The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is stepping up its efforts against identity theft with a new campaign to educate consumers.

The department's Office of Consumer Protection will launch the project next week with a series of educational television spots and a new identity theft Web site at www.idtheft.hawaii.gov. Also, an identify theft hot line is available at 587-3222.

FREE SEMINARS FOR BUSINESSES

The city and the Small Business Administration are teaming up to offer free seminars for fledgling entrepreneurs in West O'ahu.

Participants will learn about government contracting, establishing or cleaning up credit histories and offering required employee benefits in the next two sessions, to be held on Aug. 17 and Sept. 14 at Kapolei Hale.

For more information, call 541-2990.

MORE MINORITIES START BUSINESSES

The number of businesses owned by Asians, Hispanics, blacks and women grew much faster over a recent five-year period than the overall number of businesses, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Despite the rapid growth by nonwhite business owners, experts said a significant gender and racial gap persists nationwide along with a disparity in receipts and payrolls.

The data show the overall number of U.S. businesses increased by 10 percent to nearly 23 million firms from 1997 to 2002. Black-owned businesses jumped 45 percent to 1.2 million, while Hispanic-owned companies increased 31 percent to 1.6 million.

The number of women-owned businesses increased 20 percent to 6.5 million and Asian-owned firms grew by 24 percent to 1.1 million.

Businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders bounded 67 percent to 32,299 businesses.

In comparison, the number of white-owned businesses increased 8 percent to 19.9 million.

Correction: The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has a new campaign to educate people about identify theft. The name of the agency was incorrect in a previous version of this story.