Insurance exchange gets grant
HONOLULU - Hawaii's health insurance exchange has received a nearly $62-million federal grant.
The funds come from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Hawaii was the first state in the nation to declare its intent to set up a state-certified health insurance exchange to help carry out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Millions of uninsured Americans will be able to buy private coverage through these online supermarkets starting in 2014. The Hawaii Health Connector says statewide community outreach is under way to share information about the launch of the Hawaii's health insurance exchange.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie says the grant is an important part of implementing the Affordable Care Act.
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Queen's to reopen Ewa hospital
HONOLULU - A hospital will be reopening in west Oahu.
The Queen's Medical Center and St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii announced Monday a deal has been reached to reopen Hawaii Medical Center's Ewa facility that closed last year.
Queen's says it's committed to investing about $50 million for the former Hawaii Medical Center West campus. The sale is scheduled to close in October and Queen's hopes to open the hospital by the fall of next year.
St. Francis Healthcare System sold its two hospitals to Hawaii Medical Center in January 2007. Hawaii Medical Center later went bankrupt.
The hospitals' closures have put pressure on the island's remaining emergency rooms.
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Cafe lease draws questions
HONOLULU - The low fee the city is charging a company to run a Waikiki beachside cafe is raising questions.
The city says Optimum Marketing & Management Corp. leases the Kapiolani Beach Center pavilion for $350 a month or 5 percent of gross sales, whichever is higher. Based on gross average monthly sales of nearly $69,000, Queen's Surf Cafe & Lanai pays the city an average of about $3,400 a month.
That's compared to nearby concessions that pay $23,000 to nearly $30,000.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday the price difference is prompting questions from the city council, neighborhood boards and the Kapiolani Park Preservation Society.
Optimum Managing Consultant Kekoa Ornellas says the space had been undesirable, with people living in the pavilion and signs of drug dealing and prostitution.
