BUSINESS BRIEFS
Annuity mailing gets responses
Advertiser Staff and News Services
An Ohio investment firm that's being looked into by the state Securities Enforcement Branch said it has received responses from local residents to its mailings to Hawai'i addresses. The firm also defended its postcards that could lead people to believe the firm had important information about their annuities.
Investors Union said the response rate for Hawai'i has been consistent with other states in its mailing of as many as 10 million postcards annually. The mailing carries a message that people may have an annuity that's expiring and urges them to call Investors Union's Annuity Service Center to find out more.
State officials said they were reviewing the firm's "questionable practices." James McIntyre, an Investors Union attorney, said in an e-mail that the company's service tries to link insurance agents with people who may need help reviewing annuities. He also disputed the company's unsatisfactory rating by the Akron Better Business Bureau.
JAMBA JUICE NOW AT ALA MOANA
Jamba Juice has opened its first outlet at Ala Moana Center.
The store, on the center's mall level across from Long's, is Jamba's first at the state's largest mall and 37th in Hawai'i. It opened last week.
The frozen-smoothie store chain entered the Hawai'i market in June 1999.
'IOLANI IS CHAMP AT ECONOMICS
'Iolani School defeated Maryknoll School to win the 2007 Island Insurance Companies Economics Challenge and will represent the state in a regional competition in San Francisco later this month.
Teams from 'Iolani won the local competition, answering questions involving economic concepts and theories. Students from nine public and private high schools entered the competition, hosted by the Hawaii Council on Economic Education.
Winners in the David Ricardo division of the competition were 'Iolani students Evan Kam, Yoichi Sagawa, Cody Silva and Thanh Vu.
'Iolani students Jonah Yuen, Nathan Yang, Marisa Ideta and Alex Chun won in the Adam Smith division.
GARDEN ISLAND GETS GOOGLED
Kaua'i is being prominently featured in Google Inc.'s new online map service.
The world's most popular search engine earlier this week unveiled a new feature that lets users personalize online maps with notes, photos and videos. Google presents a map of Kaua'i to help illustrate the new feature.
The page can be viewed by clicking on the "my maps" link at www.maps.google.com/maps.
