A blessing is planned today for an initial 293 homes to be built in the first phase of Ho‘opili, a master-planned Leeward Oahu community programmed for 11,750 homes, 3 million square feet of commercial space, five schools and 200 acres of farmland.

Ho‘opili developer D.R. Horton is holding the blessing, which will be attended by community members and government officials, to mark the start of home construction. Work on preparing the land for construction has been ongoing and was marked in March with a private ground-breaking ceremony.

The first phase will include 151 single-family homes and duplexes, 142 condominiums and a 1.8-acre neighborhood park with playground equipment and a gathering pavilion.

ABC Stores gives $100,000 to Hale Kipa

Hale Kipa, a Hawaii nonprofit youth services organization that works with at-risk youth and their families, has received a $100,000 donation from ABC Stores.

The donation supports Hale Kipa’s capital campaign to build a complex on 4.26 acres adjacent to Old Fort Weaver Road in Ewa that will serve as the agency’s headquarters. This location will consolidate Hale Kipa’s operations to improve service quality, reduce costs and build a sense of place in West Oahu.

Hale Kipa has raised more than $6 million in funds and committed support to build the $10.5 million complex. The LEED-certified design includes residential shelters, a service center and multipurpose education administration building, and is projected to generate operating cost savings of at least $100,000 per year.

Hale Kipa has served more than 45,000 youths throughout Hawaii since its beginning in 1970 as a single shelter on Oahu.

Comments sought on neighbor island ferry

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission said Wednesday it is looking for public comments about a ferry service between Lahaina and Kaunakakai, Molokai, looking to end operations.

Sea Link of Hawaii Inc. requested to voluntarily surrender its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate as a water carrier of passengers and property among the islands of Oahu, Molokai and Maui.

The PUC said because the service Sea Link of Hawaii provides for Molokai and Maui is so important to everyday life, the agency wants to make sure the public has time to respond to the request.

“We’re real sensitive to these small communities and the challenges they face,” said Del Won, executive officer for the PUC.

The public can mail in comments to the PUC to 465 S. King St., Room 103, Honolulu, HI 96813. The public also can email the comments to puc.comments@hawaii.gov. All written comments should reference Docket No. 2016-0214, and include the commenter’s name and the entity or organization the commenter represents. The commission will review and consider any written comments that are submitted by Sept. 27.

A copy of Sea Link’s Aug. 24 request to voluntarily surrender its CPCN is filed in Docket No. 2016-0214, and is available to view online on the Commission’s Document Management System at: dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms.

December opening set for Vegas casino

LAS VEGAS >> The Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is officially opening for business in December.

The Chinese-themed casino just off the Las Vegas Strip announced Tuesday that it will have its grand opening on Dec. 3.

The 3-acre property will have 200 hotel rooms and a casino floor spanning 27,000 square feet.

Lucky Dragon executives say the new casino will cater to domestic Chinese gamblers, including Las Vegas locals and crowds of Californians.

The developer is a privately held entity known as the Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center. The casino is financed with money from Chinese investors.

U.S. growth weakened in summer, Fed says

WASHINGTON >> The economy grew at a moderate or modest pace this summer in eight of the Federal Reserve’s 12 U.S. districts, a slowdown from previous reports that may make Fed policymakers more cautious about an interest rate hike.

The Fed’s “Beige Book” survey of business conditions, released Wednesday, found that growth weakened in two districts — Philadelphia and Richmond, Va. The economy was unchanged in New York and Kansas City, Mo. In its last report in July, growth was modest or moderate in 11 of 12 districts.

The report comes after Friday’s jobs figures showed that hiring slowed in August to half the pace seen in June and July. And a business survey found that manufacturing activity actually shrank last month. Such readings may darken the outlook for many Fed officials.

ON THE MOVE

Carlsmith Ball has promoted Joyce Tam-Sugiyama to partner from associate. She first joined the law firm in 2015 as an associate in the company’s Entertainment & Intellectual Property and Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution practice groups. Tam-Sugiyama practices on environmental law, complex commercial litigation and intellectual property law. Prior to joining Carlsmith Ball, she was an associate at Kirkland & Ellis in New York.

Architects Hawaii has announced the following promotions:

>> Chase Kersten to senior job captain from job captain. Kersten has been with the company since 2015 and has provided services for the military, the government and the corrections market.

>> Kyle Kagawa to senior job captain from job captain. Kagawa’s projects include Ward Village’s AE’O Ward Village, JN Velocity, Moena Cafe and improvements to the Town Center of Mililani.