Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business

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NEW JOBS

>> The U.S. Postal Service, Honolulu District, has appointed Duke Gonzales as public affairs and communication specialist. He previously served as public relations director for Honolulu Shriners Hospital for Children.

>> American Savings Bank has appointed Seitoku Takahashi assistant vice president and financial consultant. He has been in the finance industry for more than six years. He previously worked as a John Hancock Financial Services investment advisor and registered representative.

PROMOTIONS

>> The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has appointed Wesley P. Lo as Maui region chief executive officer. He had been serving in an acting capacity since July 1. Lo previously worked as the Maui County finance director under former Mayor James "Kimo" Apana's administration.

>> Outrigger Hotel & Resorts has promoted Tim Alex to condominium and timeshare division sales and marketing director. He will be responsible for promoting the company's condominium collection to key travel partners, enlisting new owners into the various condominium rental pools, developing and implementing new marketing initiatives and developing return guest programs. He previously served as a marketing manager at Outrigger.

HAWAII
Aloha Airlines starting Maui-San Diego route

Aloha Airlines will begin flights between Maui and San Diego on Dec. 15, the company said yesterday.

The new flights will be the only year-round daily flights between the two locations, said Brenda Cutwright, the company's acting president and chief executive. Moreover, since the flights actually will start from Reno/Tahoe, Nev., the new schedule will make Aloha the only carrier to offer daily nonstop service between San Diego and Reno/Tahoe International Airport.

Hawaiian Airlines has daily flights between Honolulu and San Diego.

Also yesterday, Delta Air Lines announced it will add daily nonstop service between Maui and Salt Lake City starting May 1.

Doug Blissit, Delta's vice president of network analysis, said the company's current service between Salt Lake City and Honolulu "has been very popular, and we expect this new flight to be popular as well."

Blissit said Delta will use Boeing 767-400 aircraft for the new service to Maui; Aloha Airlines will use be using Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

To kick off Aloha's newest routes, the airline is offering roundtrip tickets for all of its flights between Hawaii and the West Coast, for travel through June 15, 2005, for about $300 weekdays and $338 weekends.

High-rise planned for downtown

A partnership between auto dealer Pflueger Group LLC and two local developers is planning a 350-foot mixed-use building downtown for the corner of Beretania and Queen Emma streets.

Pflueger bought the 2.4-acre municipal parking lot from the city earlier this year for $10.5 million over the objections of some residents who worried about the loss of the parking spaces.

The building, Capitol Place, will house a 135,000-square foot Pflueger Honda dealership on several floors, including a service department and auto storage, said Joyce Timpson, spokeswoman for the partnership, PMK Development LLC.

The building also will contain about 400 residential units, geared toward professionals who work downtown, on 33 floors above the dealership. Prices have not yet been set on the units, but they are intended to be on the market by the end of the year, Timpson said.

Below the residences will be six floors of parking, including between 100 and 200 spaces for public use.

Partnering with Pflueger on the project are the MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group LLC.

Servco puts $1M into tech firm

Servco Pacific Inc. is expanding its equity stakes in the high-tech field, with a $1 million investment in Hoku Scientific Inc., which develops fuel cells.

In announcing the investment yesterday, Servco Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Fukunaga said Hoku Scientific is "an excellent example of a promising technology in the state, and we are pleased to be involved in this innovative field."

Hoku Scientific, based in the Manoa Innovation Center, was founded in 2000. Its research seeks to establish hydrogen fuel cells as a commercial power source.

Dustin Shindo, Hoku Scientific chairman and CEO, said he was pleased to have Servco as an investment partner because of its experience in the automotive sector, "as well as (its) forward-looking perspective on technology."

Servco Pacific is engaged in automotive sales and service, consumer goods, insurance services, real estate and private equity investments in Hawaii, California, Guam and Saipan.

Hawaiian Air 95.5% on time in August

Hawaiian Airlines said it was the most on-time carrier in the nation for the 10th straight month in August, with 95.5 percent of flights arriving on time.

Hawaiian also said it had the fewest number of canceled flights and the best record for handling luggage, with only 2.4 mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers.

Profits up for operator of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut

Yum! Brands Inc., operator of the Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurant chains, said third-quarter earnings rose 13 percent, boosted by higher overseas sales. The company raised its annual profit forecast.

Net income increased to $185 million, or 61 cents a share, from $164 million, or 53 cents, a year earlier. Revenue rose 9.6 percent to $2.18 billion, Louisville, Ky.-based Yum said in a statement.

Chief Executive David Novak is adding KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in the U.K. and China, Yum's most profitable markets, where last quarter the company opened 19 and 66 restaurants, respectively. Overseas sales climbed 24 percent, 10 times the rate in the U.S., where higher costs for ingredients such as meats and cheese hurt profit.

IN OTHER NEWS ...

>> Chiron Corp. cut its profit forecast by more than half yesterday after British health officials unexpectedly pulled the company's license citing manufacturing problems. The snag, just as flu season was about to begin, underscores the risky nature of making vaccines.

