Borthwick properties on
Maui, Big Island to sell

The 30 people employed
at the three facilities will be
retained by the buyer

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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.com

One of the state's largest operators of funeral homes and cemeteries is selling its operations on Maui and the Big Island.

SCI Hawaii said it has signed a letter of intent to sell the Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home in Hilo, the Valley Isle Memorial Park near Hana, Maui and the Borthwick Norman's/ Bulgo's Mortuary in Wailuku, Maui.

Scott Sells, SCI's area vice president, declined to disclose the name of the buyer and the terms of the deal, citing a confidentiality agreement. But he noted the company plans complete the transaction by Dec. 31.

Sells said the company's 30 employees on Maui and the Big Island will be retained by the buyer.

The deal does not affect SCI's operations on Oahu, which include the Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery and the Borthwick Mortuary.

The move is unrelated to the recent economic woes in Hawaii brought on by the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes.

Sells noted Houston-based parent company Service Corp. International put its neighbor island operations on the market several months ago.

Service Corp., one of the nation's largest providers of funeral home services, acquired the local mortuaries in 1992 from local businessman John Farias and Honolulu City Councilman John Henry Felix.