---

BACK TO TOP
|

Hawaiian drops Ontario route

Hawaiian Airlines, unable to turn a profit with its Ontario, Calif., route, will pull the plug on its daily nonstop service to the city after Feb. 29.

"The company has tried several different initiatives to improve traffic on the route, promotional fares being just one of them, and has not been able to build the traffic necessary to continue the route," Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner said.

Hawaiian, which launched the Ontario service in 2002, will have daily nonstop flights to eight other mainland cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix, once it ceases flights to Ontario. Earlier this week, the airline announced it would add a second daily nonstop flight to Seattle starting March 1.

Hawaiian is offering a special Ontario fare on its Web site of $289 round trip, excluding applicable taxes and fees, and a $269 fare, with the same exclusions, for HawaiianMiles members. Flights must be booked by Thursday to get those fares.

Wagner said he didn't expect any jobs to be lost and that affected employees would be absorbed by the Los Angeles airport operation.

Bank ruling to be 'independent'

The state Division of Financial Institutions won't take the Federal Reserve Board's recent merger approval into account when deciding whether to give the green light to Central Pacific Financial Corp.'s hostile takeover attempt of rival CB Bancshares Inc., commissioner Nick Griffin said yesterday.

"The state of Hawaii has statutes that are different from the federal statutes and, in some cases, they have different areas they address," Griffin said. "Our review is definitely an independent review and is a stand-alone process."

Griffin said he doesn't know yet if the division can release its decision any earlier than the Feb. 18 deadline. He said the process includes reviewing Central Pacific's application and supporting information, including the testimony that was heard at a two-day hearing last month.

Hawaii Pacific Health CEO to retire

The president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Pacific Health, Roger Drue, said yesterday he will retire in July.

Drue spearheaded the merger of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi with Straub Clinic and Hospital and Kauai's Wilcox Hospital in December 2001, creating HPH, the largest health care system in the state.

The organization, which generates $425 million in yearly revenues and has $470 million in assets, now employs more than 5,000 people and has more than 2,000 affiliated or employed physicians. Drue plans to retire to California. The organization said plans are under way to begin a search for Drue's replacement.

Transporter opens in Honolulu

Pilot Air Freight, a provider of transportation and logistics services, has opened a new office and warehouse in Honolulu. It will be the company's first station in Hawaii.

The new site is at 3207 N. Nimitz Highway, Bay No. 2. Pilot will serve military, trade show and home delivery industries in Hawaii. The company has 65 offices in North America and a worldwide network of overseas agents.

NFIB offers college scholarships

The National Federation of Independent Business Education Foundation will offer at least 100 college scholarships, loans and grants to high school seniors nationwide.

The Free Enterprise Scholars Award, which began last year, is designed to encourage young people to consider a career in small business and pursue their own entrepreneurial endeavors. More information is at www.NFIB.com/education .

---

BACK TO TOP
|

[Hawaii Inc.]

Promotions

>> Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, Architects, Designers, Planners and Consultants has promoted John C. Cropper and David Moore to vice president; and Clint Nagata and Deborah Rosenblum to senior associate.

Cropper joined the company in 1996 and focuses on the Greater China region. Moore joined the Honolulu office in 1989. He was most recently managing director of the company's Singapore office. Nagata handles multiple architectural and interior projects in China. Rosenblum handles numerous projects in Hawaii and China. Her expertise is in renovation.

>> PacificBasin Communications has named Meredith Low as Hawaii Business Magazine ad director. She previously served two years as senior account executive for the magazine. Prior to that, she worked at KITV4, Hawaii Newspaper Agency, Hawaii Tribune Herald and Midweek.

>> Screens & Things Inc. has promoted Jerrell Reiling to customer service manager. He will be responsible for the company's customer service, residential estimating and daily internal operations. Reiling replaces Matthew Nagato, who has been appointed the company's director of planning and business development.

In this new role, Nagato will manage the company's expansion plans and focus on process, productivity and technology improvements.