Attempt to exempt Hawaii, Alaska From Increase In Air Travel Fees

The Hawaii and Alaska congressional delegations to the US Congress this week introduced legislation that would exempt Hawaii, Alaska, and communities that rely on essential air service as subsidized by the U.S. Department of Transportation, from the increase in air travel fees included in December’s budget deal. This exemption would protect interisland flights from increased air travel fees, which would more than double from $2.50 to $5.60. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and in the House by Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), and Don Young (R-AK).

“Raising air travel fees ignores the economic hardship for those in Hawaii and Alaska. At a time when people are working harder and getting less, raising fees on residents who have no other option but to rely on air travel for basic necessities is unfair,” said Hirono. “That’s why this bill is important and I am pleased to join my colleagues from Hawaii and Alaska to ask Congress to recognize the travel needs of non-contagious states.”

“This bill provides a much-needed reality check to the fee hike’s disproportionate impact on Alaskans and Hawaiians who often don’t have a straight-shot option in getting from Point A to Point B,” said Murkowski. “In parts of my state, we call these four-stop trips a ‘milk run’ and in other places you need multiple legs on different airlines to get to your destination.  Alaskans already deal with higher costs for energy and goods; we shouldn’t make Alaskans pay more for our state’s unique travel challenges.”

"This TSA fee affects Hawaii more due to our unique reliance on air travel.  We're in a different situation than the mainland and that needs to be considered,” said Schatz. “Hawai‘i families depend on air travel for business, health care, and to visit family.  Exempting Hawai‘i and Alaska from this increased fee by recognizing our geographic realities is fair and commonsense.”

“Flying is an essential part of everyday life for so many Alaskans. With so many communities off the road system, Alaskans rely on flights for critical services like medical care. Student athletes fly to neighboring communities for sport and academic events,” said Begich. “The additional fees are an unfair burden for these Alaskans who rely on these flights on a regular basis. My colleagues in Hawaii understand this unique situation and I am grateful for their work to exempt our states from these increased travel fees.”

“Any increase in airline fees or taxes unfairly burdens Hawaii residents who have no other option but air travel just to go to work, access healthcare, or visit family and friends,” said Gabbard. “By passing this legislation, Congress would again recognize the unique travel needs of our state, as it has done several times in the past. While I understand the need to support air travel security through this fee, the minuscule amount of revenue that would be gained from increasing these fees in Hawai‘i doesn't come close to the outsized negative impact of a more-than-doubled airline security fee on hard-working people in our state.”

“Hawaii is unique in that air service is essential to traveling between counties within our state. Whether for pleasure, business, medical treatment, or simply to visit family on other islands, Hawaii residents and visitors have no real alternative to commercial intra-state flights to meet their transportation needs. As a result, the passenger security fee increase is financially disproportionate and hits Hawaii families and businesses hard. An exemption from the fee increase is both fair and necessary, in light of our state’s unique circumstances," said Hanabusa.

“The bottom line is that this increase in security fees disproportionately impacts the residents of my state, and that isn’t right,” said Young. “Airline passengers already pay their fair share in taxes, including more than 17 types of taxes and fees, and this additional hardship places an even larger burden on those without transportation alternatives. The legislation introduced today addresses this problem for those who depend on air travel as the only means to access their communities and fuel their economies.”

Hawaii Governor Releases $15.85 Million for Agriculture, Watershed Preservation

 HONOLULU – Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $15.85 million for various capital improvement projects (CIP) administered by the state Department of Agriculture in support of the local agriculture industry and further preservation of Hawaii’s watersheds.

“Hawaii’s agriculture industry is vital to our local economy and supports thriving rural communities,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “It’s essential to protect our mauka forest areas, which contain native plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Our state’s watershed initiative remains a top priority, and it is the most cost-effective and efficient way to absorb rainwater and replenish groundwater resources to prevent erosion that muddies our beaches and fisheries.”

Allotment of funds for the following projects, identified by state legislators, has been approved by the Governor:

$12,500,000 – Agricultural Land, Oahu – Funds to purchase three land parcels in Wahiawa for agribusiness operations; the properties have access to roads, municipal water, and utilities, which make it efficient for transport of produce and cost effective for agribusiness operations (A fourth parcel may be purchased, pending negotiations with another buyer)

$1,500,000 – Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project, Island of Hawaii – Construction to repair flumes, ditches, reservoirs and tunnels; remove sediment in the ditches; modify intake structures; and install new lateral distribution lines for the irrigation system

$1,000,000 – State Agricultural Water Use Development Plan, statewide – Project planning to continue to inventory irrigation systems throughout the state, prepare historic description of the original irrigation infrastructure, assess the current condition, propose maintenance improvements, identify irrigation source and water use requirements, and develop long-term water use projections

$700,000 – Kunia Agricultural Park, Oahu – Design of the 150-acre Kunia Agricultural Park in Royal Kunia; design plans will include provisions to subdivide the land parcel into 26 lots and coordinating adjacent infrastructure to make utilities available to the parcels

$75,000 – East Kauai Irrigation System, Kauai – Construction for upgrades and repairs including clearing, lining, repairing and stabilizing the access roads, ditches, flumes, tunnels, reservoirs, diversions and intakes

$75,000 – Waimanalo Irrigation System Improvements, Oahu – Design for the extension of the main irrigation pipeline; the extension will be approximately 1,500 linear feet

Hawaii resorts among the 5 best in the world

A Hawaii resort is among the 5 best resorts in the world. The  U.S. News & World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of consumer advice and information, today released the 2014 Best Hotels rankings. For the first time, the Lodge at Sea Island in Sea Island, Ga., is the No. 1 hotel in the USA. Tortuga Bay in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic holds onto its spot as the Best Hotel in the Caribbean for the second year in a row. Banyan Tree Cabo Marques in Acapulco jumped up four places since last year to be the No. 1 Best Hotel in Mexico, and the Ritz-Carlton, Montreal seized the top spot in the 2014 ranking of the Best Hotels in Canada.

Out of the 1,693 luxury hotels across the United States evaluated for 2014, 169 scored high enough to earn a place on the list of the Best Hotels in the USA. New additions to the top five list this year are the Lodge at Sea Island and the Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Ore., which took the No. 3 spot this year after ranking 160th in 2013.

The top five Best Hotels in the USA are:

1. The Lodge at Sea Island – Sea Island, Ga.
2. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff – Bluffton, S.C.
3. The Allison Inn & Spa – Newberg, Ore.
4. Four Seasons Hotel Seattle – Seattle, Wash.
5. Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, The Lodge at Koele – Lanai, Hawaii

See full list: Best Hotels in the USA

U.S. News also analyzed 271 luxury properties in the Caribbean. Twenty-seven hotels scored high enough to be named Best Hotels in the Caribbean.

