New cable player in town as purchase is completed

Canada-based Craig Broadcast Systems Inc. yesterday completed its purchase of Verizon Americast.

The Hawaii unit, to be known as Craig Wireless Honolulu Inc., is headed by General Manager Derek Sakaguchi, formerly manager of video operations for Verizon.

"I was part of the asset sale," he said, "and was asked by (President and Chairman) Boyd Craig to lead the Hawaii operation as GM."

Sakaguchi was also an original employee of the first incarnation of the company, which was launched in March 1995 as Oahu Wireless. He survived the transition when the company was purchased by Verizon predecessor GTE in 1997.

Of the roughly 60 people employed by Verizon Americast, Sakaguchi said, "we brought over a total of 44 people," some represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union local 1357.

Craig Wireless provides 190 wireless cable channels on Oahu in areas where the customer has "line of sight to our transmit locations," he said.

With no plans to expand the wireless cable infrastructure, the company is moving forward with plans to offer wireless broadband service. The company is launching similar high-speed Internet access in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Palm Springs, Calif.

Craig was incorporated in 1950.

Japanese travel agents, wholesalers visit Hawaii

A 300-strong mixture of retail travel agents and tour wholesalers from Japan is in Hawaii to get the message that the islands are a safe and comfortable place to visit. The "familiarization tour" involved a trade show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village & Spa in Honolulu yesterday, promoting the range and availability of Hawaii products and services.

A total of 42 Hawaii companies, representing airlines, hotels, tour wholesalers, ground transporters, visitor attractions, restaurants and retailers took part in the trade show. A second group of 500 travel sellers from Japan is due to arrive in Honolulu Friday for a three-day stay and a similar trade show.

The events are sponsored by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau and the Japan Association of Travel Agents.

Korean businesses start Hawaii high-tech tour

Thirteen Korean businesses and organizations were scheduled today to kick off a week-long tour of Hawaii high-tech businesses and government agencies.

The visiting companies come from the Ansan Techno-Park in the Kyonggi Province, and are here to look into possible partnership with local firms. Six Korean universities are partnering in the trip, according to a statement from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Home Depot begins work on Big Island store

Home Depot broke ground yesterday on its first Big Island hardware store at Kona's Kaloko Business Park.

The Atlanta-based retailer said the 140,000-square-foot store will be the company's fourth in Hawaii and will employ between 150 and 200 workers.

Home Depot said it will begin construction in mid-December and open the new store in the fall of 2002.

Founded in 1978, Home Depot is the largest home improvement specialty retailer and the third largest retailer in the country. It opened its first Hawaii store in Iwilei in September 1999.