BY HAWAII REPORTER
Sirius XM Radio to Debut in Hawaii?
Sirius XM may start providing its subscription radio service in Hawaii following a milestone Federal Communications Commission approval last month.
The FCC approved the company’s request to operate ground-based repeaters in Hawaii and Alaska while dismissing petitions brought against the service by various groups, including the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters.
Satwavespro.com reported Sirius XM’s commercial-free service has only been available through an Internet feed and that its commercial-free satellite radio service hasn’t been available to residents of Hawaii and Alaska.
It said the company appears to be moving toward offering of the commercial-free service in Hawaii and that it has asked the FCC to shift two satellites that could possibly provide the satellite service in Hawaii and Alaska.
Bannister to Lead Hawaii Pacific University
Geoffrey Bannister, the former president of Butler University, has been selected as the new head of Hawaii Pacific University.
Bannister will take over as president in July, succeeding Chatt Wright.
Bannister currently serves as president of both the Study Abroad Foundation and Cultural Experiences Abroad. He previously was president of Butler University in Indianapolis for a dozen years. His experience also includes serving as dean of Liberal Arts at Boston University.
Bannister has a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Geography from the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Starbucks to Offer Big Gulp-Sized Drink
Starbucks said Hawaii is one of 14 states where it will introduce a new cup size that caters to people who can’t get enough coffee.
Starbucks will begin rolling out the new 31-ounce “Trenta” size this week for iced coffee, tea and lemonade. The Trenta (30 in Italian) will be expanded to the rest of the nation in May.
The size of the cup is one ounce smaller than 7-Eleven’s Big Gulp drink.
Hawaii Ranked as Fifth Most Tolerant State
Hawaii is the fifth most tolerant state in the nation according to a ranking by the Daily Beast website.
Hawaii ranked behind Wisconsin, Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania in a point system that looked at state laws on equal rights and protections and other measures.
Hawaii’s scored a 71 out of 100 for tolerance and 27 out of 40 for discrimination. It also ranked first in least hate crime incidents per 100,000 residents and came in 35th out of the states in terms of discrimination cases filed per 100,000.
The Daily Beast ranked Wyoming as the least tolerant state.