The top five Best Hotels in the Caribbean are:

1. Tortuga Bay – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
2. Jamaica Inn – Ochos Rios, Jamaica
3. Spice Island Beach Resort – St. George's, Grenada
4. Eden Rock, St. Barths – Baie de Saint Jean, St. Barts
5. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France – Baie des Flamands, St. Barts

See full list: Best Hotels in the Caribbean

The 2014 Best Hotels also includes rankings of 342 hotels in Mexico and 223 hotels in Canada, along with rankings of the Best Hotels by Brand to help travelers select the best brand-backed hotels across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. 

U.S. News' Best Hotels rankings are based on an unbiased methodology that includes the collective opinion of travel experts and guests, expressed through online reviews and ratings.

"Our Best Hotels rankings are designed to take the guesswork out of choosing the right hotel," said Miriam Weiner, travel editor for U.S. News. "These properties were selected because they meet the highest standards of travel experts and guests alike when it comes to luxury amenities and quality customer service."

Governor’s Statement Regarding State of the Union Address

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie today commented on President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, which mirrors his investment in early childhood education and his push for increasing the minimum wage.

Gov. Abercrombie stated:

“It’s encouraging that President Obama’s national priorities echo those I’ve outlined as top initiatives for the State of Hawaii.

“The President’s emphasis on early childhood education are in line with Hawaii’s plans to expand access to pre-kindergarten for all four year olds. We are investing in new partnerships to provide our keiki with the educational opportunities they deserve.

“As I stated in last week’s State of the State address, a hard-working sector in Hawaii has gone seven years without seeing their wages rise. I applaud the President’s proposal to increase the minimum wage for all federal employees.”

Matson Announces Closing of $100 Million Debt Private Placement

Matson, Inc. ("Matson" or the "Company") (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, is pleased to announce the issuance today of $100 million in 30-year final maturity senior unsecured notes (the "Notes") pursuant to a previously announced private placement on November 6, 2013.  The Notes have a weighted average life of approximately 14.5 years and bear interest at a rate of 4.35%, payable semi-annually.  The proceeds from the private placement of Notes will be used for general corporate purposes.

Joel Wine, Matson's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer commented, "We are pleased to have closed this private placement transaction which provides Matson with long-term, unsecured debt at an attractive fixed interest rate and demonstrates the Company's continued strong access to external capital."

Tourism experts are expecting a substantial influx of Chinese visitors to Hawaii

(AP) "It's the market that everybody's been talking about," Big Island Visitors Bureau director Ross Birch said. "Asian markets have seen huge increases in the last two or three years."

The market for Japanese tourists took nearly 20 years to develop, but Chinese tourism in Hawaii is expected to develop much more quickly, Birch told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald for a report published Monday (http://is.gd/4f9jaQ ).

Air China is launching its inaugural nonstop service between Beijing and Honolulu three times a week. China Eastern Airlines has added more flights to Honolulu, for a total of five weekly flights out of Shanghai.

Hawaiian Airlines plans to begin its own nonstop service between Honolulu and Beijing in April.

"These flights will have a huge impact for us," said Helen Koo, owner of Hilo's Nani Mau Gardens and California-based travel agency America Asia Travel Center Inc.

Koo said she has invested more than $8 million in East Hawaii, largely in response to the growth of Chinese tourism there.

"Ninety percent of our clients are people from China," she said. "Yearly, we probably have about 100,000 visitors come to the U.S. from China."

Visitors on her tours go to places like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Richardson Beach Park, a macadamia nut farm, orchid farms and Nani Mau Gardens.

Koo purchased Nani Mau in 2012 with the intent of fixing up the property and including it in tours. Koo said she also has bought homes in East Hawaii as VIP getaways. She said she also has entered as a partner into purchasing the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort.

"That's something Hilo needs," she said. "More Chinese people want to come there. It is always highly recommended, but in Hilo there is not so much good hotels. We need more options."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/27/3896480/chinese-tourism-to-hawaii-expected.html#storylink=cpy

Adrian Hotels comes top for romance

The 5* Hotel Jardines de Nivaria, one of three exclusive properties run by Adrian Hoteles in Costa Adeje, in the south of Tenerife, has been named one of the 25 most romantic hotels in Spain in the 2014 Travellers’ Choice Awards, as voted by TripAdvisor’s users.                                              

Described as “a paradise in Adeje”, the Hotel Jardines de Nivaria offers couples a tranquil setting in sunny Tenerife where they can relax by the pools surrounded by botanical gardens with tropical and native species, listening to the soothing sound of waterfalls.  With mild temperatures all year round, couples can also enjoy a candlelit dinner by the gardens, or a special celebration at the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, La Cupula.  The hotel itself is decorated in a stylish mix of Art Deco and traditional Canarian style.

As well as being perfect for a romantic break, the Hotel Jardines de Nivaria is a favourite choice for weddings and honeymoons, which Adrian Hoteles caters for with special packages which can be tailored to suit the couple’s preferences.

As part of the Wedding Package, a classic car will take the couple to the town hall or church for their wedding, and later they can have a special ceremony for guests in the pavilion beside the hotel gardens, and use these as the setting for their wedding photographs.  They will also enjoy the Honeymoon Suite for one night, with a romantic breakfast on the terrace, and use of the spa.  The hotel can hold a wedding reception for up to 300 people, with a personalised menu, home-made wedding cake, romantic decorations and special deals on accommodation for guests.  Fireworks and other extras can be booked on request.

Adrian Hoteles also offers a Honeymoon Package which includes a specially decorated room, complimentary bottle of cava, a dinner at La Cupula and use of the spa.  The package is available at both the Hotel Jardines de Nivaria and the 5* Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel, where couples can also enjoy daily use of Balinese beds by the stunning infinity pool, overlooking the Atlantic and the neighbouring island of La Gomera.

THE HOTELS

5* Hotel Jardines de Nivaria

Opened in 1997, the five-star Hotel Jardines de Nivaria stands right next to the beach in the exclusive Playa de Fañabé area (Costa Adeje). The hotel, considered one of the most luxurious in the south of Tenerife, has an elegant mixture of Art-deco and Spanish traditional style enhanced by the dome that crowns the main building and that represents the stars and constellations visible from the hotel during the spring equinox. Its 271 stylish rooms are distributed over five individual buildings built in terrace style facing the sea. Facilities include bars and restaurants, a spa with beauty treatments, two swimming pools, a beautiful garden with palm trees and a gym.

5* Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel

Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel opened in 2005 as the latest addition to Adrian Hoteles. Located in Playa Paraíso area, the five-star hotel features a total of 289 rooms – all of them with a terrace –  one infinity edge pools with ocean views, an open-air Jacuzzi and a ‘mini club’ for children between 10 months and 12 years old. Sports facilities include two tennis courts, a gym, archery services, a beach volleyball court and a sports centre.

4* Hotel Colón Guanahaní

Hotel Colón Guanahaní is a charming 4-star hotel located in Playa de Fañabé. Opened in 1990, the hotel has 154 rooms distributed in 3 floors, all of them decorated in a colourful colonial style. The hotel is well-known for its excellent cuisine available in its two restaurants and for its wide range of treatments of its beauty centre, including hot stone massages.

PCC to be permanent home of Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

 Established 50 years ago to celebrate the people and cultures of Polynesia with the rest of the world, the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) will now be a perpetual place of honor for esteemed football champions of Polynesia. 

The PCC will be the permanent home of the new Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, with the exhibit recognizing the sport’s greatest players, coaches and contributors from Polynesia scheduled to open in January 2015. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Friday, Jan. 24, at PCC, which was attended by inductees of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural 2014 class and members of its board of directors (listed below). 

“Our Polynesian football heroes and the legacy they represent have inspired all of us who love the sport. We’re deeply honored to be the place where people will learn about their exploits and Polynesia’s history in football,” said Alfred Grace, PCC President and CEO.

Jesse Sapolu, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, noted, “When we officially established the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame six months ago, the decision to choose Hawaii as our home was easy. It was important that our home be reflective of the culture and people of Polynesia, and for us, there was only one place, the Polynesian Cultural Center.”

The new Hall of Fame exhibit will be placed in the area between the PCC’s main entrance and the Pacific Theater, site of the award-winning evening show, Ha: Breath of Life, and special events throughout the year, including the World Fireknife Championships. The location and PCC’s stature as one of Hawaii’s most popular attractions ensure the exhibit will be highly visible to guests from around the world. 

2014 Class of Inductees – Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

• Kurt Gouveia – Raised in Waianae (Oahu); 13-year NFL linebacker; 2-time Super Bowl Champion with the Washington Redskins
• Olin Kreutz – Raised in Honolulu; 14-year NFL center, including 13 years with the Chicago Bears; 4-time All-Pro 
• Kevin Mawae – 16-year NFL center with three teams; 8-time NFL All-Pro 
• Jack Thompson – “The Throwin’ Samoan”; NCAA Record-Setting Quarterback for Washington State; 6-Year NFL Pro
• Ken Niumatalolo – Born in Laie (Oahu); Quarterback for the University of Hawaii; Currently Head Coach of the Naval Academy
• Junior Seau (deceased) – 20-year NFL linebacker, including 13 years with the San Diego Chargers; 10-time All Pro
• Herman Wedemeyer (deceased) – Born in Hilo (Hawaii); Halfback at St. Mary’s College; Hawaii’s first consensus All-American; Finished 4th in the Heisman (1945)

Starting next year, the PCC will be the site for future enshrinement ceremonies of inductees into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. In addition, the PCC is teaming up with the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors to develop youth and community educational initiatives, and marketing programs to promote the exhibit and Polynesia’s place in the history of football. 

Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors 

Following are the Board of Directors for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, all of whom have competed in the NFL and have strong ties to Polynesia’s football tradition. 

• Jesse Sapolu – Chairman and Co-Founder 
• Maa Tanuvasa – Vice Chairman and Co-Founder
• Vai Sikahema – Board Member
• Troy Polamalu – Board Member
• June Jones – Board Member
• Reno Mahe – Board Member

Hall of Fame Adds to PCC’s $100 Million in Improvements

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame exhibit will complement the $100 million in facility and experiential improvements that the PCC is scheduled to complete with the grand opening of the newly expanded Pacific Marketplace in the fourth quarter. Other recent improvements of note for the enjoyment of guests include:

• A rejuvenated Hawaii Village with a design and presentation inspired by the ahupuaa (land division used by ancient Hawaiians, usually extending from the uplands to the sea) that features new activities, architecture and exhibits honoring the native Hawaiian culture.
• Hawaiian Journey, a new cinematic experience housed in a theater built to resemble a volcano and shown on a state-of-the art, high-definition, digital projection system with a 40’x74’ screen, the largest in Hawaii. The presentation brings to life the story of native Hawaiians and their connection to the aina (land) utilizing special effects that touch all senses.
• Renovation of Hale Aloha, home to the award-winning Alii Luau experience that features delicious cuisine and the lively entertainment of the Hawaiian Islands. 
• Revitalized Samoa Village, historically one of PCC’s most popular venues due to its exciting presentations, including the fire making and coconut husking demonstrations. 
• Renovated Aotearoa Village, featuring intricately designed carvings in the native Totara timber of New Zealand honoring Hawaikiroa, the ancient Polynesian navigator.

Hawaiian Telcom is blocking half of the world from calling - and won't tell you

Calling from Hawaii to the Maldives islands, and to Gambia, Nigeria, and many other countries,
Hawaiian Tel will not permit and does not want to disclose why such action would be taken except to say it is due to security concerns.

According to the Hawaiian Tel , refusal, suspension, or cancellation of services without prior notice is in their clause which states: Services may be suspended by the Company without prior notice to the customer by blocking traffic and all services to certain cities, countries, or NPA-NXX exchanges, or individual telephone numbers, or by blocking calls using certain customer travel cards, when the company deems it necessary to take such action to prevent unlawful or fraudulent use of its services. The company will restore services without undue risk.

Hawaiian Tel has been the main phone service provider in the State of Hawaii since 1892 and the only provider of landline services. Competitors like Time Warner Cable is using voice-over IP services. Hawaiian Tel also has been a main provider of national and international long distance services in the state.

The State of Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures living together on 6 isolated islands, often called the most remote place on Earth. Tourism is the major income in the state, and tourists from all over the world enjoy the tropical beaches of this remote US state. Because of this isolation, even in prior days, Hawaiian Tel always had a special responsibility to provide world phone coverage with its long-distance services.

ETurboNews, like many other global companies, constantly calls phone numbers in all corners of the world. Tourists and Hawaii residents are from nearly every location around the globe, including the Honolulu shop owner selling gifts from the Himalayas while his family still lives in Nepal and the Maldives. Tourists visit from places like Nigeria, and the list goes on.

