HEADLIGHTS

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Roy Kawamura, above, of RGK Specialties models "Blinky Caps,"
made by a Washington-based company called Lightwear. Behind
the embroidered face of the cap, left, is a network of fiber optics
hooked to a lightweight battery and on-off switch that activates a
blinking light show of team pride. Kawamura, the local franchisee
for the product, delivers the caps to the fourth and final Daiei store
-- in Kailua -- this morning. "We put the first in Kaheka (Tuesday)
morning and they almost sold out," he said. Kawamura also is
working on school and community pride with Kaimuki High
School and the surrounding business community. He's
negotiated with local companies to provide custom
embroidery for organizations. The licensed sports
caps start at $30, Kawamura said. UH caps start at
$28.99. For community deals, prices will start at $20,
"and out of that (a) school (could) make $4."
Businesses can also see their names or logos
up in lights for a minimum order of 24 dozen
(288 caps), he said.

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Schuler Homes sees quarterly profits jump

Schuler Homes Inc., today reported a 33.4 percent increase in its profit for the latest quarter, showing a net of $19.2 million, or 46 cents a share, compared with a profit of $14.4 million, or 35 cents a share, in the same period last year. Revenues were up 50.3 percent at $383.6 million, compared with a year-earlier $255.3 million.

The period through Sept. 30 was the second quarter of Schuler's new March 31 fiscal year. The company, founded in Honolulu but run from offices in both Honolulu and El Segundo, Calif., restated its 2000 figures to show what they would have been if the merger with Western Pacific Housing in California had already taken place last year. The merger was formally completed in April of this year.

Tuesday, the company announced it is being sold to Texas-based housing giant D.R. Horton Inc. in a cash and stock deal valued at $1.2 billion that will make it part of the second-biggest home builder in the nation.

KITV signs Pritchard as news director

Tod Pritchard has been named news director at KITV 4, according to an announcement by President and General Manager Mike Rosenberg.

"We are ecstatic that our nationwide search resulted in a candidate with Tod's strengths," Rosenberg said.

Prior to this assignment, Pritchard served for five years as news director of WKOW TV, the ABC affiliate in Madison, Wisc., and was also in charge of the news product for the Fox-affiliate there, WMSN TV.

Pritchard replaces long-time KITV News Director Wally Zimmermann, who left the station July 31. He begins his Hawaii assignment after November sweeps.

Ignition settlement could cost Ford $2.7 billion

HAYWARD, Calif. >> Ford Motor Co. agreed today to reimburse current and former owners for repairs on millions of cars and trucks prone to stall because of a flawed ignition system. The deal approved by a California judge could cost the automaker as much as $2.7 billion, according to an estimate from the plaintiffs. Ford attorney Richard Warmer disputed that estimate.

The settlement ends years of litigation. However, it does nothing to remove from the road the estimated 12 million Fords nationwide equipped with the ignition system originally installed in 20 million vehicles. These cars and trucks remain prone to stall without warning, according to Ford's internal documents.

Ford has maintained that its ignition devices and vehicles are safe and admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.