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Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff & wire reports
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 CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
THE BIG WINNERS -- Ryan Chan-Wa, 10, played pool yesterday at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii in Moiliili, which has won a yearlong marketing program including free print, television, radio and public relations announcements. The nonprofit will hold a shoe drive from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Shoes and slippers will be sent to Boys & Girls Clubs affected by Hurricane Katrina.
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HAWAII
Aquaculture industry plans to hold summit
The Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo will host an aquaculture summit from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, to be followed by the Hawaii Aquaculture Association's annual business meeting and happy hour.
The Hawaii Aquaculture Industry Stakeholder Summit will include discussions of local, national and international trends affecting the state's $28 million industry.
The gathering will be facilitated by Donna Ching, an extension specialist with the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Those wanting to attend should RSVP to Clyde Tamaru at ctamaru@hawaii.edu.
NATION
Rita wrecked havoc on Gulf oil rigs
DALLAS » Hurricane Rita may have caused more damage to rigs and platforms than any Gulf of Mexico storm -- even its formidable predecessor Hurricane Katrina, oil and gas analysts said on Wednesday.
The double-whammy of those hurricanes has already cost the Gulf almost 7 percent of its annual oil production and 5 percent of its yearly natural gas output, according to a report Wednesday from the U.S. Minerals Management Service.
Most used books are sold online
In barely a decade, online booksellers have grown to account for two-thirds of the market for general-interest used books, a trend that calls into question the future of brick-and-mortar stores devoted to used books, according to a study financed by the publishing industry and released yesterday.
The study, by the Book Industry Study Group, a nonprofit research organization whose membership includes nearly all commercial publishers as well as libraries and nonprofit book-related organizations, found that online sales of general-interest used books are growing at a rate of more than 30 percent a year, while sales of used books at stores are almost flat.
WORLD
Mercedes to ax 8,500 German jobs
FRANKFURT, Germany » Automaker
DaimlerChrysler AG said yesterday it will cut 8,500 jobs in Germany at its Mercedes Car Group in a bid to return the troubled brand to profitability.
The company said the cuts will come through voluntary termination agreements over the next year and result in charges of $1.11 billion.
DaimlerChrysler, the world's fifth-largest car maker, said the charges will be posted in the fourth quarter and aren't expected to hamper the company's outlook. The automaker had said previously that it expects to beat last year's operating profit $7 billion.
In other news ...
» Troubled electronics company
Sanyo Electric Co. widened its loss forecast for the current year and said it would speed cost cuts under a three-year revival plan as sluggish sales of consumer electronics and components continue to chip away at earnings.
HAWAII INC.
New Jobs
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Bank of Hawaii Insurance Services Inc. has hired
Jeffery Bronaugh as president. He will be responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the company as well as further integrating the insurance subsidiary into the bank's overall operations. He previously was sales manager for First Insurance Company of Hawaii Ltd.
» Bank of Hawaii has hired Shelley B. Thompson as executive vice president and chief fiduciary officer of its Investment Services Group. She will be responsible for the bank's private client services business. She has more than 20 years of trust and wealth management experience.
» Goodwill Industries has hired Rafael Escalera as retail operations director and Jennifer Deems as marketing manager. Escalera is responsible for the company's retail stores, donation centers and its transportation/processing departments. Deems is responsible for the company's marketing program and special events.
» First Hawaiian Bank has announced the following officer appointments: Pamela S. Arashiro has been appointed Kapiolani banking center personal banking officer; Alice J. Kang has been appointed Kapiolani banking center personal banking officer; Noel D. Mau has been appointed private advisory services operations officer; Amy T. Uyeda has been appointed wire transfer department manager; and Mason L.M. Yoshiyama has been appointed real estate residential loans loan officer.
» Macaroni Grill has appointed Darren Yasui general manager for its new Ala Moana Center location. He most recently worked at Waialae Country Club.
Promotions
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Starwood Hotels and Resorts Hawaii has appointed
Sharon Shimizu to regional communications coordinator. She will be responsible for assisting in the coordination of regional public relations, advertising and promotional efforts for the company's eleven Hawaii resorts. She began her career with Starwood Hotels and Resorts as an administrative assistant in the regional sales and marketing department.
