BUSINESS BRIEFS
Royal Hawaiian bringing in trees
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center this week began receiving the first of about 70 trees that will make up a planned central coconut grove gathering place and performance area at the mall, which is undergoing an $84 million renovation.
Center owner Kamehameha Schools said construction remains on schedule for new tenants — including Senor Frog's and P.F. Chang's restaurants, a flagship Hilo Hattie store and a Roy Tokujo theatrical production — to begin opening in early to mid-2007.
SBA TO OFFER FREE ADVICE TO OWNERS
The U.S. Small Business Administration will offer free advice for small business owners from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Wai'alae-Kahala branch of Bank of Hawaii.
The SBA Resource Day program will provide information on loan programs, government contracting, training and other technical assistance.
To schedule a meeting with an SBA specialist, call Kim Hite at 541-3024 or e-mail her at kimberly.hite@sba.gov.
U.S. TRADE DEFICIT AT RECORD HIGH
WASHINGTON — America's trade deficit unexpectedly jumped to a new record in August, providing ammunition for Democrats to attack Republican trade policies.
The gap between what the U.S. exports and what it imports rose by 2.7 percent to $69.9 billion, marking the second straight month it has set a record, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.
