Best Buy leader resigns
NEW YORK >> Best Buy’s founder Richard Schulze is stepping down as chairman of the beleaguered consumer electronics chain after the company’s investigation revealed that he failed to alert the board of directors when he learned that CEO Brian Dunn was having an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.
Bankoh to put Hawaiian language on ATMs
"Aloha mai." That’s the message that will greet Bank of Hawaii ATM users when the bank rolls out its Hawaiian language capability later this year. Customers wishing to transact in Hawaiian will be able to do so at more than 400 Bank of Hawaii ATMs across the state starting this summer.
"This is important to help perpetuate the Hawaiian language and our host culture," Bankoh Chairman and CEO Peter Ho said Monday. "We’re proud to be the first financial institution to offer Hawaiian language capability on its ATM network. And, we’re especially grateful for the support and expertise we are receiving from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to help ensure the accuracy of translations."
The Hawaiian language option for the ATMs will include words such as "ahu kīko‘o," or "checking account," and "mīkini huki kālā," or "automated teller machine (ATM)."
Bank of Hawaii has more than 400 ATMs and 66 branches throughout the state. Current languages available on its ATMs include Japanese, Chinese and English.
Hawaiian Springs expands on mainland
Hawaiian Springs LLC has expanded distribution in Southern California via two new distributors.
John Lenore & Co. and Trent Beverage Co. have increased the presence of Hawaiian Springs bottled water since the first quarter of 2012. Both distributors carry the 500-milliliter, 1-liter and 1.5-liter bottles.
John Lenore & Co. has access to more than 4,000 accounts in San Diego County, while Trent Beverage Co. has 1,700 accounts in Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern and Imperial counties. Hawaiian Springs has been available on the mainland since 2009 and is also available in Canada, China, Japan and Hong Kong.
Alaska Air unveils 129-foot salmon on plane
ANCHORAGE, Alaska » Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute unveiled Monday the world’s largest king salmon. Stretching nearly 129 feet, the fish-themed design will adorn a Boeing 737-800 and be revealed this fall.
The new "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon II" design is derived from an earlier version of the paint scheme Alaska Airlines unveiled on a 737-400 in 2005, which was repainted with the carrier’s traditional Eskimo livery last year. In addition to sporting the glimmering image of a wild Alaska king salmon like the original "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon," the new design is about nine feet longer and also features fish scales on the winglets and a salmon-pink colored "Alaska" script across the fuselage.
"This airplane celebrates Alaska Airlines’ unique relationship with the people and communities of Alaska and underscores our air transport commitment to the state’s seafood industry," said Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines’ regional vice president of the state of Alaska. "Because the new design will be featured on a larger 737-800, this 91,000-pound king will boldly promote the world’s finest seafood from the Hawaiian Islands to Boston and beyond."
Last year Alaska Airlines flew nearly 25 million pounds of seafood from Alaska to markets in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Residential Capital files for bankruptcy
DETROIT » The U.S. government is hoping that Monday’s bankruptcy filing by Ally Financial Inc.’s troubled mortgage business will help the company repay its government bailout faster.
Residential Capital LLC, or ResCap, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York, unable to make payments on debt taken out to finance soured home mortgages. The filing will separate the money-losing ResCap subsidiary from Ally’s auto loan and banking businesses, allowing the latter businesses to grow and speed up repayment of Ally’s bailout from 2008 and 2009, Ally said.
Groupon posts smaller loss, higher revenue
NEW YORK » Online deals company Groupon Inc. posted a smaller loss and sharply higher revenue for its fiscal first quarter, helped by a growing customer base lifting demand.
Its revenue jumped 89 percent and surpassed Wall Street’s expectations. Groupon’s stock shot up 17.9 percent, or $2.11, to $13.84 after hours.
Groupon said Monday that its loss was $11.7 million, or 2 cents a share, in January through March. It lost $146.5 million, or 48 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2011, when it was still privately held.
During the regular session, Groupon’s shares gained $1.84, or 18.5 percent, to $11.74.
ON THE MOVE
Hale Ku‘ike has announced the following new hire and promotion:
>> As director of community relations, Scott C. Gardiner will oversee marketing and community outreach for both the Nuuanu and Kaneohe facilities, as well as the startup and ongoing operations of the Kaneohe facility.
>> Dorothy Colby has been promoted to administrator of Hale Ku‘ike’s Nuuanu facility from business manager. She has served Hale Ku‘ike for seven years as chef, dietary manager and human resources manager.
Prudential Locations has hired John Connelley as principal broker. He began his real estate career in 1989 and was previously a licensee with Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties since 1999, serving in various positions including sales, management and training. He also serves as president and primary instructor for the Hawaii Institute of Real Estate and is a director of the Hawaii Association of Realtors.
