BUSINESS BRIEFS
Damon Estate to give update

Advertiser Staff

The Damon Estate is expected to make a presentation at an Aliamanu/Salt Lake/ Foster Village Neighborhood Board meeting at 7:30 tonight on its effort to dispose of Moanalua Gardens and 3,700 acres in Moanalua Valley as the private trust winds down operations.

The estate has hired local business leader Rick Humphreys to help determine a viable plan, which could include selling or conveying title to a public or private owner.

The estate said it has not made any decision regarding the property, and wants to hear ideas and concerns from the community. The meeting will be at the Aliamanu Middle School cafeteria at 3271 Salt Lake Blvd.

Fed report notes Hawai'i strength

A Federal Reserve report on the condition of the nation's economy cited Hawai'i's job market and tourism industry as two areas that are enjoying exceptionally strong growth.

While most states in the Western region reported little change in labor market conditions over the past six weeks, the exception was "many sectors of the Hawaiian economy, which has been expanding at an unusually rapid pace of late," the Fed said in the report.

The report also noted that domestic visitor arrivals in Hawai'i "continued at record highs."

The Fed's assessment of the overall U.S. economy was upbeat. The employment climate improved, stores rang up sales and factories stepped up production last month, fresh signs the economy is chugging ahead at a respectable pace, the Fed said.

BIA to launch expo in July

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii will premiere an event this summer called the BIA Remodel It Right Expo.

The event, to be held July 8-10 at the Hawai'i Convention Center, is an expansion of a quarterly seminar that the BIA has been holding for the past 19 years to educate homeowners on remodeling.

Exhibitors will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with an initial March 31 deadline for applications. For more information, visit www.bia-hawaii.com.