[WINNERS & LOSERS]

[WINNERS]

<< Isle hotels, which say they will be just delighted if the state meets newly lowered tourism projections: "We'd be happy to get anywhere close" to 2000's numbers, said Aston Hotels' Loren Shim. Whaddayaknow, maybe the sky isn't falling.

ProBio Inc., marketer of the mouse-cloning "Honolulu Technique": The company's third life begins with the completion of its purchase by Dutch biotechnology company Pharming N.V. Though ProBio has all the techniques for making new mice, it hasn't shown the same ability with profits.

Aloha Airlines, which cut its fourth quarter loss by nearly half from 1999 to 2000: While quarterly results were all over the board last year, the addition of its mainland routes seems to have boosted the airline's revenues. To beef up competition with rival Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha just added service to Orange County, Calif., as well as other flights.

[LOSERS]

The Japanese economy, which has been downgraded yet again. The country's assessment now is that the nation is in the worst economic shape of the past five years. With recent reforms earning contempt from analysts, a turnaround doesn't look likely soon.

>> Taxpayers in Hawaii and nationwide, who hear the clock tick-tick-tick toward tomorrow's filing deadline. Otherwise, this would have been a nice Easter Sunday to kick back, munch the heads off some peeps and read the paper.

Medicard Associates, a state-hopping work at home scam, which has already raised red flags in Hawaii after being forced to shut down in Oregon and issue refunds to customers. The state Better Business Bureau has cautioned consumers about the company, which seems to consist primarily of an answering machine and a mailing address. Lucky for you, we know how to avoid the scam. To find out, send $5 and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

---

[TAKING NOTICE]

NEW JOBS

>> Russell Figueiroa has been named president of the R.M. Towill Corp. He will be responsible for operations and marketing at the engineering firm. Figueiroa has served the company for more than 21 years, holding various management positions at the Kailua-Kona office of the firm.

>> Tommy Medina has been named director of quality assurance at Parents and Children Together. He will be responsible for measuring performance outcomes for PACT programs, monitoring compliance with accreditation standards and monitoring safety standards. Medina was formerly a management engineer at Queen's Medical Center.

>> George Moyer has been named dean of satellite programs for Hawaii Pacific University. He has been acting dean since December 2000. Moyer joined HPU as assistant dean of the graduate service center in 1992, three years after retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel.

>> Tulinh Rose Luciano-Mathur was named group sales manager at the Ala Moana Hotel. Luciano leaves the Aston Waikiki Beach Tower Hotel where she spent seven years, most recently as assistant front office manager for the hotel.

>> Dale Kennedy has been named assistant hospital administrator and nurse executive team leader at Kaiser Permanente. She is responsible for inpatient nursing departments at the Moanalua Medical Center. Kennedy previously served as human resources manager for physician recruitment and credentialing for The Permanente Medical Group in Kaiser Permanente's Northern California region.

>> Patrick Ching has joined Tanaka of Tokyo Central as assistant manager. He will assist in the day-to-day operations of Tanaka of Tokyo's Waikiki Shopping Plaza location. Ching previously owned and operated the Downtown Stop in Honolulu.

PROMOTIONS

>> Katharine P. Lloyd has been named vice president and deputy manager for client services of the trust and investments division at First Hawaiian Bank. Lloyd joined the company in 1997.

Other promotions announced at First Hawaiian include: Michael R. Masuda, vice president and deputy manager for investments and operations of the trust and investments division. He joined First Hawaiian in 1985. Kent R. Lau was named vice president and team leader of the main banking center. Lau is a 15-year employee of First Hawaiian. Bryan Shigezawa was named vice president of the treasury and investment division at the bank. He joined First Hawaiian in 1997. Gregory J. Sitar was named vice president and area manager for the Waipahu branch of First Hawaiian. He has been an employee since 1983. Keith K. Chang was named manager of the Waianae branch of First Hawaiian. Lynn M. Takahashi was named assistant vice president and business banking officer at the main banking center for First Hawaiian. She joined the bank in 1986.

ON THE BOARD

>> Terence Young has been named board president by the Hawaii Lupus Foundation Inc. Young is director of sales and marketing at Delta Communications Inc. Other new board members and officers for the year are: Vernon Wong, vice-president/finance; Jennifer Harada, vice-president/programs; Diana Lum, Joyce Yanagisawa, Marvin Buenconsejo, Kyle Kagimoto, Glenn Young, Dr. Edwin C. Cadman and Ramona Harris.

RECOGNITION

>> Judith Sterling and Michelle Tucker have been awarded the certificate of estate planning specialist by the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The two, partners in the law firm Sterling & Tucker, are the first attorneys in the state to receive the certification.