Posted on: Friday, October 24, 2003

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hilo power firm fined $115,000

Advertiser Staff and news services

Hilo Coast Power Co. and its parent, Brewer Environmental Industries, have agreed to pay $115,000 in fines for violating the federal Clean Water Act at Hilo Coast's Pepe'ekeo Mill power generating facility on the Big Island.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the two firms were accused of improperly discharging wastewater, lacking storm water controls and other permit violations.

The violations were discovered during inspections in January and August 2001 by the EPA and state Department of Health.

In March 2001, the EPA ordered Hilo Coast to correct the violations and in September 2001 the order was modified to include additional conditions.

Publisher buying newspaper

Pacific Basin Communications, the publisher of Honolulu Magazine and Hawaii Business, is in the process of buying the Downtown Planet newspaper.

The Downtown Planet, which was started in 1979, prints 55,000 copies per week and distributes them free.

The publication is owned by publisher and editor Susie Thieman.

Dunkin' Donuts store closing

A dispute over insufficient parking is prompting the local Dunkin' Donuts franchisee to close its store on Kapi'olani Boulevard this week.

The operator, foods wholesaler Sushi Chef, also closed its adjacent Catch of the Day Sushi restaurant late last month.

No other locations are scheduled to close.

3 companies win awards for ethics

On Monday, the Society of Financial Service Professionals will present awards to three companies it feels exemplifies "high standards of ethical behavior in their everyday business conduct."

The awards will be presented during the Financial Service Forum, which will be held at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Jr. will welcome about 4,500 people attending the event.

The 2003 American Business Ethics Awards will be given to Hewlett-Packard of Palo Alto, Calif.; Beaman Automotive Group of Nashville, Tenn.; and Kuhn & Wittenborn Advertising of Kansas City, Mo. The 31 past recipients have included Lockheed Martin, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Starbucks, Levis Strauss, and Merck & Co.