Business/In Brief Aug. 31, 2013 | News, Sports, Jobs

BanyanTreats grand opening Sunday

BanyanTreats, a cookie and ice cream shop at the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, will be holding a grand opening Sunday afternoon with a blessing, entertainment and samples.

Len Storey and Lisa Downey, who moved to Maui from South Carolina, purchased Hula Cookies and Ice Cream Lahaina and have renamed it BanyanTreats.

The blessing by the Rev. Laki Kaahumanu will be held at 1 p.m., followed by performances of Japanese drumming by Zenshin Daiko and of slack key guitar playing by Kevin Brown and Damon Parrillo.

BanyanTreats is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) and is located at the Pioneer Inn on the corner of Front and Hotel streets.

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Oahu hospital to pay $450K settlement

WAHIAWA, Oahu – The U.S. Attorney’s office says Wahiawa General Hospital will pay about $450,000 to settle lawsuits alleging improper billing.

Federal and state governments alleged the hospital wrongfully submitted claims to Medicare, Medicaid and the military’s health care program, known as TRICARE. An investigation began after a doctor alleged that the hospital submitted bills for services provided by resident doctors without the level of supervision required by federal law.

The U.S. Attorney’s office notes that while the hospital agreed to the settlement signed Thursday, the hospital doesn’t admit liability. Hospital officials didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Friday.

The doctor who initiated the lawsuits will receive nearly $85,000 of the settlement payment. District of Hawaii U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni praised the doctor for his courage in reporting the alleged wrongdoing.

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State OKs rail archaeological reports

HONOLULU – The State Historic Preservation Division has approved archaeological survey reports for the Honolulu rail transit project, clearing the way for construction to resume in West Oahu.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation announced the approval Friday. HART said that construction on the $5 billion project could resume as early as September, after permit applications are approved.

Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. sued the city in 2011, challenging a decision to conduct an archaeological survey of historic human remains along the proposed corridor in phases.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled last year that the survey work should have been completed for the entire 20-mile rail route before construction in Kapolei began. Construction was halted to complete the remaining studies.

Archaeological surveys along the entire route were completed in January.

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