Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business Briefs /2005/08/18/

[ FAST FACTS HAWAII ]

Firms not prepared for disaster in isles

When it comes to having disaster preparedness plans, companies in Hawaii and along the Pacific coast finished second to last in all the markets covered in a new survey of 100 senior technology executives.

In the islands, six out of 14 companies surveyed did not have a plan in place, and only half considered such planning a priority, according to the report issued by AT&T and the International Association of Emergency Managers.

The report, "Disaster Planning in the Private Sector: A Post 9/11 Look at the State of Business Continuity in the U.S.," is available at www.att.com/presskit/business_continuity.

2 Waikiki hotels join Inner Circle

Association Meetings Magazine has named the Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel and Hilton Hawaiian Village among its 2005 Inner Circle Award Winners among 40 hotels nationwide.

The magazine selected the hotels for their service, quality of food and value for room rates.

Vioxx jury to begin deliberations

ANGLETON, Texas » Merck & Co. should have told doctors and consumers "the good, the bad and the ugly" about Vioxx long before pulling it from the market last year, a plaintiff's attorney said yesterday in closing arguments in the nation's first civil trial involving the once-popular painkiller.

Mark Lanier, who represents the widow of a Texas man who died in 2001, accused the New Jersey pharmaceutical company of practicing denial and deception for the last decade, minimizing safety concerns about Vioxx to reap billions in annual profits.

Merck lawyer Gerry Lowry urged jurors to consider what would happen to the 100-year-old company if it knowingly created deadly drugs.

"Would that be good business? Would that make sense?" she asked.

The seven-man, five-woman panel formally received the case yesterday and were to begin deliberating this morning. The South Texas case is the first to go to trial among more than 4,200 state and federal lawsuits.

Ex-AOL employee is sentenced

NEW YORK » A 25-year-old former America Online employee who admitted he became a cyberspace "outlaw" when he sold all 92 million screen names and e-mail addresses to spammers was sentenced yesterday to a year and three months in prison.

Earlier this year, Jason Smathers had pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in a plea deal which had called for a sentence of at least a year and a half in prison.

NEW JOBS

» CB Richard Ellis Hawaii Inc. has hired Brian K. Yano as Harbor Court Office general manager. He will be responsible for managing Harbor Court's commercial office, retail, restaurant and parking components. He has more than 22 years experience in sales, commercial property leasing and management and facility management.

>> Peter Vincent & Associates has hired Jamie Jasina as a senior interior designer and Jennifer Merwick as an administrative assistant and graphic designer. Jasina previously served as senior designer at Lysy Interior Designs in Wilmington, Del. Merwick has varied experience in graphic design, administrative positions, and sales and management.

» A&B Properties has hired Barbara E.M. Furugen as manager, investment analysis. She will be responsible for the analysis and research of the company's capital investments and preparing operating and strategic plans. She previously worked for Punahou School's communications office.

» Hawaiian Telcom has hired Galen Haneda as vice president -- sales. He will be responsible for heading the company's enterprise accounts organization. He previously served as Time Warner Telecom Hawaii vice president and general manager.

» Kawailoa Development has hired Craig Sasada as Poipu Bay Golf Course golf director. He most recently served as head golf professional at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course on Maui. He has over 20 years of experience in the golf industry.

» Kona Mountain Coffee has appointed Bill Dwyer operations president. He will be responsible for all the company's operations.

>> Scott Jennings has been appointed Parsons Construction Group Inc.'s senior vice president. He will be responsible for the company's business development and construction work in the Pacific Islands. He has over 15 years experience in the construction industry.

ON THE BOARD

» Chaminade University has appointed Gary E. Liebl chairman for the school's board of regents. He is the retired QLogic Corp. chairman. He replaces John Brogan, who will continue as a regent and the university's Capital Campaign chairman.

» The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1186 has elected its executive board: Damien Kim, president; Peter Akamu, vice president; Michael Tanaka, treasurer; Gerald Yuh, business manager/financial secretary; and Edward Okamoto, recording secretary.

» The Hawaii Advertising Federation has appointed the following officers for 2005-2006: Matt Heim, president; Chuck Crossno, vice president; Lora Williams, secretary; and Sheri St. Germain, treasurer. The 2005-2006 Board of Directors are: Chuck Cohen, Chris Grant, Susii Hearst, Kathleen Herbst, Paul Lam, Pete Martinez, Jon Rasmussen and Darin Takakawa.

» The American Payroll Association Hawaii Chapter has appointed the following officers for the 2005-2006 fiscal year: Janice Nakamura, president; Leila Kagawa, vice president; Nedra Walker, secretary; and Lloyd Kurashige, treasurer.

» The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii has elected Dean K. Hirata chairman of its board. He previously served as the treasurer. He replaces Colbert M. Matsumoto, who will continue to serve as a board member.

» The Rotary Club of Kapolei has inducted the following officers: Cathy Barnes, president; Sonya Mendez, president elect; John Nie, vice president; Art Wallace, treasurer; Billy Gardner, secretary; and Don Stokes, sergeant-at-arms.