BUSINESS BRIEFS
Egg, pork production down, beef up
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i egg and pork production fell in June, but beef production rose, according to a monthly livestock report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Local farms produced 6 million eggs in June, down 13 percent from the same month a year earlier. There was a 9 percent decline in the number of chickens laying eggs and a 4 percent decline in the rate of egg laying by the poultry.
Commercial pork production fell to 271,000 pounds in June, an 8 percent decline from the same month a year earlier. The number of hogs slaughtered fell 11 percent to 1,700, but the average weight per animal rose 5 percent.
Ranchers increased beef production in June by 5 percent to 585,000 pounds. The number of cattle slaughtered was unchanged at 900 head, but the average weight per animal was up 10 percent.
ISLAND AIR OFFERS NEW KONA SERVICE
Island Air said it will offer nonstop Honolulu-Kona service Fridays and Sundays beginning Sept. 5, and daily nonstop service beginning Sept. 16. The airline also announced a "special fall fare" of $138 roundtrip for travel between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31. The fare must be booked by Friday on Island Air's Web site: www.islandair.com. The fare is available on the following routes: Honolulu-Kona; Honolulu-Kahului, Honolulu-Lihu'e and Kahului-Kona.
Island Air offers 480 weekly flights between the islands of O'ahu, Maui (Kahului Airport and West Maui's Kapalua Airport), Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaua'i, and the Big Island (Hilo International Airport and Kona International Airport).
LONGS DRUGS REPORTS RISE IN PROFIT
Longs Drug Stores Corp., the biggest operator of drug stores in Hawai'i, reported a higher second-quarter profit yesterday, helped by a slight increase in retail drug store sales and rapid growth in its pharmacy benefit services unit.
The Walnut Creek, Calif.-based company, which has agreed to be bought by CVS Caremark Corp., said its preliminary net income rose to $27.5 million, or 76 cents per share, from $26.6 million, or 69 cents per share, a year earlier.
Longs, which competes with CVS as well as Walgreen Co., and Rite Aid, said revenue rose 4.6 percent to $1.33 billion, below the $1.35 billion expected by analysts.
LAHAINA GATEWAY PLANS OPENING
Lahaina Gateway shopping center has scheduled its grand opening ceremonies for Aug. 30, featuring music, hula free food, games, and giveaways.
Among the stores now open for business are Lahaina Farms grocery, Outback Steakhouse, Genki Sushi, The Melting Pot, Baskin-Robbins, Barnes & Noble, David's Happy Nails, Maui Dive Shop, Sunglass Icon, Hat Shack and Central Pacific Bank.
The grand opening of the 138,000-square foot center will begin with a blessing by kahuna Kimokeo Kapahulehua. There also will be a performance by Na Hoku Award-winning musician John Cruz.
4 ISLE HOTELS EARN TOP RATINGS ONLINE
Orbitz, the online travel company, has announced its top-rated Hawai'i hotels in four categories based on customer reviews.
The Turtle Bay Resort was chosen best family hotel, the Westin Maui Resort was chosen best couples hotel, the Outrigger Maui Eldorado was chosen best leisure hotel, and the Wyland Waikiki was chosen best business hotel. The ratings were given for hotels in more than a dozen U.S. and Canadian travel destinations, as well as hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean.
