Pacific Business News articles from May 2001

Pacific Business News archives from May 2001

Boeing expansion eyes Hawaii.(Boeing Co.)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The Boeing Co. is interested in expanding its business opportunities in Hawaii and is having discussions about where and how to make it happen. Boeing, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, presently operates the Maui Space...

Tough young CEO reviving Marc Resorts.(Mathew Delaney)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... When Gen-Xer and CEO Matthew Delaney turned over most of Marc Resorts Hawaii's sales and marketing staff upon taking over in August, people in the industry thought he was crazy. "I truly felt we needed a new team to take the company to...

New ventures may revive WorldPoint.(WorldPoint Interactive Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Rumors that one of the shining stars of Hawaii's tech arena may have burnt out remain only gossip, the company insists. WorldPoint says that despite recent struggles and cutbacks, it will stay afloat with new projects and by diversifying into...

New blood beats New Era at BOH.(Bank of Hawaii)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 25, 2001... Michael O'Neill may be working the miracle Bank of Hawaii needs. After the tumultuous New Era redesign plan that left employees, customers and investors unhappy, O'Neill brought in much-needed confidence boosters for the bank. On...

Retailers lined up for new Ward center.(Ward Entertainment Center, Honolulu, Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Retailers from boutiques to coffee houses will be among tenants opening shop at the new Ward Entertainment Center, anchored by a 85,000-square-foot 16-screen movie complex (see related story on page 28). Though Victoria Ward Centers...

Actors, Survivors tell 'Pearl Harbor' stories.(at motion picture premier, Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The day of the "Pearl Harbor" premiere, the media line stretched along the red carpet leading to the aircraft carrier USS John Stennis. Reporters and photographers waited in the hot sun for their chance to snag the movie stars as they walked...

Businesses the real heros this time around.(Aloha Harvest delivers leftover food to poor and homeless, Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Companies, nonprofits turn 'Pearl Harbor' party into Hawaii showcase Hawaii's working poor and the homeless dined on salmon sushi, seared ahi, goat-cheese-filled won ton and chocolate tarts covered with raspberry sauce. The food was...

What ever happened to...?(Ohana Foundation placing eWhiz interactive DVD players in classrooms, Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... When we last reported on the Ohana Foundation in January, the company was in the process of placing its eWhiz interactive DVD players in classrooms throughout Hawaii as part of a pilot program that combines DVD technology with the power of...

Fisherman distraught over outer-island reserve.(Northwestern Hawaiian Islands coral reef preservation)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Maui fisherman Bobby Gomes says a Clinton legacy undermined his right to live the American Dream, to reach for the stars and -- particularly -- to catch more fish. A last-minute order by the previous administration in December 2000...

UH business plan winner moves ahead with company incorporation.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Ecospan Systems Inc., the concept that won the recent University of Hawaii business plan competition, is incorporating this week as a Delaware firm based in Honolulu. "This is a fun ride!" says Monte Littlefield. This is the company...

More military opportunities.(Hire.com Inc. contracts with Military.com, job recruitment)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Austin, Texas-based Hire.com Inc. has aligned with Military.com to give recruiters greater access to potential workers with military experience. The deal makes Military.com part of Hire.com's Virtual Talent Network. Using Hire.com's...

Computer viruses get weird.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Three weird viruses have surfaced in cyberspace over the past two weeks. European computer security consultants reported that one is a variant of last year's "Love Bug." It seems designed to trigger Echelon, a U.S. satellite system which...

Contemporary Museum plans expansion.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The Contemporary Museum on Makiki Heights Drive is planning to add more floor space to its gallery. The museum is in the middle of a $15 million capital campaign to build a 10,000 square-foot permanent collections gallery. "It's...

Providers wait for next move in health fund changes.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Health-care providers have two questions now that state lawmakers approved a bill to merge public union health plans into the state health trust: Will the reforms hold and how will they be affected? The bill that passed by just one vote...

LEI shows Hawaii doing better than mainland U.S., Japan.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The state's leading economic indicator is down again in the newest monthly report from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. But an examination of the individual components of the index merely confirms that...

