Visitor arrivals, spending climb in March ADVERTISING Visitor arrivals, spending climb in March HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority says visitor spending jumped more than 12 percent in March compared with the same month last year. The state agency
Visitor arrivals, spending climb in March
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority says visitor spending jumped more than 12 percent in March compared with the same month last year.
The state agency said Friday spending by tourists topped $1.4 billion last month.
The number of tourists coming to Hawaii exceeded 800,000, which is 2 percent more than in March 2016.
Japanese travelers led the gains. That’s attributed to Hawaiian Airlines’ launch of a direct flight from Tokyo to Kailua-Kona in December and increased air service from Japan to Honolulu.
The agency says Japanese visitor spending surged more than 20 percent. Travelers from Japan grew by 9 percent.
Woman accused of embezzling $1M pleads no contest
HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii woman accused of embezzling more than $1 million from her former employer has pleaded no contest.
Tamila Alcoran, 49, was charged last year with 311 felony counts of identity theft, computer fraud, theft and forgery. Alcoran embarked on a series of “sophisticated and prolonged” schemes against Greg Boyer Hawaiian Landscapes Inc., which resulted in the company going bankrupt, prosecutors said.
Alcoran will be sentenced to a 20-year prison term on July 10. She will be ordered to pay back about $1.3 million.
“This case shows that theft, particularly identity theft, is not a victimless crime,” Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro said. “We are glad that the statutory provisions mandate the court to sentence Ms. Alcoran to 20-year prison terms.”
Alcoran was hired as the company’s office manager in 2008. Her first year there she started using the company owner’s personal information to acquire numerous fraudulent credit cards.
She is accused of obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise and services, prosecutors said.
More than 25K state workers getting raise
HONOLULU (AP) — More than 25,000 Hawaii state workers will receive raises and improved medical benefits within the next two years. The Hawaii Government Employees Association union representing the workers finalized a deal Thursday to boost the workers’ salaries 4.25 percent over the next two years.
“Although it’s not as much as we wanted and believe you deserve, the award is significantly more than the employers offered before we went to arbitration,” said an internal union memo.
The workers’ pay will increase 2 percent on July 1 and an additional 2.25 percent pay raise next year. Employer contributions toward the workers’ medical insurance will increase 9 percent.
