BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hawaii Index components slide
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The Honolulu Advertiser-Bloomberg Hawai'i Index reached its lowest point since its start in August 2007 as stocks tumbled on Wall Street.
The index, which started at 100, closed at 58.96, with all of its 11 members losing ground yesterday.
Bank of Hawaii fell almost 12 percent to $24.35, while Hoku Scientific was off almost 18 percent to $2.87. Barnwell Industries tumbled 15 percent to $4.48, and Hawaiian Holdings dropped 13 percent to $4.84.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 427.47 points, or 5.07 percent, to close at 7,997.28, its lowest level since March 2003.
HAWAII NATIONAL WARNS OF SCAM
Hawaii National Bank is warning of a "phishing" e-mail scam bearing Hawaii National Bank's name and is reminding people who receive the fraudulent e-mail that they should not respond by clicking on the link provided.
In the latest version, specific bank officials' names have been mentioned. Hawaii National Bank said it does not send e-mail to its customers to ask them to submit personal information.
Any such request should be viewed as highly suspicious, and recipients should not respond or click on any of the links that appear in such e-mail.
Recipients of suspected fraudulent e-mail messages can forward them to abuse.hnb@hnbhawaii.com or call 528-7824.
HAWAI'I COUNTY DEBT RATING RAISED
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its long-term and underlying rating on Hawai'i County's outstanding general obligation debt, saying the county had built up strong reserve levels and good financial management practices that should help it manage through the current economic environment.
The ratings agency raised the rating to "AA-" from "A+" and said it had a stable outlook on the ratings.
It also assigned an "AA-" rating on the county's series 2008A general obligation bonds.
WINDWARD MALL PLAY FACILITY OPENS
808 Bounce LLC, a local company that specializes in bouncy house and slide rentals, opened its first children's indoor inflatable party and play facility at Windward Mall.
The 8,000-square-foot facility, which will be open through the holiday season, includes a picnic area that can be reserved for parties. The main features include large inflatable play structures, slides, obstacle courses, bounce houses and a joust.
808 Bounce is on the first floor of the mall next to the Nextel store. Admission for children is $6 for an all-day pass. Children are given a wristband and can come and go all day. There is no charge for parents accompanying children.
RICHARD ELLIS TO MARKET WAIKIKI SITES
CB Richard Ellis has been chosen to market retail leasing at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa and King's Village in Waikiki.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa on Kalakaua Avenue has 75,000 square feet of retail space on three floors inside the hotel and another 15,000 square feet of retail space fronting Kalakaua Avenue at street level. The King's Village Shopping Center has 38,764 square feet of retail shop space on three floors one block from Kalakaua Avenue.
The CBRE retail marketing team is headed by Andrew Starn, who focuses on resort and luxury leasing in Waikiki, Fred Noa, senior vice president who specializes in luxury and lifestyle retailing, and Robert Jensen, who focuses on resort leasing.
