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POSTED: Saturday, January 16, 2010

Fujimoto is named Graham president

; Evan Fujimoto has been named president of Graham Builders Inc., succeeding Danny Graham, who will remain the company's chief executive officer, the company said.

“;As I hand over the reigns to Evan, I am excited about the future and where he will take the company we created nearly 20 years ago,”; Graham said in a statement released yesterday.

Fujimoto has more than 20 years with the locally owned company and most recently served as vice president of operations. He has designed hundreds of homes for the company, including two of Graham's three Parade of Homes winners.

Fujimoto began his career in marketing and environmental planning at Mobil Oil in Japan and, in 1987, started his own building material and supply business with a family member, prior to joining Graham Builders.

 

Maui Pineapple stock to be delisted

The New York Stock Exchange has informed Maui Land & Pineapple Co. that its stock is slated to be delisted because it no longer is in compliance with NYSE standards.

The struggling company, which ended its Maui pineapple harvesting last month, said it is in noncompliance because its average market capitalization was less than $50 million over a 30 trading-day period, and its shareholders' equity was less than $50 million.

The company said yesterday that within 45 days it will file a plan with the NYSE to demonstrate its ability to achieve compliance with the continued listing standards within 18 months.

The company's shares ended trading yesterday at $3.98, up 9 cents from Thursday's close.

 

Focus groups to cater to construction

Hawaii companies are invited to free focus group sessions on Oahu and Maui next week as part of the state Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program disparity study.

The focus groups are geared toward construction, construction-related and concessions companies.

Monday and Tuesday's sessions will be at the seventh floor of the Honolulu Airport's interisland terminal building, while two sessions on Wednesday will be at the DOT Highways Division's Maui District office at 650 Palapala Drive in Kahului.

Breakfast, lunch or snacks will be provided at all sessions.

Interested businesses can obtain more information or register for the focus groups with Pauline Worsham at 263-5544 or 497-4084 or via .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

ON THE MOVE

;  Central Pacific Bank has hired Rachel Chang-Cunningham as vice president and commercial branch manager for its Kahala branch. She was previously a vice president and financial sales manager for IronStone Bank, and vice president and branch manager for United Commercial Bank in Atlanta. She has also been a bank officer and branch manager at Bank of America, bank officer and personal banking officer at First Hawaiian Bank and assistant branch manager at American Savings Bank.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii has elected its officers for 2010. Officers are Douglas E. Pearson, president; James Byxbee, president-elect; Dean I. Asahina, vice president; Craig Washofsky, secretary; Kip K. Kamoto, treasurer; Paul Silen, special appointee-builder; Timothy J. Waite, special appointee-associate; Michael J. Brant, immediate past president; and Karen T. Nakamura, executive vice president. The board of directors includes Akira Usami, Alan Labbe, Audrey Hidano, Brian Adachi, Gregory Thielen, Jay Kadowaki, Karin L. Holma, Lee Cranmer, Mark Hertel, Peter Melnyk, Roy Ogawa and Scotty Anderson.

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