BUSINESS BRIEFS
Honolulu job outlook good
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The job outlook remains good for Honolulu residents looking for jobs, according to a survey by Manpower Inc.
The employment services agency said 43 percent of companies interviewed plan to hire more employees in the July to September period, while just 7 percent plan cutbacks.
The survey found 37 percent expect to maintain staffing and that 13 percent are uncertain of hiring plans.
"Employers are more confident about hiring than they were a year ago, when 30 percent of companies surveyed planned to add staff and 3 percent anticipated a reduction in payrolls," said Sunny Ackerman of Manpower in a news release.
INSURANCE AGENT ORDERED TO STOP
State insurance commissioner J.P. Schmidt has ordered insurance agent Estrella M. Ramos to immediately cease and desist selling insurance plans in Hawai'i, alleging that Ramos has been improperly selling policies to senior citizens, according to a news release.
Schmidt also suspended Ramos' insurance license and issued a notice of intent to assess a $10,000 fine and to permanently revoke Ramos' insurance producer's license
The Insurance Division found that Ramos sold Medicare policies to senior citizens in violation of insurance code requirements and told the senior citizens they could keep their old Medicare Advantage policies and have "dual coverage." Because of Ramos' false representation of benefits, senior citizens who purchased policies through Ramos lost the coverage they already had and wanted to keep, the state said.
MAUI BREWING WINS 7 AWARDS
The Maui Brewing Co. recently earned seven awards at two beer competitions.
The North American Beer Awards were held May 30 through June 1 in Idaho Falls and had more than 1,000 entries. Maui's Bikini Blonde Lager and Maui Pale Ale earned golds in the Munich Helles and American Pale Ale categories, respectively. The brewery won a silver medal in the Doppelbock category for its Red Cock Doppel Bock and a bronze in the Belgian Dark Strong Ale category.
The inaugural San Diego Craft Brewer's Competition was held this month, featuring 275 beers from 50 breweries. Maui Brewing took a gold medal for its CoCoNut PorTeR in the Herb & Spice category and a gold medal for the Maui Pale Ale in the American Pale Ale category. Also awarded was a silver medal for the Red Cock Doppel Bock in the Bock category.
WHELAN TO JOIN BIOTECH PANEL
Stephanie A. Whelan, president and director of the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, has been appointed to the U.S. Agriculture Department's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that Whalen will serve a two-year term.
