Hawaii jobless rate falls to 3 percent, marking 9-year-low ADVERTISING Hawaii jobless rate falls to 3 percent, marking 9-year-low HONOLULU (AP) — The state’s labor department says Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell to a nine-year-low of 3 percent last month. The
Hawaii jobless rate falls to 3 percent, marking 9-year-low
HONOLULU (AP) — The state’s labor department says Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell to a nine-year-low of 3 percent last month.
The department said Thursday the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 3.2 percent in October.
The last time the state’s jobless rate was this low was October 2007.
Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in November.
Hawaii’s construction industry and its professional and business service sector added jobs during the month.
The size of the labor force hit a seasonally adjusted record high of more than 696,000. The department says this includes 676,000 people with jobs and 20,000 people receiving unemployment.
Kauai entrepreneurs use crickets to promote healthy eating
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — Two entrepreneurs are working to open an eatery on Kauai that offers customers healthy food options, with a focus on crickets as a main protein source.
Lourdes Torres and Emilio Ruiz-Romero have been raising crickets to prepare to open their Lihue business in January, The Garden Island reported (http://bit.ly/2gMerJk).
They keep the insects in large bins at Torres’ Kilauea home and once they’ve lived out their six-week life cycle, the crickets are frozen, dehydrated and ground into powder.
“We did a lot of research on the most humane and sustainable way to kill the crickets,” Torres said.
The powder will be available as an option for customers to add into fruit smoothies or baked goods, such as chocolate chip cookies.
Torres said the focus has been on ensuring all their food is farmed sustainably.
“We’re micromanaging every aspect of everything we do to make sure that it’s truly sustainable,” Torres said. “That means sourcing locally as much as possible and making sure that all of the packaging is biodegradable.”
The two business partners are hoping to win a competition hosted by the Kauai Economic Development Board to help support their venture. The Agricultural Business Plan Competition currently has a prize pool of more than $30,000.
“Winning that money would be really helpful for equipment like blenders and refrigerators,” Ruiz-Romero said.
Commission denies permit to short-term rental property owner
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Maui County officials have denied a special-use permit to the owner of a short-term rental property who was hit with a half-million dollar fine last year as part of a settlement involving 30 alleged permit violations.
The Planning Commission denied Michael Baskin’s permit for the Paia Inn on Tuesday, citing his previous problems with the county.
Baskin has paid a majority of the $500,000 fine issued in July 2015 but still owes the county $190,000. He was accused of violating laws concerning short-term rentals, special management areas, zoning and building codes.
“I can’t see how you can continue to operate illegally, be in arrears of $190,000. I just don’t see it. I don’t see why there should be (privilege) to continue to operate,” said Commissioner Stephen Castro Sr.
Planning Director William Spence said more violations have been uncovered at the Paia Inn since the settlement. Baskin has been accused of opening up a cafe at the inn without adding the required parking stalls or obtaining proper permits.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Baskin denied wrongdoing and blamed many of the violations on the property’s age. He argued that he is allowed to have up to 12 transient vacation rentals under a bill passed by Maui County two years ago.