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Business Briefs Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire [ FAST FACTS HAWAII ] BACK TO TOP \| [ HAWAII INC. ] NEW JOBS >> The U.S. Postal Service, Honolulu District, has appointed Duke Gonzales as public affairs and communication specialist. He previously served as public relations director for Honolulu Shriners Hospital for Children. >> American Savings Bank has appointed Seitoku Takahashi assistant vice president and financial consultant. He has been in the finance industry for more than six years. He previously worked as a John Hancock Financial Services investment advisor and registered representative. PROMOTIONS >> The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has appointed Wesley P. Lo as Maui region chief executive officer. He had been serving in an acting capacity since July 1. Lo previously worked as the Maui County finance director under former Mayor James "Kimo" Apana's administration. >> Outrigger Hotel & Resorts has promoted Tim Alex to condominium and timeshare division sales and marketing director. He will be responsible for promoting the company's condominium collection to key travel partners, enlisting new owners into the various condominium rental pools, developing and implementing new marketing initiatives and developing return guest programs. He previously served as a marketing manager at Outrigger. HAWAII Aloha Airlines starting Maui-San Diego route Aloha Airlines will begin flights between Maui and San Diego on Dec. 15, the company said yesterday. The new flights will be the only year-round daily flights between the two locations, said Brenda Cutwright, the company's acting president and chief executive. Moreover, since the flights actually will start from Reno/Tahoe, Nev., the new schedule will make Aloha the only carrier to offer daily nonstop service between San Diego and Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Hawaiian Airlines has daily flights between Honolulu and San Diego. Also yesterday, Delta Air Lines announced it will add daily nonstop service between Maui and Salt Lake City starting May 1. Doug Blissit, Delta's vice president of network analysis, said the company's current service between Salt Lake City and Honolulu "has been very popular, and we expect this new flight to be popular as well." Blissit said Delta will use Boeing 767-400 aircraft for the new service to Maui; Aloha Airlines will use be using Boeing 737-700 aircraft. To kick off Aloha's newest routes, the airline is offering roundtrip tickets for all of its flights between Hawaii and the West Coast, for travel through June 15, 2005, for about $300 weekdays and $338 weekends. High-rise planned for downtown A partnership between auto dealer Pflueger Group LLC and two local developers is planning a 350-foot mixed-use building downtown for the corner of Beretania and Queen Emma streets. Pflueger bought the 2.4-acre municipal parking lot from the city earlier this year for $10.5 million over the objections of some residents who worried about the loss of the parking spaces. The building, Capitol Place, will house a 135,000-square foot Pflueger Honda dealership on several floors, including a service department and auto storage, said Joyce Timpson, spokeswoman for the partnership, PMK Development LLC. The building also will contain about 400 residential units, geared toward professionals who work downtown, on 33 floors above the dealership. Prices have not yet been set on the units, but they are intended to be on the market by the end of the year, Timpson said. Below the residences will be six floors of parking, including between 100 and 200 spaces for public use. Partnering with Pflueger on the project are the MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group LLC. Servco puts $1M into tech firm Servco Pacific Inc. is expanding its equity stakes in the high-tech field, with a $1 million investment in Hoku Scientific Inc., which develops fuel cells. In announcing the investment yesterday, Servco Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Fukunaga said Hoku Scientific is "an excellent example of a promising technology in the state, and we are pleased to be involved in this innovative field." Hoku Scientific, based in the Manoa Innovation Center, was founded in 2000. Its research seeks to establish hydrogen fuel cells as a commercial power source. Dustin Shindo, Hoku Scientific chairman and CEO, said he was pleased to have Servco as an investment partner because of its experience in the automotive sector, "as well as (its) forward-looking perspective on technology." Servco Pacific is engaged in automotive sales and service, consumer goods, insurance services, real estate and private equity investments in Hawaii, California, Guam and Saipan. Hawaiian Air 95.5% on time in August Hawaiian Airlines said it was the most on-time carrier in the nation for the 10th straight month in August, with 95.5 percent of flights arriving on time. Hawaiian also said it had the fewest number of canceled flights and the best record for handling luggage, with only 2.4 mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers. Profits up for operator of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut Yum! Brands Inc., operator of the Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurant chains, said third-quarter earnings rose 13 percent, boosted by higher overseas sales. The company raised its annual profit forecast. Net income increased to $185 million, or 61 cents a share, from $164 million, or 53 cents, a year earlier. Revenue rose 9.6 percent to $2.18 billion, Louisville, Ky.-based Yum said in a statement. Chief Executive David Novak is adding KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in the U.K. and China, Yum's most profitable markets, where last quarter the company opened 19 and 66 restaurants, respectively. Overseas sales climbed 24 percent, 10 times the rate in the U.S., where higher costs for ingredients such as meats and cheese hurt profit. IN OTHER NEWS ... >> Chiron Corp. cut its profit forecast by more than half yesterday after British health officials unexpectedly pulled the company's license citing manufacturing problems. The snag, just as flu season was about to begin, underscores the risky nature of making vaccines.	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —