BUSINESS BRIEFS
Consultants to pay HawTel
Advertiser Staff and News Services
A consulting firm hired by Hawaiian Telcom to help build its new back-office systems has agreed to pay Hawaiian Telcom $52 million in settlement payments.
Under the agreement announced this week between Hawaiian Telcom and McLean, Va.-based BearingPoint Inc., BearingPoint also will waive $29.6 million in invoices payable by Hawaiian Telcom. About $38 million of the settlement will be paid by BearingPoint insurers while $14 million will be paid by BearingPoint itself.
Hawaiian Telcom hired BearingPoint last year to help as it took over Hawai'i's largest telephone network from Verizon Communications. But the transition, which was completed in April, was far from smooth. Some customers complained they were getting double-billed, and many said they had difficulty getting through to service representatives to have billing problems resolved.
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER IN ISLES
Hawai'i is tops in the nation when it comes to diamond jewelry sales for Valentine's Day, at least according to a sales ranking by retailing behemoth Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
"Diamond jewelry is a classic Valentine's Day gift whether in a ring, pendant or bracelet and Wal-Mart customers in Hawai'i, Florida and Mississippi won more hearts with diamonds than any other states," said Wal-Mart in a news release.
Hawai'i's Valentine's Day shoppers had less of an appetite for boxed chocolates, though, as the state came in dead last in the ranking.
EXPERTS UPBEAT ON BUSINESS HERE
A panel of experts expressed "cautious confidence" in Hawai'i's business climate, but added local start-up companies and entrepreneurs still face difficult hurdles, such as a lack of venture capital and high housing prices.
The conclusions were delivered in the inaugural publication of Chaminade University's Hogan Entrepreneurial Index. The report was put together by consulting firm 3Point for the school's Hogan Entrepreneurial Program.
A panel of more than 30 experts, including prominent venture capitalists, service providers and entrepreneurs, contributed to the index. The panelists cited subtle improvements in the private equity market, increased public interest in entrepreneurship, higher-profile start-up companies and better media coverage.
OVERSIZED-CARGO SHIPPING SLOWING
Shipments of oversized cargo to Hawai'i should increase by 2 percent or 3 percent this year, according to DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express, one of the largest freight forwarders serving the state.
The growth of shipments of oversized freight, cargo that can't fit into conventional shipping containers, is slowing from recent years because residential and commercial construction is cooling, DHX-Dependable Hawaiian said in a news release.
