State tax deadline moved to Monday

The official state filing tax deadline in Hawaii is on April 20 but because today is a Saturday, the deadline is extended to Monday, according to the state Department of Taxation.

However, the many taxpayers who had filed their state and federal returns electronically at the same time by April 15’s federal deadline should be receiving refunds via direct deposit within 10 days. Those who file paper tax returns by mail and are expecting a refund will wait up to eight weeks. Not surprisingly, more taxpayers are filing electronically.

Maybe Wie, Kono will do better next year

Michelle Wie barely made the cut in the LPGA Lotte Championship and due to continued struggles Friday at Ko Olina Golf Club was destined for a disappointing standing in today’s final round. Stephanie Kono, also a Punahou School grad, failed to qualify past the two initial rounds.

The good news, though: They will be back next year, as will Lotte, a food and shopping conglomerate in South Korea, to complete a three-year agreement to sponsor what is now Hawaii’s lone LPGA event. Lotte is one of the most active golf sponsors of Korea and hopefully will be a sponsor in Hawaii for many more years.