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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, May 17, 2008

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hawaii gas prices not U.S. highest

Advertiser Staff

It may be little comfort to their wallets, but Hawai'i drivers might take solace in the fact that the state's record gasoline price isn't among the top five in the nation. It isn't even in the top eight.

The latest data from the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report show statewide gasoline prices here, once the costliest in the nation, trail eight others now.

The highest price in the nation is in Alaska, where a gallon of regular costs $4.042. Connecticut also is over $4.00 a gallon, while California, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Michigan and West Virginia all had higher prices than Hawai'i, the AAA data shows.

The average for a gallon of regular here is $3.918, according to the AAA. That new record occurred as prices in three markets within the state reached new highs, including $4.207 on Maui.


BUYER PLANS TO EXPAND BOARDWORKS

Mike Fox of Honolulu has bought Boardworks, one of the largest makers of molded epoxy surfboards, for an undisclosed sum and plans to expand the business.

Fox, who founded and later sold Hawai'i Modular Space and a sister company for $42.5 million, purchased the Oceanside, Calif.-based company earlier this month and appointed surf industry veteran Bob Rief to operate it. Boardworks had previously worked with Hawai'i-based C4 Waterman, a company concentrating on the stand-up paddle surfboard market. It is owned by Fox and partners Brian Keaulana and Todd Bradley.

Boardworks said it wants to increase sales and will be looking to add more shapers, who produce surfboards that are reproduced through a thermal compression process in China. The firm already makes boards based on designs by Hawai'i shapers Ben Aipa, Chuck Andrus and Kirk Pifer.


FARM BILL SEEN AS BOOST FOR ISLES

Hawai'i's congressional delegation is lining up to praise passage of the national farm bill.

The state's four Democrats in Congress all say it will strengthen agriculture in the Islands and establish the University of Hawai'i as a regional center for bio-based energy development.

The bill, approved by the Senate on Thursday, adds macadamia nuts to a mandatory program that requires labels showing the country where they were grown. It also authorizes $15 million to reimburse farmers and ranchers in Hawai'i, Alaska and the U.S. territories for additional transport costs because of their isolation.

The bill also adds Hawai'i to the list of states eligible for grants that help improve irrigation systems, plant trees, halt soil erosion, control pests and practice organic farming.


TALK ON LITIGATING HAWAIIAN CLAIMS

Jon Van Dyke, a legal expert, professor and author, will be the featured speaker at the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon meeting Thursday.

Van Dyke will discuss "Litigating the Claims of the Native Hawaiian People," based on his recently published book, "Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawai'i?" Van Dyke's talk will center on the basis for the claims of Native Hawaiians, how the claims have been handled by the courts, and what the impact of the Akaka bill would be.

The meeting will be in the 30th-floor board room of the First Hawaiian Bank headquarters, 999 Bishop St. Registration and networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and the program starting at noon. Cost for members is $20, $25 for non-members, and includes two hours of validated parking. Attendance is limited to 30 people.

For more information, call Pauline Worsham at 808-951-5373 or e-mail her at pauline@pmwconsult.com.