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[ FAST FACTS HAWAII ]

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Aston Waikiki owner finds equity partner

The company that last month bought the 716-room Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel for $107 million has found a buyer for 80.1 percent of its interest in the Hawaii property.

Gaylord Entertainment Co., based in Nashville, Tenn., purchased the twin-tower hotel from Leucadia National Corp. of New York, and now is selling the 80.1 percent stake to a private real estate fund managed by DB Real Estate Opportunities Group, which is a unit of Deutsche Bank AG's Deutsche Asset Management.

The transaction is subject to due diligence and approval by Gaylord Entertainment's board of directors.

Under the terms of the sale, the hotel will continue to be managed by Gaylord Entertainment's ResortQuest hotel brand, which operates Aston hotels.

Gaylord Entertainment, which also owns the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, had said at the time of its purchase of the Aston Waikiki that it intended to find a buyer for a majority interest in the hotel.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed, but a statement issued by Gaylord Entertainment said the sale would reduce the company's gross investment in the hotel to between $5 million and $7 million.

Comments sought on gas cap law

A series of public hearings is being held around the state so consumers can voice their opinions about the state's new gasoline price cap law, scheduled to go into effect Sept. 1.

John Cole, executive director of the state Division of Consumer Advocacy, said the Public Utilities Commission is sponsoring the hearings because it wants to ensure that "consumer interests are well represented as this law is implemented."

Using a complex formula, the new law will place a ceiling on how much gasoline wholesalers can charge for their product; it will not affect how much retailers can charge.

Here is the schedule of the hearings:

For more information, visit www.hawaii.gov/dcca/dca.

Kailua firm nabs investment

An Oahu company that provides information management and electronics forms systems to the long-term health care market has received an infusion of $615,000 from a mainland-based private equity and venture capital firm.

Advantage Capital Partners, which has offices in New York, New Orleans, St. Louis and Tampa, invested the money in AssistGuide Inc. of Kailua, as part of a $3 million Series B financing that will be used to expand AssistGuide's sales force and increase its technical staff.

"Our system enables providers and consumers in the long-term care market to efficiently exchange information and streamline application processes,' said AssistGuide Chief Executive Kevin Sypniewski. "Our system has been very well received so far, and Advantage's investment will help us complete this funding round and continue growing more rapidly."

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[Hawaii Inc.]

NEW JOBS

» Fairmont Resort Properties has appointed Geoff Graf managing director and general manager of the Makaha Resort & Golf Club, responsible for operations and 145 employees.

» W.H. Shipman Ltd. has appointed William R. Walter president. He has more than 35 years of military, industry and consulting experience. He replaces Bobby Cooper, who remains on the board.

» The U.S. Postal Service has hired Greg D. Wolny as Honolulu district manager, post office operations. He will oversee 92 post offices outside Honolulu. He joined the postal service in 1976.

» Hawaiian Host Inc. has hired Marina Britt, Stacy Hamilton and Sean Akio Kanda. Britt is quality assurance supervisor, responsible for maintaining and developing quality systems for the company's processing and storage facilities. Hamilton was appointed assistant marketing manager, responsible for creating, developing, modifying and coordinating new product offerings. And Kanda was named warehouse/delivery lead. He will assist with directing employees on various warehous and delivery functions.

» Diagnostic Laboratory Services Inc. has appointed Jonn Ragle business development vice president. He will oversee the company's operations at Kuakini Medical Center, Castle Medical Center and facilities in Guam and Saipan. He has more than 27 years experience in laboratory management.