Agriculture research center focuses on diversification.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 25, 2001... Potato seeds nurtured in Hawaii and shipped to growers in the Midwest have reaped $250,000 in seasonal revenue from 25 acres of agricultural land Hawaii Agriculture Research Center leases the acreage for seed development during winter...

Hawaii hosts hospitality conference.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Hawaii's two biggest economic focuses will come together later this year when the Pacific Telecommunications Council holds a conference on how new technologies help the tourism industry. "Hospitality Travels Towards New Technology" will...

Vacation travel to rise.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 25, 2001... Soft economy or no, the Travel Industry of America forecasts a 1 percent increase in travel for this summer vacation season. And Hawaii may benefit because it still ranks in the top 10 most-desirable vacation destinations, despite ranking...

UAL may add flights to Hawaii.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... United Air Lines says business travel continues to be soft in the current US. economy, and if it keeps up it may pull aircraft from business travel routes and add them to vacation destinations such as Hawaii. UAL Corp. CEO Jim Goodwin...

Get ready to scream, the night marchers are coming.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... A new horror film, "The Night Marchers," written, acted and produced on the Big Island that outdrew "Hannibal" in Hilo and set attendance records in Kona opened in Honolulu's Wallace Theaters earlier this month. The 67-minute film was...

Smaller Maui hotels aim for niche market.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 25, 2001... Boutique hotels, all the rage on the mainland, have come to Maui. But as with most things on the Valley Isle, the move to smaller, more intimate accommodations has its own local twist. "Forget about elevators and long corridors," says...

New Kona SBDC office.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network recently celebrated the opening of its first new office in five years. The SBDC Kona office is located in Suite 105 of the Territorial Centre, at 75-5751 Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona....

ML Macadamia moves office.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... ML Macadamia Orchards LP will close its Honolulu office at the end of May. It will be consolidating the administrative functions of that office with the accounting offices in Pahala, on the island of Hawaii. The company also announced the...

Kauai mayor amends budget, eyes privatization.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Due in large part to the actions of the state Legislature, Kauai Mayor Maryanne W. Kusaka has filed a supplemental budget proposal. Because of legislation allowing the county to privatize its services, county officials have begun an...

Selling fun on Maui.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Activity Warehouse has opened a fifth shop on Maui, at the Piihani Village Shopping Center in Kihei. The company sets up luaus, horseback rides, parasailing, whale-watch tours and helicopter rides, and rents exotic transportation,...

UH economist a master of 'dismal science'.(University of Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... For Carl Bonham, predicting the future takes more than a crystal ball. Making an economic forecast for the state at the annual Hawaii Economic Association meeting recently, Bonham blended science, knowledge and intuition, not flash or...

How to keep the wealth you may not know you have.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Are you wealthy? You may not think you are. But when you've accounted for your home, investments, personal property, retirement accounts and all insurance that you own in your name, you may have assets over $675,000 -- the applicable...

Big Island getting $117 mil in bridge repairs.(Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Flood damage and seismic regulation updates will result in about $117 million worth of repair and replacement on Big Island bridges this year. Nine of the 17 bridges to be repaired by 2002 are already under construction and the remaining...

Airbus sets up shop in Japan.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Airbus, the European plane manufacturer, has established a Tokyo-based subsidiary. Think of it as the first landing for troops that will battle Boeing. Airbus intends to sell Japanese carriers its new two-deck mega-jumbo jet, the...

From tug to supertug.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Hawaiian Tug & Barge, which pushes and pulls ships throughout the state, says it will upgrade its tug Mikiala II from a conventional tug to a tractor tug. What's the difference? A tractor tug is more powerful and can maneuver better....

Barging into Hawaii again.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Young Brothers Ltd., which uses eight barges to provide interisland freight hauling in Hawaii, reports that one of those barges has returned to Honolulu after a three-month overhaul out of state. The 285-foot Kakela spent those months in...

BMW offers another winner.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The BMW Z3 Coupe is a limited-production part of the overall Z3 sports car lineup, but it speaks volumes about why BMW is succeeding so well in the automotive market. For a definition of success, there is no better place to start than...

Big Island nursing home seeks turnaround.(Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The ailing Keauhou Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on the Big Island has had its troubles with unstable management, bankruptcies and failed inspections. On May 1, Tennessee-based Life Care Centers of America took over management,...

