Hawai'i's macadamia nut crop this season is expected to fall to 36 million pounds, a 38 percent decline from last season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported.

The expected decline was attributed to a number of factors, including mixed weather conditions. Some growers said wet conditions caused increased spoilage, while others reported their harvest was curbed by dry conditions during the critical phases of maturation.

In addition, a labor shortage resulted in some nuts going unharvested, according to the report. An oversupply in the global market also kept a lid on prices.

FLAT-RATE WIRELESS SERVICE LAUNCHED

Boost Mobile, a unit of Sprint, today launched its Unlimited by Boost flat-rate wireless service in Hawai'i.

For a fixed monthly price, the service provides Hawai'i residents with unlimited local and nationwide long-distance calling from within a home calling area extending over large areas of O'ahu, Hawai'i, Maui and Kaua'i. There are no contracts, credit checks or activation fees. Rates for calls in the home calling area are $35 for unlimited talk, $40 for unlimited talk and text, and $45 for unlimited talk, text and Web access.

Hawai'i residents will have the option of expanding their home calling area to include California and Las Vegas for an additional $5 per month. Customers making or receiving calls outside of their home calling area are charged 15 cents per minute.

Unlimited by Boost is available at participating wireless dealer retail locations and Sprint and Radio Shack stores in Hawai'i.

HAWAI'I EGG PRODUCTION OFF 14%

Hawaii egg production totaled 6.4 million in December 2007, down 14 percent from the same month a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of layers was estimated at 360,000 in December, down 12 percent from December 2006. The average lay rate for December was 1,788 per 100 layers, down 2 percent from a year earlier.

BILL TARGETS RAIL OFF-STREET PARKING

The Honolulu City Council advanced five "fixed guideway" related bills yesterday, including two bills to curb off-street parking near transit stations. The bills, which also would allow development of hotels in industrial districts near major mass-transit centers, will be referred to committees before another possible public hearing in the future.

KAPOLEI COMPLEX MANAGER NAMED

Kapolei Commons, the regional West O'ahu retail complex slated to open next year, will be managed by General Growth Properties Inc.

Chicago-based General Growth is the country's second largest shopping center owner, developer and manager. The firm in Hawai'i owns and operates four retail complexes, including the state's largest, Ala Moana Center, but also handles management and leasing for malls owned by others including Windward Mall and Maui's Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.

At Kapolei Commons, General Growth will handle leasing and management for the 610,000-square-foot project.

Kapolei Commons is being developed by local firms The MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group. Tenants are to include Target, Circuit City, OfficeMax, Petco, Sports Authority, Borders Books and Music, a 15-screen Regal Cinema, restaurants and 180,000 square feet of fashion retailers.