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FAST FACTS HAWAII
HAWAII
Pacific Air Cargo seeks Aloha unit
Pacific Air Cargo emerged as the leading bidder for
Aloha Airlines' contract aviation services unit as auction proceedings began yesterday in San Francisco. Bidding on Aloha's air-cargo unit is expected to resume today.
Maui Brewing wins 3 awards
Maui Brewing Co. took three top international awards at the World Beer Cup in San Diego this weekend.
The Lahaina-based brewer's Coconut Porter took silver in the herb and spice beer category, which had 67 entries; Bikini Blonde Lager took silver for cellar or unfiltered beer, from among 34 entries; and Maui Pale Ale took bronze for American-style pale ale, out of 66 entries. Maui Brewing entered eight beers.
It was the second time Maui Brewing has entered the competition. In 2006, the brewery won two medals, one gold and one bronze.
The beer cup is hosted every two years by the Boulder, Colo.-based Brewers Association, which promotes craft brewing. More than 2,800 beers were entered from 644 breweries in 58 countries, with an average 32 beers per category. U.S. beers dominated this year, winning 158 awards.
Steve & Barry's opens Friday
The first
Steve & Barry's retail store in Hawaii will hold a grand opening at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Steve & Barry's will open at the old CompUSA site at Waikele Center with a sale -- everything in the store will be at $9.98 or less.
The retailer, based in New York, aims to offer quality casualwear at 50 percent to 90 percent less than at competing department and specialty stores.
Brand names include Starbury II, a high-performance basketball sneaker co-developed by NBA star Stephon Marbury, as well as Bitten, affordable sportswear created by actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
Steve & Barry's operates more than 200 stores across the U.S.
Isle-linked REIT expanding
Pacific Office Properties Trust Inc., a real estate investment trust formed in part by Honolulu-based
Shidler Group, intends to acquire seven office buildings in San Diego and Phoenix.
The acquisition would increase the REIT's portfolio by about 17 percent to 2.8 million leasable square feet from 2.4 million.
Six of the seven buildings totaling 183,000 leasable square feet are located in prime San Diego submarkets, while the remaining property, Black Canyon Corporate Center, is a 220,200 square foot office building in the Deer Valley submarket of Phoenix, Ariz.
The seven buildings will be acquired in two separate transactions, expected to close next month. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
WORLD
Samsung chairman resigns
SEOUL » Embattled
Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee said today he was stepping down from his post at the top of South Korea's biggest conglomerate following his indictment on tax evasion charges.
After Lee spoke, Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo, considered the chairman's closest confidante, also announced his resignation as well as that of Lee Jae-yong, the chairman's son and heir who is an executive at Samsung Electronics Co.
Lee, the vice chairman, said Lee Soo-bin, chairman of Samsung Life Insurance, would represent Samsung Group externally. It was not immediately clear if the post of group chairman would remain vacant or eventually be filled.
BUSINESS PULSE