HMSA to conduct membership satisfaction survey.(Hawaiian Medical Services Association)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The Hawaii Medical Service Association and Health Plan Hawaii, its HMO affiliate, will begin the 2001 Member Satisfaction Survey of over 122,000 members this week. The study will include questions regarding access to medical care, making...

Mission to Japan.(business practices of hospitals and healthcare organizations in Japan)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... A 20-member delegation flew from Honolulu to Tokyo this week to study the business practices of hospitals and healthcare organizations in Japan. The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism says the May 20-26 trip is...

Herbal use skyrockets.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The use of herbal supplements and remedies like St. John's-wort and gingko biloba more than tripled between 1996 and 1999, according to a study presented at the International Scientific Conference on Complementary Alternative and Integrative...

Hawaii: 'B+' on seat belts.(laws to enforce use of seat belts)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Hawaii gets b "B+" in a recent state-by-state rating of laws to enforce use of seat belts. The report card from the National Safety Council gives 19 states D's and F's for driver and passenger safety; an additional eight states receive grades...

The CEO must champion the brand.(chief executive officers)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Today's highly competitive business environment and economic pressures make a strong brand identity the most valuable strategic tool for executive management. The challenges of capturing more fully the power of a corporate brand require...

Business-friendly regulations aim to help Realtors in Hawaii.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Less paperwork and more opportunities for Realtor licensing are the goals of the new rules that went into effect this week. The rules -- the results of efforts by the real estate industry, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer...

GOP leaders ready to pour in money, resources in 2002.(Republican Party)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The national Republican Party sees Hawaii as a battleground state in the 2002 elections and party officials are pledging more money and resources to the state as the local GOP tries to recapture the governor's office for the first time in 40...

Who pays, who plays at issue with special bonds.(government securities)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... State-issued special-purpose revenue bonds were a hot topic in the last legislative session, with Republicans making it a point to reject bond measures they did not feel offered a broad public benefit. Such bonds offer a tax-exempt...

Maui's Space Data tracks facilities.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Maui newcomer Space Data hopes its user-friendly software will become the Web-based solution facilities managers look to when tracking people and property. "Our goal at Space Data is to create a user-friendly visual information...

Adtech promotes Yonesaki.(Mari Yonesaki)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The new head of operations at Adtech is Mari Yonesaki, a 13-year veteran of the Internet and computer telecoms testing equipment company. Yonesaki's new post as senior director of operations puts her over facilities and administration,...

States, localities upgrade incentives for tech firms.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Attracting high-tech companies continues to be a top priority for states and localities despite the dot-com crash, according to a KPMG survey of economic development officials. Most states and localities also are enhancing their incentive...

Feds use high-tech buoy to watch coral reefs.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... In just nine months in 1998, about 16 of the world's coral reefs died because of too much ultraviolet radiation or too warm water. Almost a third of the world's living coral has died in the past generation. The National Oceanic &...

Maui start-up tries new ASP business model.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Like most entrepreneurs striking out on their own, Derek Rowley is optimistic. His company, Maui-based Integreliance Inc., hopes to become a one-stop shop for e-businesses and applications service providers by first building and then hosting...

Retailers applauding silver screen influx.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... More head-to-head competition begins today for Hawaii's movie theater industry with the opening of Consolidated Theatres' 16-plex Ward Entertainment Center and Signature Theatre's 10-screens at Windward Mall. Industry observers say the...

Home Depot earnings up.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Atlanta-based Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, reported net earnings of $632 million (27 cents per diluted share) for the first quarter of fiscal 2001, compared to net earnings of $629 million (27 cents per diluted...

New Papa John's store.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Papa John's Hawaii has opened a store in Hawaii Kai, its 13th store in Hawaii. The Hawaii Kai store, at 7192 Kalanianaole Highway in the Koko Marina Shopping Center, will employ 35 people. The company employs more than 300 people on...

Ala Moana wins award.(Ala Moana Center)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Ala Moana Center was among three shopping malls honored last week for innovative design and development at the 25th International Design and Development Awards sponsored by the International Council of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas. The...

