BUSINESS BRIEFS
Marijuana use up at workplaces
Advertiser Staff
Drug use in Hawai'i workplaces showed little change in the first quarter of 2008, with the exception of marijuana use, which rose 28 percent over the previous quarter, according to quarterly statistics released yesterday by Diagnostic Laboratory Services Inc.
"Keep in mind that this is the first full quarter that we are seeing the effect of lowering the marijuana detection threshold in Hawai'i," said Carl Linden, Diagnostic Laboratory Services' scientific director of toxicology.
"All in all, these show no serious increase in drug abuse, other than the fact that we are seeing a truer picture of actual marijuana abuse in Hawai'i."
Data for the study came from approximately 9,000 employees, or potential employees, tested from January to the end of March.
The statistics also showed:
FUKUNAGA OFF TO AIR SERVICE HEARING
Former state transportation director Barry Fukunaga will attend a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on Hawai'i's air service market tomorrow in Washington, D.C.
Fukunaga, who is now chief of staff to Gov. Linda Lingle, has been involved in the state's efforts to address the recent closure of Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines. He will describe to lawmakers the transportation situation in Hawai'i, with a focus on airport services and infrastructure for the future.
Fukunaga served for 25 years with the state airports division, including as airports manager, airports operations manager and airports services supervisor. He is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives and has served as a director of the Airport Council International-Pacific.
Also attending will be David Banmiller, chief executive officer of Aloha Airlines.
TAKAHASHI INCREASES CASTLE HOLDINGS
Motoko Takahashi has increased her holdings in Honolulu-based Castle Group Inc. to about 12 percent of shares outstanding following her purchase of another company that owned shares in the resort hotel and condominium management company.
A filing at the Securities and Exchange Commission shows Takahashi bought NKC Hawaii, which owned 900,000 shares in Castle. Takahashi, who serves as a director of Castle, now owns 1.14 million shares in Castle, according to the filing earlier this week.
HILTON HAWAIIAN OFFERS EVENTS DEAL
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa is offering discounts to local businesses that schedule events at the Waikiki hotel with a "Meet with Success" kama'aina package through June 30.
The package, available for events held Monday through Thursday, offers the meeting place as a free venue for those who book lunch menus starting at $29.75 per person, or dinner menus starting at $41.50 per person.
The package also includes an 8-foot screen, projector stand and cable, podium and microphone, and 25 percent off the independently owned and operated Mandara Spa for all attendees. The package is available to groups between 20 and 200 people for lunch, and between 20 and 300 for dinner.
