Hawaii Showroom May Open In China

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii and China may reach an agreement by the end of the year to open a new retail warehouse showcasing island products.

Gov. Linda Lingle says the proposed "Hawaii House" in Shanghai would allow Chinese retailers to order island products and give Hawaii companies a way to advertise without going through some of the obstacles of breaking into the Chinese market.

China's Ministry of Commerce intends to sign a memorandum of understanding with the state this year, and a buying delegation will visit Hawaii early next year to decide what products to sell.

Lingle spoke about the Hawaii House on Sunday after returning from a two-week trip to China, which she used to promote tourism and business opportunities.