Biz Wrap: Ranger Honored; Nan Inc. Out

Here’s a look at what’s happening in the world of business around the Big Island this week. 

Initial Unemployment Filings Down 6%

Statewide initial unemployment claims decreased by 20.3% this week with 1,616 total filings compared to 2,028 for the same week in 2012. For Hawaii Island, claims were down 6.5%.

Island-wide there were 287 initial claims filed this week, 20 fewer than the 307 filed the same week last year. Of the 287 claims, 162 were filed in Hilo and 125 were filed in Kona. 

Low Bidder Pulls Put of HCC Palamanui Project

Nan Inc., the low bidder for the Hawaii Community College Palamanui campus, has pulled out of the project, resulting in an $8 million funding gap for the University of Hawaii.

West Hawaii Today reported earlier this week that Big Island lawmakers sent a letter to M.R.C. Greenwood, president of the University of Hawaii, about the need for funding to fill the gap between available construction funds and the costs of the second-lowest bidder, F&H Construction.

Ranger Earns Top Honor for Search-and-Rescue Training

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Law Enforcement Ranger Nainoa Keana‘aina is the first-ever recipient of the Honor Graduate Award from the National Search and Rescue Academy (NSARA).

The intensive six-week NSARA program was conducted at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bridgeport, CA. The training included ground search operations, incident command systems, swiftwater rescue, technical rope rescue, helicopter rescue techniques, remote emergency medical responder training, and more.

Keana‘aina served as class president and incident commander, and was selected by his fellow classmates for the Honor Graduate Award.

Hilo Aquarium Store Closing Today

The Aquarium Store in Hilo is closing its doors for good today at 5 p.m. The shop, located at 76-A Keaa St., has been in business for three years.

A store representative said the company will continue to sell fish food online via its Facebook page.

If your business has an opening, closing, promotion, retirement, new product release, special event, award, new location, or expansion, please let us know. Email us at newsdesk@Bigislandnow.com.