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Kauai center teams with cruise line

LIHUE >> The Anchor Cove Shopping Center on Kauai has agreed to a marketing partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line that will include on-board print advertising and in-room television video spots, officials said.

The cruise line has agreed to highlight Anchor Cove in its "Port and Cruise" guide, which is given to all passengers visiting Kauai, and to have bus tours returning from its Kauai day excursions stop at the Lihue shopping center, owner Richard Jasper said.

Norwegian is expected to total 136,000 passengers in Hawaii this year.

It already has reserved future Nawiliwili dock space for every day of the week with future overnight stays numbering twice a week in 2004.

Radiology techs getting recruited

Big Island health care providers and Kapiolani Community College have joined together in a program to fill current and projected future shortages of radiology technologists.

The collaborative effort includes Kona Community Hospital, Hawaii Radiologic Associates, Hilo Medical Center and North Hawaii Community Hospital. There are 10 students enrolled in the two-year program.

Most coursework is completed using teleconference facilities at the hospitals, while testing is done via the Internet. Students will get clinical experience at all three hospitals.

Graduates from the program earn an associate of science degree and will be eligible to take the certification examination administered by the American Registry of Radiology Technologists and the state licensing examination.

Hawaii biz equipment firm sold

Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. said Friday it has purchased the four statewide locations of local office equipment dealer Hawaii Business Equipment Inc.

The company did not disclose a purchase price. All 72 employees of Hawaii Business Equipment will retain their jobs, according to company President Renee Gomes, who will continue to oversee the business.

The acquisition is Toshiba's fourth acquisition in 2003 since it embarked on its expansion plan. The company said its overall objective is to bolster its operations by targeting large independent dealers in the top U.S. markets.

Formerly known as the office products division of Webco Hawaii, Hawaii Business Equipment has been in operation for more than 26 years, specializing in the sales, service and networking of copiers, printers and facsimile machines. It has offices on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui.

Indian Motorcycle halts production

SAN JOSE, Calif. >> Indian Motorcycle halted production and laid off its entire work force yesterday, citing financial troubles that could force the company into bankruptcy.

Indian Chairman Frank J. O'Connell told 380 workers at the company's Gilroy plant that they would immediately stop manufacturing the famous motorcycles, including the iconic Indian Chief, after a deal with a major investor fell through.

O'Connell said he already has received calls from dozens of other potential investors, and he remained "hopeful" that the company would soon roar back to life. He said that he and other board members were still trying to determine whether the company would have to file for bankruptcy to resume production.

Hawaii's only dealer for Indian, Pacific Rim Cycle Superstore at 3075 N. Nimitz Highway, said no officials were available for comment. The dealership also sells two other handmade motorcycle brands, Big Dog from Wichita, Kan., and Independence, from Tucson, Ariz.

InterActiveCorp to buy Hotwire

NEW YORK >> InterActiveCorp, the Internet commerce company headed by Barry Diller, has agreed to buy discount travel Web site Hotwire for $665 million in cash plus the assumption of options and warrants. The acquisition, announced yesterday, adds to the company's portfolio of travel sites, which includes Expedia and Hotels.com.

InterActiveCorp, formerly known as USA Interactive, estimated the full 2003 gross bookings of Hotwire at $700 million and net revenue of roughly $110 million and expects the deal to add to the company's 2004 adjusted earnings per share.

Hotwire is known as an "opaque" travel Web site, similar to chief rival Priceline.com, where consumers search for flights, hotel rooms, rental cars and cruises within a particular price range without knowing the identity of the airline or hotel chain until the deal is completed.

FCC barely approves Hispanic media merger

WASHINGTON >> The government approved Univision Communications Inc.'s $3.1 billion purchase of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. yesterday, allowing the nation's largest Spanish-language media conglomerate to grow bigger yet.

The Republican-dominated Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to accept the deal with the two FCC Democrats contending the merger would hurt competition and limit news and entertainment choices for Spanish-speaking Americans.

In other news ...

AKRON, Ohio >> Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is considering closing an Alabama tire plant and laying off up to 2,400 workers at other plants in 10 states to meet its goal of saving $1.1 billion over the next three years.