-building and street coverage from Whittington Beach Park in Naalehu to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, along Mamalahoa Highway.

The upgrade was designed to enhance service for both Mobi PCS wireless telephone and Hele Wireless Broadband networks.

Competitor Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, said it spent $28 million expanding its coverage in Hawaii last year, including installation of four cell sites.

“;Hawaii 3G wireless data traffic increased nearly 50 percent from 2008,”; said Kelley Kurtzman, region president.

Monster to buy HotJobs for $225M

SAN FRANCISCO » Yahoo Inc. crossed off another chore on its housecleaning list yesterday with the proposed sale of help-wanted site HotJobs to rival Monster Worldwide Inc. for $225 million.

The all-cash deal announced marks another step in Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz's effort to jettison services that have been struggling or don't fit with the Internet company's attempts to expand its news, entertainment and communications features.

The sale price also reflects how far HotJobs has fallen since Yahoo bought it for $439 million in cash and stock nearly eight years ago. In an ironic twist, Yahoo had to outbid Monster.com's holding company to buy HotJobs in 2002.

These have been tough times for companies that rely on help-wanted advertising for their income, with the feeble economy and high unemployment rate dampening demand. Monster's profit plunged 85 percent to $19 million last year.

HotJobs is a smaller player in the market than Monster, which generated $905 million in revenue last year. JPMorgan analyst Imran Khan estimated HotJobs 2009 revenue at $900 million.

Yahoo, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., still will have an opportunity to get some money out of Monster after HotJobs changes hands. The deal calls for the front page of Yahoo's Web site in North America to feature Monster's job listings and other employment content for the next three years. Monster will make annual payments to Yahoo based on the volume of traffic flowing from the links.

Monster, based in New York, is counting on HotJobs to make it a more formidable challenger to CareerBuilder.com and extend its geographic reach by connecting it with about 600 newspapers that belong to HotJobs' network.

ON THE MOVE

  The Hawaii Employers Council Board of Governors has re-appointed Glenn Hong as chairman for 2010. Also appointed to the executive committee were Patrick Ching, Perry Confalone, Robert Dove, Tim Ho, Gary Kajiwara and Kyoko Kimura.

The Hawaii Jaycees has announced its appointments of the 2010 Hawaii Jaycees Executive Committee: Stan Fichtman, president; Annette Kim, executive vice president; Michele Itsuno, administrative vice president; Eve Epitome, membership development vice president; Linda Kyriannis, business development vice president; Mike Nitta, treasurer; Marcus Pang, secretary; Brandon Dela Cruz, chaplain; Kevin Yee, Hawaii County liaison; and Jennifer Sunada, Trish Mills, Blanche Wong, Julie Nakata, Yvette Lee and Jonathan Cook, directors.

The Honolulu Board of Realtors has announced its officers for 2010: Brian Benton, president; Joyce Nakamura, president-elect; Elizabeth Karimoto, secretary and central regional director; and Sandra Bangerter, immediate past president. Directors: Judy Barrett, Toan Doran, Scott Fujiwara, Scott Kamiya, Abe Lee, Allison Lum, Liz Moore, Jason Nishikawa, Joe Paikai and Bob Vieira. Regional directors: Julie Meier, East Oahu; Kevin Miyama, Leeward; Marnie Lee McClain, North Shore/Windward.