J.C. Penney stock slide has company focused on revamp.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... J.C. Penney (JCP, NYSE, 12-month range $8.63 - $22.85) is one of the largest department store retailers in the United States, with more than 1,100 stores nationwide, targeting moderate- income consumers. In addition to retail stores, Penney...

Lifestyle dictates retail real estate development.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The regional shopping center-- once the unique symbol of American retailing -- is still alive and well. But it has stopped proliferating as it did in the 1970s and '80s. In some markets, land is either too expensive or scarce to develop...

HAWAII PACESETTERS.
May 25, 2001... First Hawaiian Bank Gregory J. Sitar has been promoted to vice president and area manager, Waipahu branch. Sitar joined First Hawaiian in 1983 as a management trainee and then was promoted to loan representative and later assistant...

EWI Honolulu awards high school juniors.(Executive Women International)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The Honolulu Chapter of Executive Women International recently held its annual scholarship awards program for high school juniors at the Sheraton Waikiki. Each student submitted an application and a notebook highlighting academic and...

Hawaii Modular Space Inc.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Mike Fox, president of Hawaii Modular Space, was recognized with three awards from the international Modular Building Institute's annual convention and trade show. Hawaii Modular Space received first place for Pualani Manor, a multipurpose...

Hawaii Pacific University.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Irene Rizkallah Gordon, an instructor of English as a Second Language at Hawaii Pacific University, was awarded the University's 2001 Trustees' Award for Excellence in Teaching. This annual award is given to a faculty member, chosen by...

Performance-based bidding divides Hawaii's contractors.
May 25, 2001... For years the Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services has struggled with poor performance, cost overruns and accountability problems with state construction projects that were previously bid on through a process called...

Recycling gives construction material new purpose.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... A new distribution center will offer to low-income residents on Oahu salvageable raw materials from demolition and construction projects and training courses on how to use the materials. Nanakuli Neighborhood Housing Services will open...

Construction at a work-force crossroads.
May 25, 2001... Today's construction workers need more than big arms and strong backs. They need advanced education, technology knowledge and Internet savvy, industry leaders say. "It's not just swinging a hammer and doing back-breaking labor," says...

GENERAL CONTRACTORS -- OAHU.
May 25, 2001... (Ranked by Hawaii billings) GENERAL CONTRACTORS -- OAHU (Ranked by Hawaii billings) Rank Business Name Business Adress Rank in Phone / Fax Web site address 2000 Managing...

Hawaii firms reduce construction injuries.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The good news: The number of construction workplace-related injuries continues to fall each year. The bad news: The work still can be dangerous. For instance, on April 23, Jay Dotson, a 46-year-old Oahu construction worker, died after a...

It takes more than good locks to protect job-site property.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Big construction projects go back at least as far as the pyramids. Even then, when crews returned to work after a long weekend off, rollers, ropes and hods were missing. Tool loss is an age-old problem in the construction industry. How can it...

Creating a plan for safety.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... A construction job site is one of the most hazardous work environments around, from a risk management perspective. You may already realize that your workers' compensation insurance cost is heavily influenced by your ability to control and...

Contractors switch rankings.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... An interesting transformation has taken place in the rankings of Oahu's top general contractors. On the surface the change has elevated Dick Pacific, once known as Fletcher Pacific Construction Co. Ltd., to first place with the highest...

Tax credits available for ADA compliance construction.(Americans with Disabilities Act)
May 25, 2001... Over 10 years ago, Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires all public and private entities serving the public to provide equal access to all goods and services to individuals with disabilities. In that time,...

GENERAL CONTRACTORS -- NEIGHBOR ISLAND.(Directory)(Illustration)
May 25, 2001... (Ranked by Hawaii billings) GENERAL CONTRACTORS - NEIGHBOR ISLAND (Ranked by Hawaii billings) Business Name Rank Business Adress Rank in Phone / Fax Web site address 2000 ...

Contractor contributions ban stalls at Legislature.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Before becoming a state lawmaker, Jim Rath was a contractor. Most of his work was done on the mainland, but Rath had some projects in Hawaii and recalls how he used to get calls and letters seeking campaign contributions when he would...