When trying to call your family at home, or in the case of eTurboNews to reach out to countries like the Maldives, you will be in for a lot of frustration.

Recently, one of eTN’s reporters attended an event in the Maldives. When the head office tried to call someone that was met at the Hyatt hotel in the Maldives, a recording said: “You have reached an invalid number.” This invalid number recording is the response to phone calls made to a good portion of the world.

When Hawaiian Telcom repair was contacted, the response was that all calls to the Maldives, all calls to Gambia, all calls to Nigeria, all calls to Iran, etc. are blocked by their security. When eTN reached out to Hawaiian Telcom security, they refused to provide a list of countries or cities they blocked and had no comment as to why the recording would not inform the caller that the number was blocked, but instead said the calling number was invalid.

According to Hawaiian Telcom, this fraudulent activity is the manipulation of the company’s voicemail system. ETN had not subscribed to any such voicemail system and requested to have all international numbers unblocked.

Hawaiian Telcom Customer Relations Specialist Dana Wong responded saying the block is a system-wide block and cannot be undone. ETN could provide a specific list of numbers and Hawaiian Tel would only unblock such numbers and only for eTN lines. ETurboNews, of course, does not have such a list, and in the news business, calls are often sporadic and not planned. ETN feels this is an invasion of privacy and opens up the question of freedom of the press and communication in having to pre-register phone numbers a company wanted to call.

According to Hawaiian Telcom’s own refusal of service policy, such blocks cannot be permanent and services have to be restored if there is no undue risk for Hawaiian Telcom to provide such services. Dana Wong was unable to answer what the undue risk is knowing it cannot be the voicemail system. She repeated that Hawaiian Telcom would not provide a list of blocked countries or cities for its own protection.

ETN reached out to many land-line phone operators around the United States. They assured us no country is blocked on their system.

The US Federal Communication Commission provided information about fraudulent activities and issued a flyer to inform the public of such activities.

Voice Mail Fraud - Beware

If you don’t change the default password on your voice mailbox, you, or your company, could be in for a big – and expensive – surprise. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has become aware of a form of fraud that allows hackers to use a consumer’s or business’s voice mail system and the default password to accept collect calls without the knowledge or permission of the consumer.

The Scam Works Like This:

A hacker calls into a voice mail system and searches for voice mailboxes that still have the default passwords active or have passwords with easily-guessed combinations, like 1-2-3-4. (Hackers know common default passwords and are able to try out the common ones until they can break into the phone system.) The hacker then uses the password to access the phone system and to make international calls.

The hacker does this by first changing the voice mailbox’s outgoing greeting to something like “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, operator, I will accept the charges.” Then, the hacker places a collect call to the number they’ve just hacked. When the (automated) operator (which is usually programmed to “listen for” key words and phrases like “yes” or “I will accept the charges”) hears the outgoing “yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, operator, I will accept the charges” message, the collect call is connected. The hacker then uses this connection for long periods of time to make other international calls.

There is also another twist to this scam. A hacker breaks into voice mailboxes that have remote notification systems that forward calls or messages to the mailbox owner. The hacker programs the remote notification service to forward to an international number. The hacker is then able to make international calls.


What to Beware of:
• Hackers usually break into voice mail systems during holiday periods or weekends, when callers will not be calling; thus, the changing of the outgoing message goes unnoticed.
•  Hackers are typically based internationally, with calls frequently originating in and/or routed through the Philippines or Saudi Arabia.
•  Businesses that are victimized usually find out about the hacking when their phone company calls to report unusual activity or exceptionally high phone bills. (The fraud usually occurs on business voice mailbox systems, but consumers with residential voice mail also could also become targets.)
•  Consumers who are victimized may find out about the hacking when they receive unusually high phone bills.

What You Should Do to Prevent This Risk:
To avoid falling prey to this scam, the FCC recommends voice mail users do the following:
•  always change the default password from the one provided by the voice mail vendor;
•  choose a complex voice mail password of at least six digits, making it more difficult for a hacker to detect;
•  change your voice mail password frequently;
•  don’t use obvious passwords such as an address, birth date, phone number, or repeating or successive numbers, i.e. 000000, 123456;
• check your recorded announcement regularly to ensure the greeting is indeed yours. Hackers tend to attack voice mailboxes at the start of weekends or holidays;
• consider blocking international calls, if possible; and
• consider disabling the remote notification, auto-attendant, call- forwarding, and out-paging capabilities of voice mail if these features are not used.

The FCC advises consumers to consult with their voice mail service provider for additional precautions they can take to assure the security of their voice mail systems. If you believe your system has been hacked, call your phone company and report the incident to the police.

Hawaiian Telcom, Inc., is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) or dominant local telephone company, serving the state of Hawaii. It is owned by Hawaiian Telcom Holdco, Inc., which was formed in 2005 by The Carlyle Group, following its purchase of the Hawaiian assets of Verizon Communications. They had been known as Verizon Hawaii, Inc., and previously as GTE Hawaiian Telephone Company, Inc., Hawaiian Telephone Company, and Mutual Telephone Company. The original company started in 1892.

Hawaiian Telcom provides local phone, long distance, Internet services (dial-up and DSL), and is a directory publisher and mobile virtual network operator using leased capacity provided by Sprint and Verizon Wireless's CDMA networks. Verizon Wireless's Hawaii operations were not included in the deal, and Verizon Wireless continues to operate in Hawaii as before the divestiture.

Carlyle's purchase of Verizon Hawaii was quite controversial with the public and competitive local exchange carriers, Time Warner Telecom, and Pacific LightNet, who had doubts about the Carlyle's lack of experience operating telecommunication businesses, and their intentions as to raising rates, upgrading the network with optical fiber as former-parent Verizon was doing on the mainland, and possible resale of the business in just a few years, all seen as being detrimental to the public interest.

Since breaking off from Verizon in April 2005, the company has been overcoming difficulties transitioning to its own systems. Issues ranged from extremely long hold times to speak to representatives, to duplicate and delayed bills. In February 2007, the company announced that it had reached a settlement with its original systems consultant, BearingPoint, and had hired a new contractor, Accenture, to complete the transition to the new systems.

Hawaiian Telcom announced on February 4, 2008, that it was replacing CEO Michael Ruley with turnaround expert Stephen F. Cooper, Chairman of Kroll Zolfo Cooper. Cooper's previous management engagements include Enron and Krispy Kreme.

