Honolulu’s Chef Mavro is the only Hawaii restaurant on the Foodie Top 100 Restaurant List for the U.S..
Presented in regional form, the list includes Chef Mavro in the Southwest and Hawaii region alongside vaunted restaurants including Joel Robuchon’s in Las Vegas; Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas; Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, also in Las Vegas; and Uchiko in Austin, Texas.
The listing was compiled by San Francisco-based Mode Media and was curated by a group of select food critics. Analysis was conducted based first on food, followed by experience, service and beverage options.
“Chefs and restaurants around the world are constantly pushing the boundaries of what the dining experience can be, with innovative cuisines delighting palates every day,” said Samir Arora, founder and CEO of Mode Media, in a statement. “It’s difficult for food lovers to stay on top of the changing restaurant landscape. Our Foodie Top 100 list easily allows people to discover the restaurants most loved by experts across the globe.”
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Four Seasons Hualalai among top hotels
The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is ranked among the top five hotels in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, coming in at No. 4.
At the top of the list is The Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia, a perennial top-ranker among hotel rankings published by travel guides and magazines, followed by The Jefferson, in Washington, D.C., at No. 2 and the ARIA Sky Suites in Las Vegas at No. 3.
Other Hawaii hotels and resorts listed among the best include Halekulani in Waikiki at 17; Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, at 28; St. Regis Princeville on Kauai at 68; Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua, Maui at 73; and Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, on Hawaii island, at No. 100.
To compile the list, U.S. News & World Report combined the hotels’ industry accolades with expert and guest reviews as well as hotel class ratings.
The publication also ranked the best hotels in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
travel.usnews.com/Hotels/USA
Average rate on 30-year mortgage falls to 3.79 percent
WASHINGTON >> Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week for a fourth straight week amid persisting turmoil in stock markets and global economic worries.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped to 3.79 percent from 3.81 percent a week earlier. That means it stays below the symbolically significant 4 percent level. The rate has increased from its 3.66 percent average a year ago but remains well below its historic average of 6 percent.
The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages declined to 3.07 percent from 3.10 percent.
The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, that most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The Federal Reserve sounded a note of concern Wednesday about how global pressures could affect a slowing U.S. economy. Fed policymakers kept a key interest rate unchanged following their meeting this week.
The continuing volatility in global stock markets has pushed up prices of U.S. government bonds as investors seek safety. That has depressed the yields on the bonds, which mortgage rates track.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond stood at 2 percent Wednesday after dropping to 1.98 percent a week earlier — its lowest level since October. The yield fell again to 1.98 percent Thursday.
Amazon net income rises but shares fall
SEATTLE >> Amazon saw its results for the holiday quarter as a present wrapped in a bow. But analysts and investors saw something more like a lump of coal.
The e-commerce giant said Thursday that its fourth-quarter net income more than doubled as shoppers continued migrating online for holiday shopping, the company’s cloud-computing business boomed and its $99-a-year Prime membership program expanded further.
Still, investors were expecting a tighter hold on costs and even higher net income, which sharply missed expectations. Investors sent shares — which have doubled over the past year — down more than 10 percent in aftermarket trading.
Amazon’s strategy has long been to invest most of the money it makes back into its businesses, particularly by expanding offerings in its Prime loyalty program and its cloud-computing business, called Amazon Web Services. After operating at or near a loss for years, it has finally also demonstrated the ability to turn a consistent profit.
Yet it wasn’t able to match investor expectations in the fourth quarter. The Seattle company’s net income more than doubled to $482 million, or $1 per share, from $214 million, or 45 cents per share last year. But that fell far short of the $1.55 analysts expected, according to FactSet.
On The Move
>> Central Pacific Bank has named Spencer Lee vice president and sales manager for Central Pacific Home Loans. He has 12 years’ experience in finance and six years in management, most recently as branch lead for Provident Funding.
>> Hawaiian Host has announced the following new hires:
— John Stiles as sales manager for North America. He has 20 years of experience in retail sales, management and manufacturing.
— Zachery Dries as supply chain specialist. He has five years’ experience in warehousing and supply chain management, as well as quality assurance and production in the local brewing industry.
Ship Ahoy!
Today’s ship arrivals and departures:
Honolulu Harbor
Agent
Vessel
From
Eta
Etd
Berth
Destination
PHT
Horizon Enterprise
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7:30 a.m.
51A
Los Angeles
MNC
Mahimahi
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—
5 p.m.
52A
Oakland, Calif.
TNC
Nord Steady
Pier 30
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31
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TNC
Nord Steady
Pier 31
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30
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