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Airport to get wireless Net

Honolulu Airport has selected Oahu Internet provider ShakaNet Inc. to install wireless Internet access and pay-per-use laptops around the airport for travelers, under a five-year agreement, the company said. The value of the contract was not released.

ShakaNet, a year-old company, provides Internet access services in public places in Waikiki, Ko Olina and Pearl Harbor through so-called Wi-Fi technology, or a wireless fidelity network. Most larger airports on the mainland already offer the service, the company said. ShakaNet does not provide service to homes.

CTA links classes with Boston U.

Boston University has added local tech training firm CTA Inc. to its educational affiliate network, opening its project management programs to CTA's customers.

The programs will offer CTA students the skills to execute projects with lower risks. Boston University affiliates can also distribute their own programs through the university network. For more information, go to www.bunet work.com and or call (978) 649-4040.

Cemetery owners pledge donation

The owners of the Valley of the Temples cemetery in Kaneohe said they plan to donate $1.8 million to The Friends of the Children's Justice Center of Oahu.

John Dooley and Kathy Hoover, of RightStar Hawaii Management Inc., said the gift will come from a portion of cemetery property sales in their new "Ocean View Terrace" garden.

ADB cuts regional forecasts due to SARS

MANILA >> The Asian Development Bank cut its economic growth forecasts for Asia again today because of the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan would be the hardest hit, with growth in 2003 declining by 1.8 percentage points, 1.1 points and 0.9 points respectively, if the impact of SARS extends until the end of June, the ADB said. That would lower annual growth rates to 0.8 percent, 1.9 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.

The ADB's latest estimates are generally in line with what private analysts have been forecasting. Some economists have even suggested the SARS virus probably won't be as damaging as originally thought now that there are signs the outbreak is being brought under control in Singapore and Hong Kong.

For East Asia, which the ADB defines as China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, economic growth is expected to fall by an average 0.4 percentage point to an annual rate of 5.3 percent.

American Air chief sees bookings uptick

FORT WORTH, Texas >> The new chief executive of American Airlines yesterday said lower costs for labor and fuel are helping the ailing carrier, although he believes higher fares are also key to any recovery.

Gerard Arpey added that the world's largest airline has seen an increase in bookings lately, but he repeatedly warned that American, which narrowly avoided bankruptcy several times in the past two months, is not out of the woods yet.

Euro climbs to four-year high

FRANKFURT, Germany >> The euro surged above $1.15 today to a level it hasn't touched since it was less than a month old in 1999 and making many wonder how high it can go.

The 12-country currency reached a four-year high of $1.1535 in Asian trading overnight -- its highest since hitting $1.1562 on Jan. 27, 1999. In Europe today, the euro cooled off slightly and changed hands at $1.1497 in late European trading, up from $1.1440 yesterday. In New York, the euro closed at $1.1490.

In other news ...

>> Mortgage rates around the country dropped this week, with rates on 30-year mortgages sinking close to the lowest level on record, which was reached two months ago.

>> Crude oil rose after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pushed back its estimate for the return of prewar Iraqi oil production by at least six months. Prices for June delivery rose 74 cents to $27.72 a barrel in New York.

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[Hawaii Inc.]

New jobs

>> Guy Souza has joined Broadband iTV as vice president and general manager. He will be responsible for company objectives, as well as marketing. BBiTV operates the PROMO! cable advertising channel. Souza most recently served as director of marketing at Pihana Pacific Inc.

>> CB Richard Ellis Hawaii Inc. has hired Wade Lord as vice president of consulting services and general manager of Kukui Grove Shopping Center in Lihue, Kauai. In addition to managing the shopping center and its surrounding commercial properties, Lord will handle brokerage and consulting assignments. He was most recently the general manager at another real estate firm, where he was on the redevelopment team for Kukui Grove Shopping Center and Parker Ranch Center in Kamuela on the Big Island.

>> MW Group Ltd. has hired Denise Nakano as chief of staff. She spent the past five years working as a paralegal. MW Group is a Hawaii property developer and manager, with more than 15 properties on Oahu and Maui.

>> Jerry Cabais has been hired as front office manager at Aston Hotels and Resorts Hawaii's Mahana at Kaanapali Hotel. Cabais, who has more than 15 years in the hospitality industry, will oversee reservations, front office and night audit departments. Also at the hotel, Alison Honda has been named reservations supervisor. She will oversee reservations, wholesale bookings and track inventory. Honda has more than 10 years of experience in the industry, most recently at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua.

>> SMG Hawaii has named Maritess Gepielago as client services coordinator. She will assist clients in planning and executing their convention. She previously served as executive assistant for the Recording Academy, the company responsible for the Grammy Awards.