Developer seeks farmers to buy C. Brewer land

Developer Peter Savio is hoping he can interest Big Island farmers in purchasing 31,000 acres of C. Brewer & Co. agricultural land located in Kau.

If there is enough interest from farmers, Savio would negotiate with Brewer for the best price for the land and then sell individual fee-simple agricultural lots to farmers at below market prices, he said.

Savio plans to hold an informational meeting for interested farmers on Saturday at the Pahala Community Center.

The land, along with an 19,000 acres in Hilo and 20,000 acres on Maui, was listed by Brewer for sale in January with real estate firm C.B. Richard Ellis. At the time, Brewer said it hoped to get around $300 million for the properties.

Brewer's chief executive officer for real estate, J. Alan Kugle, said it was hard to estimate the land price because the value would vary widely if it were sold in many small pieces and would be less if sold only to a few buyers in large parcels.

Visitors Bureau sends CD to travel agents

The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, which has been running a travel agent education program for three years, certifying North American agency personnel as qualified to understand and sell Hawaii, has taken the program a step further. The HVCB yesterday introduced a CD-ROM that travel agents can use to see and hear Hawaii's music, culture and attractions.

It is part of the HVCB "Ke Kula O Hawaii" -- the school of Hawaii -- program for travel agents who might book trips to the islands. The CD-ROM package will be part of the HVCB's "Come Share Hawaii" travel agent seminar scheduled for several cities in Texas April 15-18 and in California May 13-16.

Old Columbia Inn site to become car showroom

Servco Pacific Inc. said it will turn the old Columbia Inn site at 645 Kapiolani Blvd. into a showroom for used luxury vehicles such as the Lexus brand. The company, Hawaii's agency for Toyota and related brands, purchased the building after the Columbia Inn closed Jan. 5, 2001.

Servco Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Fukunaga said his company will spend $3.3 million to create an 11,900-square-foot showroom and sales facility.

The restaurant building, a popular hangout for decades among entertainers, journalists and a wide representation of Hawaii's public, will not be torn down but will be stripped out and renovated by Architects Hawaii.

Fukunaga said there will be improvements to the sidewalk and landscaping. Work will start later this month and be done by the summer, he said.

Marisco employees pick association over union

Employees of local maritime firm Marisco Ltd. voted yesterday in favor of forming of an employee association rather than affiliating with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, Local 204, of the AFL-CIO.

The vote, certified by the National Labor Relations Board, was 44 for the employee association and 18 in favor of the union.

Daiei gets credit line of $3.9 billion for revival

TOKYO >> Japan's Daiei Inc. got a $3.9 billion lifeline from its banks today in a revival plan seen as a test case for Japan's efforts to turn around its struggling businesses.

The debt-ridden retailer said the credit line -- increased by expanded by $746 million from its last restructuring plan a month ago -- would keep it afloat.

Daiei, which operates four grocery stores on Oahu, sought more funding in return for a more aggressive plan to sell off properties, slash its work force and shutter money-losing stores, Kunio Takagi, president of Daiei told reporters today.

Daiei announced its original three-year bailout package on Jan. 18, but the market reacted coolly to the news. The reception reportedly prompted the government to ask the banks to work out a more drastic plan.