Monday, October 5, 2009

Economy not out of doldrums yet, public workers continue negotiations, other state news


Hotels in Hawai'i had their weakest summer on record — an average of 68.1 percent occupancy — according to a report released today.

Slipping property values and home sales could negatively impact the island’s economy in 2010, as the county’s revenue is largely derived from real estate taxes, Kaua‘i officials said.

Hawaii's largest public worker union has agreed to take 18 furlough days the first year of its new contract and 24 furlough days the second year of the contract.

Teachers at one high school are considering giving up three training days to lessen the effect of teacher furloughs on students.

On Monday members of the UH Professional Assembly will begin voting on a proposed contract from the university. The offer includes a 5-percent pay cut over the next two years and $2,400 more out-of-pocket for health insurance.

The tomb of Father Damien De Veuster in Louvain, Belgium, was the destination today for about 400 Hawaii pilgrims in Europe this week for the canonization of the 19th-century missionary to leprosy victims at Kalaupapa.

The 12,000-mile trek to Rome for Father Damien's canonization won't be easy for the 11 Hansen's disease patients making the journey.

Parker Ranch is quietly selling 3,509 acres of its North Kohala property following two consecutive years of multimillion-dollar losses by its parent organization, the Tribune-Herald has learned.

Everything old is new again for the Hawaii County Council, which on Wednesday will tackle a list of familiar topics.

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