High court won't hear hotel appeal
HONOLULU - The U.S. Supreme Court won't be hearing an appeal from a Waikiki hotel in a lengthy labor dispute.
Pacific Beach Hotel had petitioned the high court after the National Labor Relations Board in June ruled the hotel discriminated against employees and bargained in bad faith with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142.
NLRB's Hawaii officer-in-charge, Tom Cestare, said Monday's ruling lends credence to positions taken by the labor board. Hotel owners say they'll abide by the ruling.
The NLRB has charged the hotel with numerous labor violations during the past 11 years. The union and the hotel are expected to return to court on June 14 for a hearing.
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Developer sought for medical center
HONOLULU - The Department of Veteran Affairs wants a developer to build a medical center in Oahu's Ewa area to treat veterans and active-duty Army, Navy and Coast Guard members and their families.
The VA said that a $125 million medical center in the Ewa area would take pressure of Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu and would be closer to where many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are moving to for more affordable housing on the Leeward side.
The VA wants a developer to provide financing and bear most of the cost of building the center with the VA and Defense Department renting the space.
