HTA forms search committee

Tourism officials and industry leaders will serve on the Hawaii Tourism Authority's selection committee to secure a permanent president and chief executive to lead the agency, the HTA said yesterday.

Earlier this month, HTA's former head, Rex Johnson, resigned amid controversy that he had used his state laptop to forward pornographic e-mails as well as sexist and racist jokes. Lloyd Unebasami, the HTA's former chief administrative officer, has been appointed to temporarily head the organization.

HTA Chairman Kelvin Bloom, vice chair Sharon Weiner and past chair Douglas Chang will represent the agency on the selection committee along with board members Vernon Char, Cha Thompson and State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines; Ed Hubennette, vice president, Pacific Islands, Marriott International; and Dee Jay Mailer, CEO of Kamehameha Schools, also have been asked to join the selection efforts.

Hawaiian Air adds 2 Airbus jets

Hawaiian Airlines said yesterday it has acquired two new wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft that will accelerate the start of the company's transition to a new Airbus fleet to 2011.

The two new jets are in addition to the agreement that Hawaiian announced earlier this year to buy up to 24 new Airbus aircraft.

The first deliveries of A330s under Hawaiian's purchase agreement with Airbus will join the fleet in 2012, with the A350s scheduled for delivery starting in 2017. The purchase agreement has a total list-price value of about $4.4 billion if the purchase rights to all 24 aircraft are exercised.

Separately, Hawaiian said it reached engine support and purchase agreements with Rolls-Royce Plc and Rolls-Royce TotalCare Services Ltd. for Hawaiian's fleet of Airbus A330s and Airbus A350s. The agreements also provide for the purchase by Hawaiian of four spare engines at a combined list price of $68.8 million.

Scam plagues American Savings

American Savings Bank said yesterday it is warning its customers about a “;phishing”; scam with fraudulent e-mails falsely identified as coming from the bank.

The e-mail includes a hyperlink to a Web page that resembles the American Savings Bank site and asks recipients to complete a quiz, and to provide personal and account information for a chance to win $1,000. Do not respond to the e-mail and delete it immediately. American Savings Bank and its authorized vendors do not solicit confidential or personal account information by phone or e-mail.

If you have completed the quiz or provided personal and account information, contact the bank's customer service center at 627-6900 or toll-free from neighbor islands at (800) 272-2566.