Union broadens Hilton protest

Members of the hotel worker’s union, Unite Here Local 5, have taken their campaign against Hilton Hawaiian Village outside of Waikiki.

Union workers distributed anti-time-share leaflets yesterday at Ala Moana Center and Wednesday at Honolulu Airport. The leaflets encourage visitors not to spend money on time shares and direct potential buyers to an anti-time-share website, www.Hiltonhawaiiannightmare.com.

In recent years, hotels have favored time-share projects because they are more lucrative. Time-share owners share construction costs and maintenance obligations with the hotel.

Hilton did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The hotel and the union have been embroiled in contentious bargaining since May 31, when the contract between the parties expired. Hilton has offered wage increases and full benefits, but the union said the offer is far short of workers’ needs. Union workers also want more job creation and better job security, they said.

Oceanic installing Mililani solar unit

Oceanic Time Warner Cable said it is installing a 856-kilowatt solar power system at its facility in the Mililani Tech Park.

The project, designed and built by Chevron Energy Solutions, will include solar photovoltaic panels installed on two buildings and on canopies over the parking lot. Tioga Energy will finance, own and operate the system, selling the generated electricity to Oceanic Time Warner Cable over the next 20 years.

The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011.

GIFT donates $185K to isle programs

The GIFT Foundation of Hawaii has donated more than $185,000 from its annual Halloween costume party, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous," to the following beneficiaries and programs:

» Hawaii Youth Symphony: $80,000

» Hawaii Nature Center: $50,000

» Hawaii Literacy: $30,000

» Boys & Girls Club: $25,000

The Ludwick Family Foundation matched the Hawaii Youth Symphony’s contribution with $75,000, bringing donations for the organization to $155,000. The symphony will use the money for its Music Alive program. Grants for the Hawaii Nature Center will go toward construction of a new pavilion to expand programs as well as an additional program shelter, while money for Hawaii Literacy will be spent on its literacy and technology initiative, Parents Achieving Literacy Project, Youth Tutoring Project and literacy classes. The Boys & Girls Club will use its grant for its juvenile detention alternative initiative.

Founded in 2003 by a group of young professionals, the GIFT (Giving Inspiration for Tomorrow) Foundation raises funds to support charitable groups in Hawaii.

Rates on fixed mortgages keep rising

NEW YORK » Rates on fixed mortgages surged for the fifth straight week, reflecting higher yields on long-term Treasury notes.

Freddie Mac said yesterday the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 4.83 percent from 4.61 percent in the previous week. Last month, the rate fell to a 40-year low of 4.17 percent.

The average rate on the 15-year loan also increased to 4.17 percent from 3.96 percent. It dropped to 3.57 percent in November, the lowest level on records dating back to 1991. The average rate on one-year adjustable-rate home loans edged up to 3.35 percent from 3.27 percent.

ON THE MOVE

Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed Sheryl Tsugawa as sales and marketing manager. She will be responsible for coordinating and maximizing the brand’s market contribution and focusing on property revenue performance from various sources as well as supporting Outrigger’s corporate sales and marketing team as it relates to the resort. Tsugawa was previously operations manager for IHG Army Hotels.

The Hawaii Bankers Association has elected the following new officers: Warren K.K. Luke, president; Russell J. Lau, vice president; and Peter S. Ho, secretary-treasurer. Gary Y. Fujitani continues as executive director of the association.

The Hawaii Psychological Association has selected American Savings Bank as the winner of the 2010 Healthy Workplace Award in the large business category. ASB will represent Hawaii at the National Psychological Healthy Workplace Awards in March 2011.

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced that Terry Nye II joined its Windward Oahu office as a Realtor associate. He was previously a Realtor at Prudential in New York City and has worked in real estate since 2005.