Jamba Juice promotion excludes Hawaii

Consumers in every U.S. state but Hawaii are invited to stop by a Jamba Juice store from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday for a free sample of recently launched juice blends.

According to a statement, the sampling event is intended to drive consumer awareness of the new juice choices that are blended with kale, beets, carrots, ginger, orange, apple, pineapple, chia seeds and wheatgrass.

A disclaimer toward the bottom of the publicly traded company’s promotional announcement says the offer is "specifically not valid at Hawaii, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Disney, Las Vegas Strip, Airport or select University Jamba Juice locations," but does not provide a reason.

A corporate representative did not reply to a query, but a local spokeswoman for Jamba Hawaii explained that the new juice blends have not yet been introduced in the Hawaii market. Jamba Hawaii “intends to start selling it within the next 12 months, and will invite consumers to come in for free samples at that time,” she said.

Isle Jamba Juice locations also offer Papaya smoothies, which are a Hawaii market exclusive, she said.

Pali Momi dining spots pass safety checks

Pali Momi Medical Center’s food service operations have received green placards from the State of Hawaii Department of Health Sanitation Branch, indicating they passed their food service and food safety inspection.

The Ho‘okipa Cafe and the Hau‘oli Court Dining Room received the green placard, according to a statement.

Hiring at small businesses finally perks up

NEW YORK » The long-awaited surge in hiring at small businesses appears to be underway.

Owners who resisted hiring after the recession are taking on workers to keep up with rising demand for products and services.

Faulkner Hyundai in Harrisburg, Penn., is adding seven people to its staff of 92 because new cars are selling at their fastest rate in eight years. Faulkner has hired a sales manager, its first new employee since the third quarter of last year. Up next: salespeople, workers to service cars and employees who develop new sources of revenue.

Employers maintain healthy job gains

WASHINGTON » A private survey shows that businesses hired at a healthy pace in July, though the job gains slowed from the previous month.

Private employers added 218,000 jobs, down from 281,000 in June, payroll provider ADP said Wednesday. It was the fourth straight month of job gains above 200,000, a healthy pace that usually is enough to lower the unemployment rate.

The figures suggest that the government’s jobs report, to be released Friday, will also show a solid increase. But the ADP numbers cover only private businesses and often diverge from the government’s more comprehensive report.

Economists forecast that the government’s report will show that 225,000 jobs were added in July, while the unemployment rate stayed at 6.1 percent, according to a survey by FactSet.

Several carriers avoiding routes over Iraq

BAGHDAD » European airlines and a Dubai-based carrier are rerouting flights over Iraqi airspace as a security precaution amid fears that militants with the Islamic State group have weapons capable of shooting down planes, despite Iraq saying its skies are safe.

A number of European carriers, including Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Air France, say they have devised alternative flight plans for their planes. Air France specifically said it detected a "potential threat" on July 24, which triggered the airline’s decision, said Eric Prevot, a spokesman for Air France’s Flight Operations Center.

The decisions come after a Malaysia Airlines flight crashed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.

Bank of America hit with $1.3B penalty

NEW YORK » A federal judge imposed a $1.3 billion civil penalty against Bank of America on Wednesday for its role in selling risky mortgages to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that were advertised as safe investments.

The fine was against Countrywide, which Bank of America purchased in 2008 as the financial crisis was unfolding. It is the latest legal ruling against Wall Street.

A jury found in October 2013 that BofA was liable for Countrywide’s role in selling risky loans to the government housing agencies through a program nicknamed the "Hustle" from August 2007 to May 2008. The jury found that Countrywide executives deliberately misrepresented the quality of mortgages being sold.

ON THE MOVE

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has promoted:

» Richelle Abiang to marketing manager. She joined the company in 2003 as a marketing communications specialist and has more than 10 years of marketing experience.

» Charity Shaffer to digital marketing manager. She joined CBP in 2008 as a marketing specialist who handled graphic design as well as collateral creation.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has announced Dr. Mark Gibson will join the neurology department at Kaiser’s Maui Lani Elua Clinic. Before joining Kaiser, Gibson served as an associate professor of neurology at University of Massachusetts as well as a neurology consultant at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital in Worcester, Mass.