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[ FAST FACTS HAWAII ]

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California gas prices may top Hawaii's

Hawaii is on the verge of losing its dubious title of having the highest gasoline prices, as the cost at the pump soars to record levels across the nation.

The average price in the islands for a gallon of regular unleaded yesterday was a record $2.466, which was first reached Friday. California's average was slightly lower at $2.465 a gallon, according to AAA's daily fuel gauge report.

"It's virtually neck-and-neck," said Jeff Spring, spokesman for the Automobile Club of Southern California, which also includes Hawaii.

Spring said there have been times in the past several years when California took the lead in gas prices, such as in March 2003 when prices in the state surged 36 cents in a month.

Schall retiring from Hilton Hawaii

Peter Schall is retiring as managing director of Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki after 40 years with the company and is being replaced by a Hilton veteran from Chicago.

Schall, who is also Hilton's senior vice president for the Hawaii region, is being replaced by Gary Seibert, who has been with the company for 32 years.

Hilton named Seibert area vice president and managing director for Hawaii and said he is expected to start June 1.

Seibert will oversee Hilton Hawaiian Village as well as the Doubletree Alana Waikiki and Hilton Waikoloa Village. He has been serving as Midwest area vice president for Hilton Hotels Corp. and general manager of the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago since 2000.

Former UBS exec to head Prospect

A former managing director at the hedge fund desk of UBS Securities Japan Ltd. has been hired as chief executive of the Hawaii branch of Prospect Asset Management Inc.

Daniel Kerrigan, 42, said he will start June 1 and will be based in Honolulu. He has worked in the brokerage unit of UBS for the past 10 years.

ATA starts Oahu-Las Vegas flight

ATA Airlines has launched a new daily nonstop flight from Honolulu to Las Vegas, with an introductory price of $378 for a round-trip, seven-day advance purchase.

The Honolulu-Las Vegas flight continues to Indianapolis.

IRAs safe in bankruptcy, court says

WASHINGTON » A unanimous Supreme Court yesterday interpreted federal bankruptcy law to shield individual retirement accounts from creditors. The decision had the effect of giving middle-income consumers, for whom an IRA is often the most significant retirement asset, the same protection in bankruptcy that higher-earning workers receive for their 401(k) plans and company pensions.