BUSINESS BRIEFS
Ing reappointed as school trustee
Advertiser Staff
A Probate Court judge yesterday reappointed local attorney Douglas Ing to a five-year term as a trustee of the Kamehameha Schools.
Ing, a partner in the law firm of Watanabe Ing & Komeiji, was first appointed to the $7.7 billion charitable trust's five-member board in November 2000.
State Probate Judge Colleen Hirai made no decision on a replacement for Constance Lau, who announced last year that she would step down from the board, when she was named chief executive of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.
A court-appointed panel in November named attorney Allen Hoe, First Hawaiian Bank executive Corbett Kalama and former city budget director Ivan Lui-Kwan as finalists to replace Lau.
HONOLULU 6TH IN U.S. FISH CATCH
Commercial fishing operators unloaded $57.2 million of fish and shellfish in 2005 in Honolulu, the sixth-largest catch among U.S. ports, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service announced yesterday.
That was a $11.4 million increase over 2004's catch.
The port of New Bedford, Mass., claimed the top spot for value of landings, setting a record at $282.5 million — an increase of $75 million from 2004.
OUTRIGGER TO RUN NEW PALAU RESORT
Outrigger Enterprises Group announced yesterday it will manage a new luxury resort planned on the island of Koror in the Republic of Palau.
Outrigger said it has entered into an agreement with Micronesia Investment and Development Corp. and Agora Development Group to operate the $40 million beachfront Outrigger Palau Resort, Spa and Hotel. Completion of the resort is tentatively scheduled for late 2009. It will have 100 hotel rooms, 10 over-water bungalows and 50 villas/condominiums, as well as restaurants, shops, a spa and function space.
AVOCADOS FROM MEXICO GET OK
MEXICO CITY — Mexican growers can now ship avocados to Hawai'i, following the removal yesterday of the last remaining U.S. barriers to avocado imports.
Beginning in 1914, U.S. authorities prohibited importation of Mexican avocados, saying they were infested by agricultural pests.
In 1997, the United States started allowing avocados from Michoacan to be imported to 13 U.S. states, and gradually eased other barriers in the next decade.
By the end of 2005, all Mexican avocados were allowed in every U.S. state except California, Florida and Hawai'i. The last restrictions were lifted yesterday, and the first avocados were shipped out to those states the same day.
As a result of the complete opening of the U.S. market, Mexico is expected to send 198,000 tons of the fruit in the 2006-2007 season, up from 150,000 tons the previous year.