Construction industry leader dies.(former Hawaiian Dredging Co. president and CEO Paul Irving Banks Sr.)(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... Paul Irving Banks Sr., former president and CEO for Hawaiian Dredging Co. and leader in the construction industry for 25 years, died May 10. As president of Hawaiian Dredging for 15 years (1975-1990), Banks worked on many major projects...

Wrap-up insurance benefits.
May 25, 2001... Although relatively new to Hawaii, wrap-up insurance has been around since the 1950s. Wrap-ups cover all liability and workers' compensation exposures for a large group of different businesses working together on one project. The most common...

Seeking Hawaii's best young businesspeople.
May 25, 2001... No disrespect to our elders, but the younger generations of businesspeople deserve recognition, too. PBN is now accepting applications and nominations for our second annual Forty Under 40 awards, an event honoring the energy,...

State indicators must give Hawaii strengths more credit.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... The L.E.I. -- or leading economic indicator -- compiled by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism has dropped yet again this month. The downward trend that has turned last year's rebound into a blip is...

Is common sense a lost art?(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... After reading recently that the average American is carrying an unpaid balance of $8,000 on credit cards, I began to wonder if we've lost our minds. That must mean that millions who have no running balance are offset by millions who...

Low 'livability' rankings deserve attention.(Brief Article)
May 25, 2001... In resort areas around the world, visitors arrive, stay in beautiful hotels and go back home. Few remain long enough to fully appreciate local quality-of-life issues such as cost of living, schools, local taxes, job opportunities, energy...

Festival funds running out.(Aloha Festival, Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... The festival that shares the aloha spirit is in need of some goodwill itself. "We have enough cash for the next two months," says Janet Hyrne, statewide executive director of the Aloha Festivals. It costs about $1 million to put on...

Medical waste gets a new life.(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... A local medical waste-management company is pioneering a new procedure that it claims not only destroys medical waste, but also eliminates the problem of environ mental pollution and, creates useful byproducts in the process. Hawaii...

Symphony steps up the tempo toward $1 mil match.(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... Accelerando!!! The Honolulu Symphony has six weeks to raise $250,000, erase its remaining deficit and earn $1 million from a patron. The anonymous donor, from Oahu, has specified that the big gift is contingent on finishing the...

Retailers impatient at quiet Dole Cannery.
May 18, 2001... As you enter the store, you breathe in the smell of sandal wood, then your eyes widen as you take in the spread of artifacts from Asia. Tradewind East, a dealer in exotic and specialty products, remains a hidden treasure inside the Shops...

'Boss Lift' brings employers closer to Guard and Reserves.(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... The desire to keep top-quality workers and the need for the military to improve its retention rates have led to more flexibility today in how employers and the military deal with civilian employees who serve in the National Guard or with one...

Consolidated changes; Filipino center funded.(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... After 40 years of working with Consolidated Theatres, Phil Shimmin, president of the company, is leaving the day-to-day operations and will become a board member. "It's something I wanted to, do to step back and not stand there at the...

Federal funds for Filipinos.(Filipino Community Center in Hawaii)(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... More money has poured in to help build the Filipino Community Center out in Waipahu. The center was awarded $1.125 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce says Eddie Flores Jr., vice president of the nonprofit Filipino Community Center...

Not just another pretty face.(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... During the shooting of the movie "Pearl Harbor," Maile Alau, executive director of the USS Arizona Memorial Fund, got a chance to meet actor Ben Affleck, who plays the role of pilot Rafe McCawley. "He's super, super nice. I was pleasantly...

Developer humor.
May 18, 2001... If God commanded Noah to build an ark in the new millennium, would he be able to execute the royal diktat? At a luncheon talk organized by the Hawaii Developers' Council, Harry Saunders III, senior vice president of Castle & Cooke...

Porcine protest.
May 18, 2001... Public relations guru Doug Carlson learned quickly how the media and politics work in Sacramento, Calif. While escorting his client, Mirant Corp., a generating company, out of Gov. Gray Davis' office, Carlson and the rest of the group...

What ever happened to...?(Brief Article)
May 18, 2001... Should the state follow through on what it started? Many boat owners have mixed feelings about Gov. Ben Cayetano's recent decision to privatize both the Alai Wai Yacht Harbor and Keehi boat harbors. "The state of Hawaii was responsible...