BUSINESS BRIEFS
Papaya production up for 6 months
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Fresh papaya production in Hawai'i totaled 2.4 million pounds in June, down 16 percent from May, but up 8 percent from June 2007, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.
Output for the first half of the year reached 15.8 million pounds, up 15 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Papaya growers were paid an average of 51 cents a pound for fresh fruit in June, down 2 cents from May, but up 1.6 cents from June 2007.
Hot and dry weather persisted into June, creating problems for some growers, the NASS reported. Orchards in drier areas with poor soil quality reported sporadic flowering and smaller fruits.
In addition, seeds used to grow genetically modified fruit were in short supply, delaying future planting, the NASS said.
RESORT PLANNED ON ISLAND IN SAMOA
Honolulu-based South Pacific Development Group said it has obtained a 120-year lease for 600 acres of oceanfront land on Savai'i Island in Samoa where it plans to develop the Sasina Village Resort.
The first phase of the resort will feature a hotel, timeshare units, golf course and cultural center, the company said in a news release. Later phases will include additional hotels, private residences and a marina. The overall development cost is estimated at $450 million to $500 million.
Resort structures will be less than four stories tall and have a 500-foot setback from the shoreline. The company has selected Belt Collins of Honolulu to assist with ecological impact and civil engineering studies "that will assure protection of the area's pristine environment," the company said in the release.
PRINT MEDIA DAY AND EXPO SEPT. 11
Members of the printing, publishing and advertising industries will come together to share information with customers and potential customers about their products and services at the annual Print Media Day and Expo on Sept. 11.
Admission to the expo is free, but participants can pay for a buffet lunch featuring Jon Radtke from Target stores. Radtke will discuss the retailer's entry into the Hawai'i market. Target's Kapolei Commons store is scheduled to open in March with Radtke overseeing all store operations, from merchandising and vendor partnerships to community giving. He has been with the company for 15 years and will lead a team of as many as 500 employees.
The expo, sponsored by the Hawaii Publishers Association and Hawaii Printers, will be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Those who want to attend the luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. are asked to RSVP by contacting the publishers association at 808-234-1288 or publishers@hawaii.rr.com. The cost of the luncheon is $45.
More details, exhibitor information and directions can be found at www.hawaiipublishersassociation.com.
ONLINE MALL AT AMERICAN SAVINGS
American Savings Bank has launched a loyalty program called TravelAwards PlusSM Online Mall that allows bank customers to earn points for using their personal or business check card or credit card.
American Savings Bank customers earn points every time they shop at the online mall and redeem those points for gift cards and certificates, brand name merchandise and travel.
The program is being run for American Savings Bank by Mall Networks, a provider of merchant-funded loyalty shopping services, and RewardsNOW, a leading provider of financial services loyalty marketing programs.
