The number of photovoltaic permits issued in Hawaii County rose 21 percent in April before Kilauea Volcano erupted earlier this month and flowing lava sent thousands of people fleeing from their homes.

There were 75 solar permits last month compared with 62 in April 2017, according to Marco Mangelsdorf, who tracks rooftop solar permits and is president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar.

Through four months, PV permits issued on Hawaii island jumped 26 percent to 278 from 221 in the year-earlier period.

The No. 1 PV permit puller on the island has been Sunrun, followed by ProVision Solar, Mangelsdorf said.

Postal Service loses $1.3B as mail delivery slumps

WASHINGTON >> The U.S. Postal Service reported another quarterly loss Friday after an unrelenting drop in mail volume and costs of its health care and pension obligations outweighed strong gains in package deliveries.

Amid sharp criticism from President Donald Trump that it is being scammed out of billions by online retailers such as Amazon.com, the Postal Service called for greater freedom to raise stamp prices to help cover costs. It warned of a serious financial situation that prevented it from making much-needed investments in letter and package delivery, saying it could not wait for a task force created by Trump to study the reasons behind its losses at a time of increased competition in the e-commerce age.

The Postal Service’s report showed a loss of $1.3 billion between January and March, larger than a $562 million loss in the same period last year, due in part to rising fuel costs and added wage expenses as it grows its package business.

ON THE MOVE

>> Ryan Sung has been named the new general manager of Honolulu Cookie Co. He is the son of company founders Keith and Janet Sung. Appointing Ryan Sung as general manager will establish him as the incoming leader of the family-owned business, and he will play a key role in leadership and business strategy in order to move the company forward.

>> Rose Kirland, district director of Toastmasters District 49, awarded Sherry Imamura-Ryan as the “Outstanding-Distinguished Toastmaster of 2017-2018 for Toastmasters District 49” at the Spring Conference at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on May 5. Imamura-Ryan is a member and club officer with Wahiawa Pineapple Country Toastmasters Club since 2000 and recently chaired the Toastmasters’ youth leadership program, which was for the schools in the Wahiawa district.

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