Hawaiian Springs expands in California

Hawaii-based Hawaiian Springs LLC has broadened its reach in Southern California with the addition of two more distributors for its brand. The distributors, Alliance Beverage Partners and Statewide Beverage Co., serve a combined 2,500 retailers across the region. The companies will distribute the half-liter, 1-liter and 1.5-liter sizes of Hawaiian Springs bottled water. Hawaiian Springs is distributed in more than 3,750 stores outside of Hawaii, as well as in grocery stores in Canada and Asia. In 2011 the brand’s retail placement grew by 85 percent, according to Hawaiian Springs.

"With these two strong partners, we anticipate healthy growth in 2013," said Clint Welker, Hawaiian Springs national sales manager.

Fuel cell research facility gets new name

A fuel cell research facility jointly sponsored by the state and Hawaiian Electric Co. has been given a new name and logo to reflect a broadening of its mission. The 10-year-old Hawaii Fuel Cell Test Facility is now called the Hawaii Sustainable Energy Research Facility, or HiSERF.

Since its creation by the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, the laboratory has become one of the foremost fuel-cell research facilities in the country, attracting more than $12 million in research funding from the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Department of Energy and industry partners, according to a news release from HNEI and HECO.

"The new name reflects an expanded mission to study variable energy storage technologies and smart grid applications as well as fuel cells," according to the news release.

The facility’s sponsors have recently undertaken several significant battery energy-storage projects.

U.S. economy saw speedy summer growth

WASHINGTON » The U.S. economy grew at a 2.7 percent annual rate from July through September, much faster than first thought. The strength is expected to fade in the final months of the year because of the impact of superstorm Sandy and uncertainty about looming tax increases and government spending cuts.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that growth in the third quarter was significantly better than the 2 percent rate estimated a month ago. And it was more than twice the 1.3 percent rate reported for the April-June quarter.

The main reason for the upward revision to the gross domestic product was businesses restocked at a faster pace than previously estimated. That offset weaker consumer spending growth. Most economists say economic growth is slowing to below 2 percent in the current October-December quarter. That’s generally considered too weak to rapidly lower the unemployment rate.

A separate report showed the negative impact of Superstorm Sandy is starting to fade. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 393,000 last week, the Labor Department said.

Talks to resume in harbors strike

LOS ANGELES » Negotiators for employers and union workers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors will resume talks following a third day of a strike that has shut down most of the terminals at the nation’s busiest port complex, both sides confirmed Thursday.

Cargo ships had begun stacking up after seven of eight Los Angeles terminals and three of six Long Beach terminals were shuttered because 70 clerical workers went on strike. They were supported by dockworkers from their union who refused to cross their picket line.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union clerical workers and 14 shippers have been locked in a contract dispute for 21⁄2 years. By Thursday morning, at least 18 ships docked and inside the adjacent harbors were not being serviced, port spokesmen said.

Honolulu-based Matson Inc. said its Long Beach terminal facility has been operating without any interruptions this week due to a previous contract agreement with the union that has been in effect since July 1, 2010.

Rate on 30-year mortgage ticks up to 3.32 percent

WASHINGTON >> Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages stayed close to record lows this week, a trend that has made purchasing a home more affordable and helped the housing market recover.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan edged up to 3.32 percent. That’s close to last week’s rate of 3.31 percent, the lowest on records dating to 1971. 

The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage ticked up to 2.64 percent from 2.63 percent last week, also a record low.

The average rate on the 30-year loan has been below 4 percent all year. It has fallen further since the Federal Reserve started buying mortgage bonds in September to encourage more borrowing and spending.

ON THE MOVE

Approved Freight Forwarders has announced the appointment of the following:

» Greg Janes as account manager for the company’s Maui location. He has 20 years of sales experience in various industries, including as independent sales rep for Elkay Manufacturing, and worked for Lowe’s and West Coast Motor Cars.

» Kerry Lum as account manager for the company’s Hono­lulu operations. She was previously a senior territory manager for SkinCeuticals, a L’Oreal Company.

Punahou Fitness Center has named Jason Maxwell chief executive officer. He is also owner of PFC and an AMFPT certified master personal trainer. He has nearly 20 years in the health and fitness industry, and was previously owner of Max Fitness Hawaii as well as assistant general manager of Gold’s Gym.