Feds award $6M to UH to study biofuels

The federal government is giving the University of Hawaii $6 million for biofuels research.

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy announced the award Wednesday, saying the Hawaii investment will drive more efficient biofuels production and feedstock improvements.

The project involves grass production in Hawaii so that harvesting and processing can be compatible with biochemical conversion to jet fuel and diesel.

The government is providing $10 million for eight genetic research projects aimed at improving biofuel feedstock and more efficient, cost-effective energy production.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the research will help reduce dependence on imported oil and create jobs for rural America.

WestJet adds seasonal service to Hawaii

WestJet, which already flies to Hawaii from Canada, has leased two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from Thomas Cook Airlines to offer seasonal nonstop service between Calgary and Honolulu and Maui, and between Edmonton and Maui.

The Calgary, Alberta-based airline said Wednesday that seasonal flights are scheduled to begin Dec. 13 and continue through April 21.

Service between Calgary and Honolulu will be twice a week, between Calgary and Maui four times a week and between Edmonton and Maui three times a week.

WestJet plans to use its own flight attendants but Thomas Cook Airlines will provide the aircraft and pilots.

New-home sales fall during June

WASHINGTON » Americans bought fewer new homes in June after sales jumped to a two-year high in May. The steep decline suggests that a weaker job market and slower growth could make the housing recovery uneven.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales of new homes fell 8.4 percent last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 350,000. That’s the biggest drop since February 2011.

European losses hurt Ford’s net income

DEARBORN, Mich. » Just three years after Ford revived its American business, the company is planning an even trickier turnaround in Europe, where mounting losses weighed down its second-quarter results.

Ford’s net income fell 57 percent to $1 billion in the April-June period, largely because of a $404 million loss in Europe. Car sales there have tumbled to 20-year lows because consumers lack confidence in the economy. Ford expects to lose more than $1 billion in Europe in 2012, double its estimate from the beginning of the year.

The company wouldn’t give details about its turnaround plans on Wednesday, but analysts say layoffs and plant closures are inevitable. Europe is vital to Ford. A quarter of its sales and profits come from the region, which is Ford’s largest market after North America. Four straight quarters of losses in Europe are taking a toll.

Servco offers rare Lexus ‘dream car’ with a V-10  for $454,000

For the price of a two-bedroom Waikiki condominium or a six-bedroom home in Las Vegas, you could be the proud owner of a handcrafted Lexus LFA Nūrburgring Package sports car.

The car, with a suggested retail price of $454,080, is for sale at Servco Lexus Honolulu on Kapiolani Boulevard.

Only 500 Lexus LFA models are available worldwide. The model in Honolulu is even rarer: It is one of only 50 made so far with the Nūrburgring Package of options.

The 562 horsepower, yellow special edition LFA was inspired by the Fuji Speedway racetrack in Japan. It has a 4.8-liter V-10 engine that powers the car from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

With chassis and bodywork made from advanced carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, some of the car’s other features include a 6-speed automated sequential gearbox with paddle shifters, a carbon fiber and leather-trimmed interior, and a 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

"It’s a thing of beauty, a dream car," said Rick Ching, president of Servco Automotive. "We’re very excited to have one here in Hawaii."

ON THE MOVE

AlohaCare has announced Nolan Namba as director of strategic & business development. Before joining AlohaCare, he was vice principal of Hawaii Baptist Academy.

The Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council has appointed Kika G. Bukoski as executive director. He is a former waste industry executive and state legislator.

Polynesian Adventure Tours/Gray Line Hawaii, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line/NCL Corp., has hired Frank Among as vice president of sales and marketing. He has more than 25 years of travel industry sales, marketing and executive-level management experience in airline, wholesale and online companies.