When Hilo Hattie Does The Hula Hop

Aloha Kakou:

Two stories today merit your attention.

The first, from the Maui News, discusses a decrease in container and ship traffic at Kahului Harbor. Last year at this time, the docks were crowded to overflowing with incoming cargo. In fact, the state of Hawaii is planning on spending about $30 million on improvements to increase the harbor's capacity. Now, however, with the economic decline, there is room to spare, both on and next to the docks. Redeploying two cruise ships and fewer ships and barges ferrying autos to and from the Mainland and Oahu have also contributed to the harbor's slowdown.

The second, from the Honolulu Advertiser, reports the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of that venerable Hawaiian retailer, Hilo Hattie. The company was sold to a mainland firm three months ago and, following today's bankruptcy filing, will reorganize, hopefully for the better.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/509314.html?nav=10

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081003/NEWS01/810030388/1001