Cellular Bioengineering Inc., a Honolulu-based technology company, said it has begun refining uses of a miniature identification tag technology that could help cut counterfeiting of goods ranging from medicine to currency to aircraft parts.

The company said it has licensed technology and is developing applications for tiny identification tags made of silica that carry a custom-manufactured spectral signature. As such, a worker using a reader could determine fake goods from authentic ones carrying the tags.

Cellular Bioengineering said it is developing some of the applications under a government grant to combat counterfeit drugs, but is seeking input from other potential customers on possible uses, types of reading devices and software that might be needed.

The silica being used is biologically inert and edible and each tag costs less than a penny.

CPB EARNS 'OUTSTANDING' RATING

Federal regulators gave Central Pacific Bank the highest rating of "outstanding" for its efforts from 2005 to 2008 in meeting the lending needs of its community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and minorities.

The rating was issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as part of a performance evaluation under the Community Reinvestment Act.

"Just as our founding fathers envisioned, Central Pacific continues to be the bank that works for you and our communities," said Ronald Migita, Chairman, president and chief executive officer of Central Pacific Bank.

The report showed Central Pacific Bank originated 293 qualified community development loans totaling $1.5 billion over the three-year period. By dollar volume, the lending was higher than CPB's peers and represents more than a $900 million increase since the last evaluation.

TROPIC RUSH JOINS FRO-YO MARKET

The frozen yogurt renaissance is continuing to gain momentum in Honolulu.

Tropic Rush, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop is set to open Friday at Market City Shopping Center, the latest in a string of frozen yogurt stores to open across the island in recent months.

From Friday through Sunday, Tropic Rush will be offering a grand opening special of buy one yogurt and get half off a second yogurt of equal or lesser value.

The 1,140-square-foot store occupies the former space of Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Healthy Eats on the upper level of Market City Shopping Center.