On May 8, 2008, the company named Eric Yeaman as its new CEO, succeeding interim CEO Cooper. Yeaman previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Hawaiian Electric Company, the electric utility serving the island of Oahu. The company also announced that Walter Dods, former President of First Hawaiian Bank and one of several local investors in Hawaiian Telcom, was assuming the role of Chairman of the Board.

On December 1, 2008, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after missing an interest payment on its debt. The company's plan to reduce its debt by more than US$800 million was approved by Judge Lloyd King of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on November 13, 2009. The plan required approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. After leaving bankruptcy, the company's stock became publicly traded in 2010, moving to NASDAQ in 2011.

On June 24, 2011, The State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issued a 15-year cable franchise license to Hawaiian Telcom, thus ending Oceanic Time Warner's 35-year monopoly as the state's sole cable TV provider. Hawaiian Telcom launched the service on July 1, 2011 after a year of testing in the Honolulu area, with island-wide service to expand in 2012.

Two Hawaii bills address "consumer fraud" in Hawaii Coffee Labeling

Kona State Representative Nicole Lowen and Hawaii County State Senator Russell Ruderman, at the urging of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, have introduced companion bills in the Hawaii Legislature’s 2014 Session to reduce consumer fraud and deception caused by current state coffee labeling laws. Rep. Lowen’s bill is HB1515 “Relating to Agriculture” and Sen. Ruderman’s bill is SB2354 “Relating to Coffee”. 

To review the full text of the bills click here:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2014/bills/HB1515_.htm)

and here

(http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2014/bills/SB2354_.htm). 

Both bills cite a factual finding from a 2007 Concurrent Resolution of the Hawaii Legislature that “existing labeling requirements for Kona coffee causes consumer fraud and confusion and degrades the ‘Kona Coffee” name.” SB2354 states that “amendments to the relevant statutes are therefore necessary to prevent consumer fraud and confusion” and that the purpose of the bill is to “conform state coffee labeling laws to principles of consumer disclosure and fair marketing by requiring express label disclosure of the per cent of coffee not grown in Hawaii that is included in coffee blends that contain Hawaii-grown coffee.”

Currently, Honolulu coffee blenders, for example, are only required to state in “10% Kona Coffee Blend” in small print on coffee blend packages. The Lowen and Ruderman bills will require blenders to expressly tell consumers that 90% of what is in the blend package is not grown in Hawaii –for example:  “Contains: 90% Panamanian Coffee; 10% Kona Coffee” or  “Contains: 90% Foreign-Grown Coffee; 10% Maui Coffee.”

“This is a very modest step in the direction of fair marketing and consumer disclosure,” observes Kona Coffee Farmers Association President Cecelia B. Smith.  “Visitors from the Mainland who don’t read beyond the large print (for example “Royal Kona” or “Hawaiian Gold Kona Coffee”) at the top of packages of 10% Kona blends will still be misled into buying what they wrongly believe to be Kona coffee. But for those buyers who carefully read the label, for the first time there will be an express indication that 90% of the contents is not from Kona or from any other region of Hawaii.”

Alvin Wong named director of sales and marketing for two key Marriott resorts in Hawaii

Hotel sales and marketing veteran Alvin Wong has been appointed director of sales and marketing for two strategic properties: the 546-room Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Maui and the 555-room Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Hawaii Island.

"With more than 25 years of experience in the Hawaii market, Alvin brings a wealth of knowledge in lodging hospitality sales and marketing,” said John C. Tolbert, general manager of Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

Wong will be responsible for implementing an overall business plan for both award-winning beachfront resorts.  He will oversee the two hotels’ separate sales, marketing, advertising, and public relations initiatives, and supervise a sales and marketing team of 18 managers and support staff. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day business with travel agents, wholesalers, and meeting planners to secure room night bookings.

Prior to joining Marriott International, Wong was the director of sales and marketing for the 1,142-room Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel in Waikiki. He began his hospitality career 1980 and has held various management positions including assistant general manager at several different brand hotels and resorts within the state of Hawaii.

During his leisure time, Wong enjoys time with his family, golf, culinary food and wines, and weight and strength conditioning.

The Conservation Council for Hawai‘i presents Jive for Wildlife!

The Conservation Council for Hawai‘i presents Jive for Wildlife! – a benefit concert to protect native wildlife and wild places.  

Featured will be the unique Hawaiian swing style of 2013 Grammy Nominee, Kahulanui, and renown jazz and blues recording artist, Keahi Conjugacion.  

The concert will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 (Presidents’ Day), 12 noon to 4 pm at the Moku Ola Ballroom, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.  Please come and enjoy the music, heavy pupu, no-host bar, door prizes, silent auction, and wildlife store.

Tickets are $50 ($25 of which is tax-deductible).  To purchase tickets or to help sponsor the event, please contact Julie Leialoha on the Big Island at jakleialoha@gmail.com or 443-4039.  

We still seek sponsors to help us with this event.  If you are interested, please contact us

Mahalo nui loa.  See you in Hilo!

Hawaii Tourism Authority requests for qualification for consulting services for the center of Hawaiian Music and Dance

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state's tourism agency, has released a request for qualifications (RFQ) to seek a contractor to provide consulting services for the development of a Center for Hawaiian Music and Dance that will be located in the Hawaii Convention Center. The selected contractor may provide consulting and curatorial services, including planning, community outreach, content development, facility design, and governance and management services for the Center for Hawaiian Music and Dance.

Consistent with HTA's Hawaiian Cultural Initiative, the Center for Hawaiian Music and Dance aims to create an organization to preserve, promote and highlight the richness of music and dance in the state's island heritage, and connect Hawaii's host culture with the visitor and local community. The Center will also curate a collection of artifacts and recordings to document the legacy of Hawaiian music and dance, while stimulating a renewed interest through education, performance and career development, enrich cultural offerings to the community, and generate revenue to allow the Center to be self-sustaining.

The HTA will select a contractor determined to be the most qualified to efficiently provide services for this program. The HTA will take into consideration multiple factors including applicant qualifications and management plan. The HTA's evaluation committee will take these and other factors into consideration in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFQ.

The HTA intends to award the contract for this RFQ in March 2014. The period of performance under this new contract runs from April 2014 through March 2015, with four available option years.

The written proposals are due no later than Feb. 27, 2014 at 4:30 p.m., HAST (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time) and in the manner described in the RFQ. 

The RFQ will be available beginning Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014 online at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org (click on the link to "Request for Proposals"). The HTA will not accept any requests for the RFQ to be received through the mail.        

