BUSINESS BRIEFS
Agriculture jobs remain steady
Advertiser Staff
The state's agricultural workforce in January stood at 6,400, unchanged from October 2007, when the last survey was taken, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The department conducted the survey Jan. 6-12 and also found that the average wage was $13.04 an hour, down from October's record $13.19. Comparisons with January 2007 were not available because no survey was conducted then.
Diversified agricultural jobs accounted for 82 percent of all farm labor at 5,250, also unchanged from October.
The combined average wage for field and livestock workers was $10.92 an hour last month, down 21 cents from October. Hawai'i farms employing from one to nine workers paid an average $11.46, up 7 cents from October, while the average wage for field and livestock workers was $10.22, down from $10.49 in October.
VOLCOM PLANS STORE IN WAIKIKI
Volcom Inc., a Costa Mesa, Calif., skateboard and surf apparel maker, said it plans to open four stores in 2008, including one in Waikiki.
Volcom already operates six U.S. stores, two of which are on Maui. The publicly traded company told analysts and investors in a conference call that the retail locations have proven to be a viable distribution channel in addition to its wholesale distribution though other retailers, including Macy's stores in the western states.
HAWAI'I'S GASOLINE STILL PRICIEST
Hawai'i continues to have the nation's highest average price for a gallon of regular gasoline, with drivers here paying 20.5 cents a gallon more than those in the next-closest state, American Automobile Association data show.
The average here is $3.496 a gallon, with the next-highest being New York, where the average is $3.291, according to the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report Web site. California had the third-highest average price at $3.279.
Prices of crude oil have been hovering around the $100-a-barrel level, and gasoline prices nationally have risen in the past month.
The national average is $3.115 a gallon for regular. The cheapest gasoline was found in New Jersey, at an average of $2.936. Only four states have gasoline under $3 a gallon.
HAWAI'I COMPANY GETS BLUE RIBBON
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has named a Hawai'i business a winner of the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award for its dedication to excellence in entrepreneurship.
Environmental Waste Management Systems Inc. was one of 55 small businesses from across the country named Blue Ribbon winners yesterday. The award, sponsored by Sam's Club, honors businesses that excel in a variety of categories, including financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business planning.
Harold Nagato, president of Environmental Waste Management Systems, said he was honored to be named a Blue Ribbon winner. Nagato developed a septic tank system that safely discharges treated wastewater into the ground.
"It's been a slow process, but it's been a progressive process and just to be honored on a national level gives me a good feeling about what we've been doing," Nagato said.
Winners will be honored at the Small Business Summit April 16-18 in Washington, D.C. Nagato's company also is in the running for the U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Award.
