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FAST FACTS HAWAII
HAWAII
Counterfeiting scam targets First Hawaiian
First Hawaiian Bank is among several financial institutions targeted nationwide in a Nigerian counterfeiting scam.
The scam involves counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name of First Hawaiian Bank and the routing number 121301015, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. First Hawaiian Bank does not issue cashier's checks because its checks are issued through its mainland sister financial institution, Bank of the West. Those cashier's checks use the routing number 121100782.
First Hawaiian spokesman Brandt Farias said the bank has not incurred any losses as a result of the scam. In August, Central Pacific Bank said it was targeted in a similar scam.
[ HAWAII INC. ]
PROMOTIONS
» The U.S. Postal Service has installed
Gary Logan as postmaster for Kailua. He replaces
John Galera, who transferred to the Waianae post office. Logan will oversee the mail delivery to Kailua and the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe, and supervise all postal employees at the Kailua post office. Logan previously has served as the officer in charge of the Kailua post office December 2005.
» The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has elected Hawaii native Steven M. Budar as the national commodore. He will assume office for a two-year term beginning Nov. 1. Budar has served several positions within the auxiliary since 1985, most recently as national vice commodore, and president and CEO of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association Inc.
>> Bank of Hawaii has announced several new hires and promotions. Michael A. Carr has been hired as vice president and business development officer in the trust and private banking sales department. He previously served as an independent tourism consultant and as president of Polynesian Adventure Tours. Nelson K.F. Dang has been promoted to vice president in the asset management group. He continues his responsibilities as manager of the performance measurement department and oversees analytic systems for investments. Jennifer Lam has been promoted to vice president and project manager in the investments products department. Her responsibilities include overseeing mutual fund administration for Pacific Capital Funds. Lam previously served as assistant vice president in the department. Naoki Murayama has been hired as vice president and international relationship officer in the international commercial banking department. His duties include establishing and maintaining relationships with commercial, credit and investment business clients from Japan. Murayama previously served as vice president of Japan business development at First Hawaiian Bank.
» Nathan Tagami has been promoted to group sales manager for the DFS Galleria Waikiki. He will oversee the leather, fashion, beauty, and destination departments of the company's flagship store. Tagami previously served as area manager and associate store manager, and has been with the company since December 2000.
» Cindy Morales has been promoted to general manager of Dixie Grill Bar-b-que & Crab Shack on Ward Avenue. She previously served as assistant manager for Dixie Grill in Aiea. Morales has worked for the restaurant for the past four years, working her way up from food server.
» Ala Moana Hotel has promoted Cheryl Ann Vierra to director of owner relations from owner relations manager. She will oversee a staff that serves as the liaison between hotel management and room owners. Vierra will also be responsible for ensuring clear communication between all parties and securing owners to participate in the hotel's on-site management program.
NATION
New watches to have caller ID
RICHARDSON, Texas » Watches have always done a good job of quickly showing the time and date. But
Fossil Inc. is convinced there's another piece of information worth displaying on the wrist: caller ID.
In a partnership with Sony Ericsson, Fossil announced today a new line of timepieces that will show who's calling on your cell phone.
The main advantage is that the system lets users quickly and discreetly know who is calling, without having to dig their phone out of their pocket or purse, said Bill Geiser, Fossil's vice president of watch technology.
WORLD
JAL in negotiations to avoid strike
TOKYO >>
Japan Airlines Corp. is in talks with one of its labor unions to avoid a strike on Saturday and Sunday over the company's planned merger of its domestic and international services, a company spokesman said today.
One of the airline's labor unions, comprising pilots for its domestic services, warned earlier today that it will go on the two-day strike, said Geoffrey Tudor, a spokesman at the airline commonly known as JAL.
"We are still negotiating with the union," Tudor said. "If the strike takes place, it will only affect our domestic services. It would have no impact on international flights."
The union with 650 pilots says the planned merger of Japan Airlines Domestic with Japan Airlines won't allow captains on domestic lines to remain union members.
BUSINESS PULSE