Inquiries regarding this RFQ should be directed to the HTA contracts specialist, Ms. Marisa Blancarte, either in person at 1801 Kalakaua Avenue; Honolulu, HI 96815, by telephone at (808) 973-2251, or via e-mail at marisa@gohta.net.

Established in 1998, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state's tourism agency, is responsible for strategically managing tourism to optimize benefits for Hawaii that integrates the interest of visitors, the community and visitor industry. Tourism is our state's leading economic driver and largest employer and the HTA continually works to ensure its sustainability well into the future. For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@HawaiiHTA).

Hawaii Internet Marketers Association

The Hawaii Internet Marketers Association (HiMA) proudly presents, “How to Build 'Cha-Ching' Into Your Business with Mobile Commerce.”  Come and learn from our keynote speaker, Head Super Geek and author, James Kerr, how to position your business to capitalize on this growing trend for every online business.

James will show you how mobile commerce is fundamentally shifting the way consumers shop and what you must do to not just remain competitive but say ahead of your competition.   Mobile devices used for searching and purchasing are quickly becoming the essential part of most consumer’s daily routine.  Come learn from the best, James Kerr, so you too will know how to position your business to capitalize on this growing trend for every online business.

Originally a farm kid from Maryland, James picked up mechanical engineering degree and worked for Sony in Tokyo for 7 years.  He parachuted into Hawaii in 1995 and has been starting businesses ever since. One of favorite ventures is teaching martial arts to children. He teaches and runs a school called SmartKarate.com. His passion for mentoring kids, has also lead him to authoring the book called Bully-proof. 

Please come join us at HiMA, this will be a great event!  HiMA is a place where you will network with local business leaders and professionals, while learning from Hawaii’s best internet marketers.  In this event so you will learn:

• How much mobile searches and purchasing are impacting the current market
• Why this growing trend will impact every industry, including your business
• What you can do today to position yourself to capture this enormous opportunity

Free for members

Guest are $10 Pre-register, $15 at door

Tuesday, February 4th, 2014,  6:15 pm to 9:00 pm

Hawaii welcomes first nonstop flight from Beijing, China

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state's tourism agency, welcomed the first regularly-scheduled nonstop flight from Beijing to Honolulu today. Air China's flight CA837 departed Beijing, China on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 a.m. Beijing time. Carrying approximately 270 passengers, the Airbus 330-200 is landing at Honolulu International Airport on Monday, Jan. 20 at the scheduled arrival time of 4:30 p.m. HST. Passengers were greeted with lei, Hawaiian music and hula.

"China is a tremendous market for our tourism economy and this new route will provide greater ease of access to our Hawaiian Islands," said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the HTA. "The process to obtain a U.S. visa in China has also improved, which will support our efforts to grow this expansive market."

The flight will operate three times a week arriving in Honolulu on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The HTA estimates the flight will provide $80.4 million in visitor spending and $8.6 million in state tax revenue annually.

"As a major airline in China and a member of the Star Alliance, Air China has always been committed to providing our passengers with convenient, high quality service," said Mr. Wang Mingyuan, vice president of Air China. "One of our goals is to create an internationally competitive network and this newly launched Beijing to Honolulu direct route is in line with our strategies. We hope that our extensive network of routes and convenient, quality flight experience will drive more visitors from around the world to the Hawaiian Islands." 

During the first 11 months of 2013, Hawaii welcomed more than 123,000 visitors from China. This year, the HTA projects reaching 182,000 visitors, an increase of 21.5 percent. The China market is the highest spending visitor market with an average of $392 per person per day spending.

"Diversification of our tourism profile for the long-term sustainability of Hawaii's visitor industry is an important goal in 2014 and we will continue to work with our airline, industry and marketing partners to drive international demand," added McCartney.

Air China is China's only national flag carrier and a member of the world's largest airline network - Star Alliance. By October 2013, Air China had a fleet of 488 passenger aircrafts and freighters of mainly Boeing and Airbus families. It operates 291 routes, including 68 international routes, 14 regional routes and 209 domestic routes. It serves 150 cities in 30 countries and regions, including 45 international cities, 3 regional cities and 102 domestic cities. Every week, Air China offers over 1.3 million seats on over 7,000 flights per week. Utilizing its extensive network and its hub in Beijing, especially after its admission to the Star Alliance, Air China can fly passengers to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. For more information, visit Air China's official website http://www.airchina.com.cn.

Hawaii Symphony Orchestra announces Jean-Yves Thibaudet as guest soloist

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra (HSO) today announced that pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet will be the guest artist for the first concert of the Spring 2014 Halekulani Masterworks Series on Sunday, March 16, at 4 p.m.

“Jean-Yves Thibaudet is one of today’s most sought-after soloists,” said HSO Executive Director Jonathan Parrish. “He has the rare ability to combine poetic musical sensibilities and dazzling technical prowess.” The New York Times wrote that “every note he fashions is a pearl … the joy, brilliance and musicality of his performance could not be missed.” Thibaudet, who brings natural charisma and remarkable musical depth to his career, has performed around the world for more than 30 years and recorded more than 50 albums.

“Together with the renowned German conductor Gunther Herbig, the former music director of the Detroit and Toronto symphonies, we expect this all-Beethoven program to be very popular,” said Parrish. “Our ability to attract world-class artists like this to perform with our orchestra demonstrates the high esteem in which the HSO is viewed around the globe.”

Conductor JoAnn Falletta, artistic advisor to the HSO, who played a key role in arranging both the fall and spring concert series, said, “I am delighted at the response of so many important American, European and Asian soloists and conductors to the opportunity to come to Honolulu to perform with the HSO, whose reputation as a wonderful symphonic ensemble is rapidly spreading. We’ve got a terrific lineup of performers and exciting programs in store for this spring, including the world premiere of a concerto for koto and orchestra.”

The spring concert schedule:

Sunday, March 16, at 4 p.m.

Herbig Conducts Beethoven

Günther Herbig Conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet Piano

- Beethoven Coriolan Overture

- Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”

- Beethoven Symphony No. 7

Saturday, April 5, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 6, at 4 p.m.

Prokofiev & Strauss

Junichi Hirokami Conductor

Anne Akiko Meyers Violin

- Khatchaturian Masquerade Suite

- Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2

- Strauss Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks

- Strauss Rosenkavalier Suite

Saturday, April 26, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 27, at 4 p.m.

Gershwin & Beethoven

Maximiano Valdes Conductor

Sara Davis Buechner Piano

- Ravel Alborada del Gracioso

- Gershwin Concerto in F

- Beethoven Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”

Sunday, May 11, at 4 p.m.

