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Verizon Hawaii names president

Verizon Hawaii has picked Melvin M. Horikami, a Verizon mid-level executive in Texas and former Hawaii resident, to succeed Warren Haruki as president starting Monday.

Horikami, 44, has worked for Verizon and its predecessor GTE Hawaiian Tel for 24 years, and has served as general manager of customer operations and assistant vice president of customer care. Before leaving Hawaii for GTE headquarters in Irving, Texas, in 1996, Horikami was section manager of GTE's residential call center in the islands.

Bell Atlantic bought GTE for $76 billion in 2000 to form Verizon Communications Inc., based in New York.

Horikami served in different positions in Texas, most recently as Verizon's executive director of customer response for the West. He plans to relocate here this weekend, said Verizon Hawaii spokeswoman Ann Nishida.

Haruki, 12-year president of the state's dominant local telephone company, is retiring at 50.

Horikami, born and raised in Kalihi, went to Farrington High School, University of Hawaii and Texas Christian University, where he received a master's in business administration.

Verizon Hawaii had a 31.9 percent decline in operating income last year, to $83 million from $121.8 million in 2001. Revenues slipped to $531 million from $546.9 million. With 2,100 employees, it is one of the state's largest employers.

Starwood opens Maui time-share

Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc. said it will open the first 103 villas of its 280-unit time-share development in West Maui on Sept. 24. The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas consists of two-bedroom units with fully equipped kitchens. The units will sleep up to eight people and can be divided into two one-bedroom units.

When it was announced in 2000, the project was the first Hawaii time-share venture by the vacation ownership subsidiary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Starwood bought the 14-acre property from Amfac/JMB Hawaii for $19.5 million. It is within walking distance of two Starwood-managed hotels, the Sheraton Maui and the Westin Maui.

Starwood Vacation Ownership is also moving forward with plans for a time-share resort on Kauai, on 18.5 acres of land the company bought from Princeville Corp. last August.

Association inks convention deal

Following this week's meeting of the American Society of Association Executives at the Hawaii Convention Center, the nonprofit National Wood Flooring Association has contracted to hold its 20th Annual Education Conference here in 2005.

The association's executive director, Edward S. Korczak, was here for the ASAE convention and said he was impressed with Hawaii's whole package. The event, to be attended by 2,000 members, will be April 13-16 and include a wood flooring expo, according to SMG, the manager and marketer of the convention center.

Financial Women sets conference

Financial Women International, an organization of women financial executives, will hold its 81st annual conference Sept. 6-9 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel. More than 200 members are expected at the event.

For Hawaii residents, FWI is offering a one-day conference rate of $296 per person for Sept. 8. Group discounts also are available. The Sept. 8 event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The registration deadline is Sept. 5. The theme will be "Expanding Your Horizons: A Conference for Professional Development."

Registration for the entire conference is $724 for FWI members and $824 for nonmembers.

More information is available at www.fwifoundation.org.