Business News

Local folks often worry about the impact of big-box stores on small neighborhood retailers. That concern certainly surrounded the opening of the new Target Store in Kailua. So how are local shops doing now? Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more. 

Hong Kong’s Commissioner to the United States says more investment capital from his home city could be headed for Hawai‘i. 

Clement Leung is the equivalent of Hong Kong’s ambassador to the United States, and he recently came through Hawai‘i as part of a trade mission that also took him to the west coast. He told HPR’s Bill Dorman that there are “natural ties” between Hong Kong and Hawai‘i. 

Honolulu is in the midst of a building boom, with new high-rise condominiums rising up everywhere you look. But are local architecture firms being left on the sidelines? Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more. 

It’s one of those ideas that  sounds like it may be too good to be true: using seawater to cool office buildings. But it’s a project that’s on its way to becoming reality in Honolulu.  Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

Fans of NASCAR and professional soccer are used to seeing corporate logos splashed all over uniforms. But a deal announced this week is taking the economics to a new level…and an expensive competition among Asian companies. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i remains a relative stronghold for unions.  In fact, according to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is one of the most unionized states in America. Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has part of the story behind the numbers.

If someone has become a CEO, you’d think they’ve mastered the art of management. But some of Hawai‘i’s top CEO’s continue to sharpen their skills with the help of coaches. We get more on that story from the editor in chief of Pacific Business News, A Kam Napier.

What does “Sustainability” mean for business and industry in Hawaii? Pacific Business News assembled a panel of experts to find out. Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

Hawaii’s state run hospital system appears to be in dire financial straits. However, it does have new leadership in its CEO, Dr. Linda Rosen, who as Pacific Business News reports, has a lot of experience dealing with emergencies. Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more. 

It may not show up in your spam musubi, but the price of rice has been tumbling. In fact, the commodity fell to a 4 year low in Chicago trading this week. And the reason starts with Thailand. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Broadband internet access is both a luxury for modern entertainment and a necessity for business. But Hawaii is falling behind when it comes to fast connections. We get a look at some of the people and businesses involved from Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier.

Coffee farmers in Kona are challenging the labeling laws for their products. The Kona Coffee Farmers Association has sent out a petition to support Hawaii County resolution 501-14.  Advocates want the minimum percentage of Kona coffee changed to 51%.  Currently, blended coffee must have a minimum of 10% of beans sourced locally to carry the “Kona” name.

Hawaii has a long history of cultural blending and ethnic pride. That extends to the business world as well, with a vibrant community of ethnic chambers of commerce. From Pacific Business News, Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

  2014 was another strong year for auto sales across the islands. But in 2015, American consumers will have their first opportunity to buy a car made in China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s been another good year for the stock market. The S&P 500 is up 13% over the past 12 months. For local companies that are publicly held, it’s been a mixed story. HPR’s Bill Dorman has an update on how several local companies have done this year.

The visitor industry, healthcare and the University of Hawaii are among the state’s biggest employers. What’s ahead for them in 2015? From Pacific Business News, Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

One Christmas present of sorts that came early for consumers in Hawaii and across the country: cheaper gas prices. That fall in fuel prices has also made a difference for a number of publicly-held companies based in Hawaii. HPR’s Bill Dorman takes a look at some of the more active local stocks of 2014.

Over a few days this week and next week, we’re taking a look back at some of the business developments affecting the islands this year. One of the biggest stories of the year is in some ways just beginning. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more on the evolving plans for Hawaii Electric.

Taxpayers on Oahu are still absorbing the news that cost of the rail project is likely to rise by more than half a billion dollars. On the other side of the world, a different kind of rail project is taking shape. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  As 2014 winds down, many are looking ahead to see what the new year will bring. What are the coming trends for Hawaii’s business climate? Pacific Business News Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

Ten commercial ports around the Hawaiian Islands handle millions of tons of cargo each year.  While container ships are a familiar sight for many residents, those vessels are dwarfed by a new entry on the world market. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Many questions remain about the proposed 4.3 billion dollar buyout of Hawaiian Electric.  A lot of those questions center on the Florida company that wants to buy the local utility. So who is NextEra?  Some answers from Pacific Business News Editor in Chief, A. Kam Napier.

Most of the world’s macadamia nuts come from Hawaii. They’ve been grown commercially in the islands since the 1920’s, but rarely have they sparked an international incident like they did last week. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

  Consumers are exploring a lot of different ways to kick the fossil fuel habit. One of them is driving electric vehicles instead of gas-powered cars. Where does Hawaii stand in adopting EVs? From Pacific Business News, Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

This week, the Howard Hughes Corporation won approval from regulators for a project on the site of Ward Warehouse. The company is in the process of reshaping 60 acres of Kakaako. But that’s only part of the story of how this Texas-based company came to be a major player in Honolulu real estate. From Pacific Business News, Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.

  Honolulu’s rail system is still a couple of years away from opening its first section. But another multi-billion dollar train deal overseas is making local headlines in two countries.  HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  For years, business leaders in Hawaii have talked about the need for the state to develop a high tech sector. But can the islands really become a paradise for start-ups? From Pacific Business News,  Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier has more.
 

  The Prime Minister of Japan says he wants to boost the role of women in his country’s workforce. It’s a theme that Shinzo Abe spoke about in his campaign, and now he’s coming out with some policy specifics. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

   Over the last two weeks, a technology company in Asia has gone on a corporate spending spree. The Beijing-based company has spent five-billion dollars buying some familiar American names. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.