Seeking entries for ’10 Who Made a Difference’

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser invites you to nominate people who have made a difference in Hawaii during the past year. They can be people who fought controversial battles in public or worked behind the scenes in any field — community service, education, politics, law, labor, medicine, science, business, sports, entertainment, the arts. All that matters is that they had a devotion to their cause and made a profound impact on Hawaii.

To nominate someone, explain why you think the person should be honored. Deadline for nominations is Dec. 9.

Honorees will be selected by Star-Advertiser editors. We will publish the results starting Dec. 22.

Please include the following information: your name, your nomination, and your work and home telephone numbers.

E-mail your nominations to difference@staradvertiser.com, or mail them to 10 Who Made a Difference, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96813.

Abercrombie, Japan sign Maui energy pact

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and a top energy official from Japan signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a test smart grid project on Maui that could help solve some of the technical problems preventing greater use of renewable energy sources, like wind and solar.

The state is partnering on the project with Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, a branch of Japan’s Ministry of Economy. The agreement was signed by Abercrombie and NEDO President Hideo Hato during a ceremony at the state Capitol.

Smart grids, like the one to be tested on Maui, are considered the next generation in electricity distribution because they feature a two-way communication system that allows utilities to monitor how much renewable energy is being generated at any given moment from "distributed sources," such as rooftop solar panels. The technology gives utilities the ability to turn off homeowners’ appliances during peak electrical loads to balance supply and demand for electricity.

"This project will invest $37 million in the development of advanced smart grid technology and will further position Hawaii as an international leader in the clean energy space, serving as a hot spot for global investment and research and development," Abercrombie said at a news conference.

Makani Kai tapped for Kalaupapa flights

Makani Kai Air Charters has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide federally subsidized Essential Air Service for the residents of Kalaupapa, Molokai.

The subsidiary of Schuman Aviation Co. will use nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravans to provide service between Honolulu and Kalaupapa. Makani Kai Air will replace Pacific Wings LLC, which provided subsidized service from 2000 through April 2007 and then changed to subsidy-free service afterward with a schedule generally consisting of at least 12 weekly nonstop round trips.

The EAS program guarantees that small communities in the U.S. that were served by certificated air carriers before the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978 maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service.

The two-year period of subsidized service will begin at a rate of $932,772 the first year and $923,509 in the second year.

"As a result of the extensive efforts on the part of (U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood), Kalaupapa will have available, to patients and residents, air service subsidized by the federal government," U.S. Sen. Denaile Inouye said Tuesday.

Makani Kai Air Charters currently provides charter flights for visitors to Kalaupapa.

Postal prices rising for express, priority mail

WASHINGTON » The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is raising rates for its more profitable express mail and priority mail shipping next year, part of its efforts to stave off bankruptcy. The new prices, which take effect Jan. 22, include the introduction of a new flat rate of $39.95 for overnight express mail boxes weighing up to 70 pounds that are sent domestically; the flat rate for express letters is being increased separately to $18.95. Previously, prices for the overnight service were $13.25 or higher based on package weight and distance.

The prices for priority mail, which promises two- to three-day delivery, also will increase by an average of 3.1 percent.

In the past year, the post office lost $5.1 billion, mostly due to a 5.8 percent decline in revenue for first-class mail. Priority mail and express mail posted a 6.3 percent increase.

Among the increases set for Jan. 22:

» Priority mail, small box, $5.35.

» Priority mail, medium box, $11.35.

» Priority mail, large box, $15.45.

» Priority mail, regular envelope, $5.15.

» Priority mail, legal-size and padded envelope, $5.30.

The new prices amount to an across-the-board increase of roughly 5 percent in postal shipping services. They are in addition to a previously announced 1-cent increase in first-class mail to 45 cents, also planned for Jan. 22.

Solyndra attracts only 1 potential buyer

WILMINGTON, Del. » A California solar panel manufacturer that received a half-billion-dollar loan from the federal government before declaring bankruptcy says it’s been unable to attract much interest from potential buyers to take over its operations. Instead, Solyndra LLC is looking at a piecemeal sale of its assets, with separate auctions for its machinery and equipment, real estate and intellectual property. Solyndra officials told a U.S. bankruptcy trustee Tuesday that no qualified bidders have come forward to buy the company and take over its manufacturing operations.

Chief restructuring officer Todd Neilson said Solyndra had received only one bid for a sale of the whole company.

Travelport claims court win over American Air

DALLAS » Travelport Ltd. said Tuesday that a federal judge tossed out most of American Airlines’ antitrust lawsuit against the flight-information provider and online travel agent Orbitz. Travelport, which owns nearly half of Orbitz, said the judge dismissed American’s claims that the company monopolizes distribution of airline fare and flight information to travel agents.

American said, however, that the judge allowed its main antitrust claims to proceed. The ruling was issued by a U.S. district court in Fort Worth, Texas, where American is based. American wants to provide information about flights directly to travel agents and cut out the middleman in many cases. The outcome could change the way airline tickets are sold to business travelers, who are more likely than vacationers to use a travel agent.

ON THE MOVE

Castle Resorts & Hotels has appointed Crystal Idica to director of online distribution. She has been with the company for 10 years and joined the company as a reservation sales agent and has been a sales coordinator, interim reservation manager of Hawaii’s call center and manager of contracts and sales distribution.

Communications Pacific has promoted and hired:

» Nicole Fuertes to account supervisor from account executive. She previously served as an assistant program coordinator and information specialist at Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy.

» Andrea "Anj" Lum as assistant account executive. Her experience includes being editor in chief of American Literary Magazine at American University in Washington, D.C.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation has awarded $200,000 to the University of Hawaii-Maui College’s Institute of Hawaiian Music. The funds will be used for audio equipment and studio renovation.

Haseko presented a $10,000 award to James Campbell High School, which will be used to benefit its athletic department.