Business / In Brief

Bankruptcies in Hawaii climbing

HONOLULU - The number of bankruptcy filings in Hawaii continues to climb.

According to preliminary figures from U.S. Bankruptcy Court, June saw 268 bankruptcy filings in the state through Tuesday afternoon.

That's a 64 percent increase over the 163 filings recorded in the islands in June 2008. Over the past year, only March's 270 filings topped June's.

There were 1,473 bankruptcy filings in Hawaii over the first half of 2009, a 65 percent increase over the 889 cases filed in the first six months of last year.

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Judge OKs outside bidder for Telcom

HONOLULU - A federal judge has allowed an outside bidder into Hawaiian Telcom Inc.'s bankruptcy case.

The state's largest telephone company had sought to shut out a $400 million offer by Honolulu-based Sandwich Isles Communications Inc.

But U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Lloyd King held Wednesday that it was in the public's best interest to allow an outside bidder.

King says his decision didn't mean he was endorsing Sandwich Isles' bid.