Iggy Plays Paganini

Gerard Schwarz Conductor

Ignace “Iggy” Jang Violin

- Mozart Symphony No. 39

- Mozart Adagio for Violin and Orchestra

- Paganini “La Campanella”

- Elgar Enigma Variations

Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m.

Concerto for Koto

Naoto Otomo Conductor

Yumi Kurosawa Koto

- Akutagawa Musica per Orchestra Sinfonica

- Daren Hagan Genji, Concerto for Koto and Orchestra (World Premiere)

- Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

Sunday, June 1, at 4 p.m.

Grieg & Berlioz

Naoto Otomo Conductor

Conrad Tao Piano

- Sibelius Finlandia

- Grieg No. 1 in A Minor

- Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

Prices for the Spring Halekulani Masterworks Series range from $80 to $230 for the three-Saturday package; and from $140 to $400 for the six-Sunday package. Series tickets can be purchased at the HOT Box Office at 848 South Beretania St. #303. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (808) 593-2468. Single tickets will go on sale Monday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. at the Blaisdell Box Office or online at TicketMaster.com.

About the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, one of the oldest orchestras west of the Rocky Mountains, has won the enthusiastic praise of the nationally and internationally renowned soloists and guest conductors who have performed with it.

For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.HawaiiSymphonyOrchestra.org.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HawaiiSymphony

Justin Fujioka Joins Governor’s Communications Team

HONOLULU – Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced several updates to his communications team, including the addition of Justin Fujioka as press secretary, effective Jan. 27, 2014. 

Fujioka will work alongside other team members who are also stepping into new roles. Christine Hirasa will advance to director of communications to oversee to all aspects of communications for the executive branch, supported by Keith DeMello who has been promoted to deputy director of communications. Tyler Kruse will take on additional responsibilities as communications and digital media specialist. 

“Each a product of our University of Hawaii System, the members of my communications team have strong ties in our community and offer a wide array of experience that includes news, public and private sector communications, and social media,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “As the newest member of my staff, Justin will further strengthen our communications efforts and transparency as we head into the new year and a new legislative session.”

Justin Fujioka has reported news and served as chief meteorologist for KITV since 2002, receiving an Emmy Award and a Mark Twain Award from the Associated Press Television-Radio Association for his work. Fujioka is a professional member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. Born and raised in Honolulu, he received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he also reported and edited for the school’s newspaper, Ka Leo O Hawaii, and worked as a public relations assistant at the UH Shidler College of Business serving as a media liaison and helping to coordinate news conferences and special events. He has a Certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University.

Christine Hirasa has served as deputy director of communications since joining the Governor’s Office in November 2012. Prior to that, she served as a communications specialist for the Hawaii Department of Education and the executive assistant to the chancellor at the University of Hawaii – West Oahu. Hirasa worked as a public information officer at the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs from 2005 to 2010 and at the Hawaii State Judiciary from 2003 to 2005. She has also worked in the news industry as a producer at KHON from 2001 to 2003 and at KHNL/KFVE from 1997 to 2001. Born on Oahu and raised in East Honolulu, Hirasa earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Keith DeMello joined the Governor’s Office in December 2011 as communications manager. Previously, he worked in the private public relations sector, accumulating more than 15 years of experience across a wide spectrum of industries and earning various honors from the Hawaii chapters of the Public Relations Society of America, International Association of Business Communicators, and American Marketing Association. Born in Honolulu and raised in Kailua, DeMello holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and also worked at Ka Leo O Hawaii as a copywriter and story contributor. He is a past president of the American Marketing Association Hawaii Chapter, and past president of the Hawaii Council on Portuguese Heritage.

Tyler Kruse has served as the Governor’s new media specialist since March 2013. As communications and digital media specialist, he will continue to manage social media operations while integrating them with traditional communications efforts and serving as the Governor’s chief photographer. Previously, Kruse worked in the private public relations sector. Born on Kauai and raised in Eleele, Tyler graduated from the UH Shidler College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in marketing. He also served as the communications chair of Ad 2 Honolulu and the collegiate and communications chair of the American Marketing Association Hawaii Chapter.

Were they mistaken! Department of Transportation setting up cement barriers on Oahu's North Shore

On December 23, eTN reported about the Hawaii Department of Transportation setting up cement barriers on Oahu's North Shore. Click here 

The idea was to prevent easy access and traffic congestion for tourists and locals to access famous Laniakea Beach to see the turtle and monk seals.

Authorities thought making parking on the Mauka side of Kamehameha Highway impossible would make the traffic flow more stable and discourage people from visiting the beach while also making it safer.

Were they mistaken!

The series of photos below sees visitors are now parking past the barrier and crossing the street everywhere. You see mothers with kids, surfers, tourists, and locals maneuvering in between traffic to get to the beach side of the road and continuing to walk in the far distance in between passing cars with their bags and surfboards as they make their way to Laniakea Beach.

Tour buses and cars are now stopping in front of the no-parking zones, making it impossible for pedestrians to look for traffic, so they can safely cross the road. It's a mess and a place for a major accident to happen just waiting to happen.

After 2 years and spending money to research this temporary fix, this “solution” is an instant disaster creating unstable traffic on Oahu's North Shore.

Why not leave the barriers but establish and entrance and exit out of the now-closed mauka side parking area? This would organize exiting and entering the lot while making it impossible for cars to back up into a traffic jam.

In addition, why not put up a traffic light? This would allow exiting cars and pedestrians to traverse and cross the street safely. It would also make it clear who has the right of way.

Just a suggestion.

Take a look at the photos and you're the judge!

