The Kauai County Council has unanimously approved a plan that would transfer 138 acres of beachfront land to the county at no cost to taxpayers.

In exchange for the land, the Kauai Lagoons Resort would be granted four land use amendments to expand its development project.

General fund deposits for the first two months of the fiscal year totaled $680.4 million, which was down 5 percent and far more than the 1.5 percent decline forecast by the Council on Revenues, the Hawaii Department of Taxation said.

General fund deposits for the first two months of the fiscal year totaled $680.4 million, which was down 5 percent and far more than the 1.5 percent decline forecast by the Council on Revenues, the Hawaii Department of Taxation said.

General fund deposits for the first two months of the fiscal year totaled $680.4 million, which was down 5 percent and far more than the 1.5 percent decline forecast by the Council on Revenues, the Hawaii Department of Taxation said.

The Hawaii Department of Taxation said it is increasing its enforcement efforts aimed at businesses that do most of their business in cash.

Government accounted for 24 percent of Hawaii’s gross domestic product in 2008, up from 22 percent in 1998. And that doesn’t even count the $8 billion in annual defense spending that courses through the state; factor that in and you’re well above 50 percent.

The Big Island’s diverse economy has enabled it to weather the recession better than the other Neighbor Islands, according to a new economic forecast.

Economist Leroy Laney said the Big Island is helped by the vastly different economies on the east and west sides of the island.

More than four months after stopping construction on a high-rise condominium in Kakaako, the developer of Moana Vista has been the target of at least five legal actions from companies claiming they are owed almost $38 million.