BUSINESS BRIEFS
Mauna Kea closing banana business
Advertiser Staff
Mauna Kea Banana Co. said yesterday it is closing its Big Island banana operation after 30 years and will focus on its Hamakua Springs Country Farms brand of hydroponic vegetables. Nine workers were laid off and another 20 will lose their jobs in a few months after the final banana harvest.
Officials at Mauna Kea Banana Co., formerly known as Kea'au Bananas, said they plan to lease the banana acreage in Pepe'ekeo to area farmers.
"We've had to make some hard decisions due to rising costs. Everything has gone up, especially fertilizer," said President Richard Ha.
"The major thing on my mind right now is our workers," he said. "To the extent we have other jobs available that they are suited for we will try to transfer them so they can stay at the farm. We are also talking to other banana growers to see if they have openings, and I am talking to the Department of Labor to see if they can help."
The company is in the process of adding 20 new planting houses for tomatoes and other produce, Ha said. Hamakua Springs produces tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, green onions and other hydroponically grown vegetables, which are sold to Hawai'i supermarkets and restaurants.
NONPROFIT LAUNCHES YOUTH PROGRAM
Hawaiian Community Assets has launched its Financial Education Program for Hawaii Youth designed to teach money management skills to youngsters ages 14 to 18.
The program is funded through the state Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Native Americans and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
"The decision to incorporate financial education for Hawai'i youth into our community programs was based on need and an ever-growing desire to prepare our children as leaders in sustaining and promoting traditional cultural values in modern society," said Michelle Ka'uhane, executive director of Hawaiian Community Assets, a nonprofit organization. "If we can guide our youth toward financial self-sufficiency through education, then we can instill the necessary foundation for them to take part in asset building."
For more information contact youth programs coordinator Jeff Gilbreath at 587-7653 or jeff@hclending.com.
MASON MEMORIAL SERVICE APRIL 12
A memorial service for George Mason, founder and former publisher of Pacific Business News, is scheduled for April 12 at Oahu Cemetery Chapel.
Mason, who oversaw the weekly Honolulu business newspaper from 1963 to 1992, died Monday. He was 84.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., and the service will be at 10 a.m. There will be a private inurnment.
Aloha attire and no flowers requested. Donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association and Hospice Hawaii.
D.R. HORTON EARNINGS REPORT MAY 6
Homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc. said it will release earnings for the first three months of the year on May 6 and host a conference call for investors at 4 a.m. Hawai'i time that day.
The firm operates in Hawai'i as D.R. Horton, Schuler Division. The company's projects on O'ahu include Ironwoods at Kailua, Ho'opili and Mehana-Nanala in Kapolei, Kahiwelo in Makakilo and Sea Country-Nohokai in Wai'anae. The company also has four projects on Maui, two on the Big Island and one on Kaua'i.
The call will be webcast from the company's Web site at www.drhorton.com.
Shares of D.R. Horton closed down 30 cents at $16.93 yesterday on the New York Stock Exchange.