Sony Open: The latest

Weather: Partly cloudy with a high of 81 degrees and winds from the ESE at 5-10 mph.  Final-Round Leaderboard Jimmy Walker   66-67-67-63—263 (-17) Chris Kirk          64-69-65-66—264 (-16) Jerry Kelly         67-67-66-65—265 (-15) Harris English    66-66-67-67—266 (-14) Marc Leishman  67-64-71-65—265 (-13) Jimmy Walker birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a bogey-free, 7-under-par 63, and win the Sony Open in Hawaii by one stroke over Chris Kirk, the 54-hole leader in the event. Walker’s hot Sunday round was the lowest finish by a winner on the 2013-2014 PGA TOUR and made him the first two-time winner this season. It marked the second straight year the Sony Open in Hawaii winner posted 63 on Sunday. Jimmy Walker’s Victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii Walker wins his second career title on the PGA TOUR in his sixth start this year. His first career win, the Frys.com Open, came in the first event of the wrap-around season (10/13/13). Walker’s win today comes in his 193rd start at the age of 34 years, 11 months, 27 days. It’s the fourth of eight total events played this year won by a player in his 30s and the second straight (Zach Johnson, 37). One week after finishing T21 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Walker wins the Sony Open in Hawaii in his eighth attempt. His only other top-10 finish at Waialae was fourth in 2011. Walker earns 500 FedEx Cup points to move past Webb Simpson into the lead in the FedEx Cup standings with 1,233 total points. Walker held the FedEx Cup lead through the first six events this season but lost it to Simpson last week. Walker finished 36th in the 2013 final FedEx Cup standings and was 30th on the final official money list.   Walker becomes the sixth straight winner of the Sony Open in Hawaii to record four straight rounds in the 60s. Dating back to the second round of the 2012 event, Walker has now recorded nine straight rounds under 70 at Waialae. His 63 today was a career-best in Hawaii. Last year, Walker shot a bogey-free 64 in the final round here. Walker comes from two strokes back to win this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii. When he won the Frys.com Open earlier this season, Walker trailed Brooks Koepka by three strokes heading into the final round.   Walker’s statistical breakdown: Category                                   Figures/Percentage                   Rank Driving Accuracy                       30/56 (53.6%)                            T22 Driving Distance                        319.5                                          1st Greens In Regulation                 53/72 (73.6%)                            T7 Total Putts                                    112                                          T22 Strokes-Gained Putting               +1.403                                       9th About Jimmy Walker Birthdate: January 16, 1979 Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Okla.   Resides: San Antonio, Texas Education: Baylor University Family: Wife, Erin; McLain James (6/16/2010), Beckett Meier (2/21/13). Height/Weight: 6-2/180 Turned Pro: 2001 Joined TOUR: 2005 Web.com Tour Graduate: 2007 Additional Player Notes Jimmy Walker’s winning total of 17-under-par 263 was seven strokes higher than Russell Henley’s record score a year ago. He also shot 17-under in winning his first TOUR title at the 2013 Frys.com Open. Zach Johnson, last week’s winner at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, finished T8 this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. The only other players to record top-10 finishes in both PGA TOUR stops in Hawaii this year were Matt Kuchar (T6/Hyundai, T8/Sony) and Adam Scott (T6/Hyundai, T8/Sony). 47-year-old Jerry Kelly carded a final-round 65 to finish solo third at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii. It was Kelly’s best performance on the PGA TOUR since he was third at the 2011 Honda Classic and his best effort at the Sony Open in Hawaii since he finished third in 2008. Charles Howell III shot a bogey-free 66 in the final round to move up into a T8 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. In 13 career appearances at Waialae, Howell now has recorded eight top-10s, including three straight. He finished T2 in 2012 and T3 last year and in 2005. Howell was also T4 in both 2002 and solo fourth in 2009. Howell’s check for $119,000 this week moves his career earnings in the Sony Open in Hawaii to $2,351,178. Two players earned spots in the Farmers Insurance Open in two weeks. Japan’s Hideto Tanihara and Will Wilcox finished T8 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. It was the best performance by a player from Japan in this event since Shigeki Maruyama was T7 in 2011.  Tanihara went all 72 holes this week without a 3-putt, one of 18 to do so this week. Wilcox also finished T8 at the Sony Open in Hawaii in just his third career start on the PGA TOUR. Wilcox earned exempt status on the PGA TOUR this year after finishing 10th on last year’s Web.com Tour. He won the South Georgia Classic last year and also shot 59 to move up into a T3 at last year’s Utah Championship. Defending champion Russell Henley carded a final-round 69 to finish T51 at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii. The last player to repeat at Waialae was Ernie Els in 2003-2004. Miscellaneous Notes Results for each past champion of the Sony Open in Hawaii in this week’s field: Champion (Year)                      2014 Sony Open Finish Jerry Kelly (2002)                                   3rd Zach Johnson (2009)                             T8 Ryan Palmer (2010)                               T8 K.J. Choi (2008)                                    T20 Russell Henley (2013)                            T51 Mark Wilson (2011)                                T51 Paul Goydos (2007)                               T61 Johnson Wagner (2012)                         MC Vijay Singh (2005)                                 MC A total of 11 of the 13 rookies on this season’s PGA TOUR were in the starting field this week: Player                          Career Start/Career-Best Finish                      2014 Sony Open Finish Will Wilcox                    3rd/MC in two previous starts                                                     T8 Hudson Swafford          6th/T30 2013 Shriner’s Hospital for Childern Classic                T8 Tyrone Van Aswegen     5th/T40 2013 Frys.com Open                                                  T61 Brice Garnett                 6th/T36 2013 McGladrey Classic                                              T38 Peter Malnati                 3rd/15th 2013 OHL Classic at Mayakoba                                  T38 Kevin Foley                   1st start                                                                                     MDF Wes Roach                   3rd/T23 2013 OHL Classic at Mayakoba                                    MC Chesson Hadley            7th/T5 2013 Shriner’s Hospital for Children Classic                   MC Kevin Tway                   11th/T40 2013 Frys.com Open                                                    MC Andrew Loupe               4th/MC in three previous starts                                                   MC Bronson La’Cassie        4th/T62 2007 John Deere Classic                                              MC Bogey-free rounds: R1 – Sang-Moon Bae (63), Retief Goosen (66), Adam Scott (67), Ricky Barnes (68), Brendon de Jonge (68), Matt Kuchar (68), Mark Wilson (68) R2 – Michael Putnam (68) R3 – Jeff Overton (65), John Peterson (65), Heath Slocum (65), Retief Goosen (66), Kevin Na (67) R4 – Jimmy Walker (63), Charles Howell III (66) Scoring Averages at the par-70 Waialae Country Club:                           Front 9             Back 9              Total           Cumulative         2013 Cumulative Thursday           35.375              34.590              69.965              ---                                 69.785 Friday               34.613              34.769              69.399              69.683                          69.255 Saturday           34.000              34.405              68.405              69.407                          69.031 Sunday             34.873              33.901              68.775              69.304                          68.901 The par-4 13th hole played the toughest for the week, yielding just 31 birdies overall and a 4.231 average. The par-5 9th hole played as the easiest, giving up one double-eagle, 22 eagles and 265 birdies for a stroke average of 4.339. There were 19 players this year that recorded four straight rounds in the 60s. Last year, a total of 23 players posted four rounds in the 60s, 15 more than in 2012.