Don Carty returns to Hawaiian

Don Carty, vice chairman and chief financial officer of Dell Inc. and former chairman and chief executive of American Airlines' parent, has rejoined the board of directors of Hawaiian Airlines' parent company.

Carty first joined the Hawaiian Holdings Inc. board in July 2004, serving as chairman of the audit committee and a member of the compensation committee. He joined Dell in January 2007, and resigned from the Hawaiian board the next month, citing personal reasons.

After Carty joined Dell, Hawaiian purchased approximately $1.1 million in computer equipment and related services from the computer maker, according to a Hawaiian filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In connection with his Tuesday appointment, Carty was granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of Hawaiian's common stock at a price per share equal to the closing price of the company shares on Tuesday. That closing price was $7.05. The options have a 10-year term and vest in three equal annual installments beginning on April 8, 2009.

Carty has been appointed to serve on Hawaiian's audit committee and its executive committee.

In March 2004, Carty was due to become nonexecutive chairman of the new Hawaiian Airlines under a reorganization plan being crafted by ousted Hawaiian Airlines Chief Executive John Adams and others.

But after AIP LLC -- which Adams managed -- sold its controlling stake in Hawaiian Holdings to current majority owner Ranch Capital LLC, the reorganization plan of Adams and Carty fell through.

Carty later joined Hawaiian as a director.