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FAST FACTS HAWAII
Waikiki retail project adds floor
The developer of a retail complex adjacent to the Waikiki Beach Walk complex has scaled up its plans.
First Round Pacific LLC plans a two-story retail center offering 34,199 square feet at 280 Beach Walk, the name of the project. Initial plans for the site called for a single-story building.
The ground floor will offer retail space, while the second floor will offer restaurant space. The center comes with an existing two-level parking garage, which will be remodeled to include a loading dock.
First Round purchased the lot, formerly home to Hula Hut restaurant, for $15.3 million in July 2006.
The property is zoned resort-commercial, with a height limit of 300 feet.
Hawaiian Airlines has strong April
Hawaiian Airlines filled 87.8 percent of its seats in April even as additional routes and aircraft increased its capacity over the same month last year. The number of passengers it transported jumped 17.4 percent from the year-earlier period.
The airline said 572,613 passengers traveled systemwide, up from 487,612 in April 2006. Its load factor of 87.8 percent was up 0.9 points from 86.9 percent a year earlier.
Hawaiian's available seat miles -- one seat transported one mile -- increased 18.9 percent to 755.4 million from 635.5 million while its revenue passenger miles, or the total miles flown by paying passengers, rose 20 percent to 662.9 million from 552.3 million.
[ HAWAII INC. ]
NEW HIRES / PROMOTIONS
» The Gas Co. has hired
Don Kuriki as financial analyst
. He will be responsible for financial reporting, budgeting, consolidations and research. He will also help prepare U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and monitor internal control compliance. He previously served as senior tax specialist at Hawaiian Telcom and assistant tax manager at Alexander & Baldwin for five years.
» Durrant Media Five has announced the following new hires: Dennis Osato returns to the firm as architect and senior designer. He previously served as senior designer for Pacific Architects. Dean Ichiyama has been hired as architect. He previously worked at Pacific Architects and has experience in residential, resort and healthcare projects. Steve Stark has been hired as architect at the firm's Hilo office. He previously worked at Page & Turnbull in San Francisco and has 15 years of experience. Jeanette Roberts has been hired as operations administrator. She previously served as administration and accounting manager for Taisei Construction Corp. and has 17 years of financial reporting and management experience. Merle Hayashi and Mark McCreary have been hired as project administrators. They will provide administrative support to all active projects.
» City Mill Co. Ltd. has hired Dirck Noordhoff as general merchandising manager. He will be responsible for developing, directing and coordinating all merchandising and buying efforts for the company. He previously served as vice president of merchandising, planning and production at Hilo Hattie's.
» First Hawaiian Bank has announced the following promotions: Jennie H. Ohta has been promoted to vice president of the wealth management division. She will be responsible for trust accounts. Jason H. Haruki has been promoted to assistant vice president and investment officer of the wealth management division.* He will be responsible for investment management services for institutional clients. Brian A. Moriki has been promoted to assistant vice president and manager of the records management department. He will oversee the bank's records and information management program. Darnette F.G. Paakaula has been promoted to assistant vice president and service manager of the Pearlridge branch. She will be responsible for branch operations and staff management. Bard E. Peterson has been promoted to assistant vice president and business banking officer of the Kahului branch. He will be responsible for managing the branch's commercial banking products and services, and will also serve as branch staff supervisor. Derek V. Tanga has been promoted to reporting manager. He will be responsible for management and preparation of the annual budget and regulatory reports.
» Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa has named Brian Keys as director of food and beverage operations. He will oversee all banquets, events services, restaurants lounges and bars for Hilton's flagship property. He previously served as director of food and beverage at the Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa.
Harrah's 1Q profit rises 2 percent
LAS VEGAS »
Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which is being bought by private equity firms in a $17.1 billion deal, said yesterday its first-quarter earnings edged up 2 percent, as higher Las Vegas and Atlantic City revenue offset increased operating costs.
The world's largest casino company by revenue said net income rose to $185.3 million, or 98 cents per share, from $182.4 million, or 98 cents per share, a year ago. However, excluding one-time items, the company posted profit from continuing operations of 88 cents per share, down 14 percent from $1.02 per share a year ago.
On average, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were looking for profit of 99 cents per share on revenue of $2.51 billion.
Revenue climbed 13 percent to $2.66 billion from $2.36 billion last year. Revenue at properties Harrah's has operated for more than a year rose 3.6 percent from the 2006 first quarter. The company said Las Vegas revenue climbed 9 percent to $898.6 million.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
» Jason Haruki has been promoted to assistant vice president and investment officer in First Hawaiian Bank's Wealth Management Division. A listing on Page C2 last Wednesday incorrectly said he had been promoted to vice president. |
BUSINESS PULSE