HAWAII

Ex-officer guilty of tax crimes

Former Honolulu police officer William B. Gasper, Jr. has been found guilty by a Honolulu jury on two counts of attempt to evade or defeat tax and two counts of willful failure to file return relating to the tax years 2003 and 2004. Gasper was acquitted on four similar counts relating to the tax years 2001 and 2002.

  Gasper attempted to evade paying state taxes by falsely claiming to be exempt from paying state taxes on his Form HW-4, and failed to timely file his individual state income tax returns and pay his state income taxes, the state Department of the Attorney General said yesterday.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9 before Judge Steven S. Alm.

Tori Richard installs PV system

Tori Richard Ltd. said yesterday that this week it will become Hawaii 's first manufacturer/retailer to install a commercial photovoltaic system.

It is the first apparel manufacturer of its size nationwide to derive virtually all of its power from solar energy.

The $1.1 million project, installed by Suntech Hawaii, is putting 682 solar modules on the roof of the Tori Richard headquarters on Moonui Street in Kalihi. Suntech Hawaii designed the 154-kilowatt system that will provide 94 percent of the company's power.

The solar energy system will result in 4,356 fewer barrels of oil consumed over the life of the system.

Over the past few years, Tori Richard has also switched to more energy-efficient lighting, upgraded its air-conditioning systems and installed reflective roof coatings. The company was founded in Honolulu in 1956, and its apparel can be found in more than 2,500 stores worldwide, as well as at its retail stores in Hawaii.

Maui Brewing reopens brew pub

After a nearly four-month closure for remodeling, Maui Brewing Co.'s brew pub in Kahana is open.

The remodel includes skylights, ceiling fans, CFL lighting, and other energy-efficient upgrades. Lumber was reclaimed from the former design.

Founder Garrett Marrero and his wife, Melanie, run a 7-barrel brew pub at the Kahana location as well as the 25-barrel production brewery and canning facility in Lahaina.

Advantage cuts prices for event

Advantage Rent A Car has been chosen as the official rental car company for the 26th annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing from Nov. 12 through Dec. 20 on the North Shore.

By renting from Advantage, customers in Hawaii will save up to half off competitor rental car rates, the company said. Advantage is also waiving its young driver fee for operators less than 25 years old ($25 charge a day) and the additional driver fee ($10 charge a day).

To make a rental car reservation for this event and for full terms and conditions of the promotion, visit www.advantage.com/surfing, or call (800) 777-5500.

Del Monte profit drops slightly

Florida-based Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. yesterday said that net income for the third quarter ending Sept. 26 slumped slightly to $29.3 million, or 46 cents a diluted share, from $29.9 million, or 51 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue was $832.9 million, up 10 percent from $757.1 million.

“;We made significant gains in the third quarter despite the fact that we continued to experience higher fruit production, procurement and logistic costs,”; Chairman and CEO Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh said in a statement.

The company reported credits of $200,000 for the quarter, and said benefits for the past nine months include the previously announced closing of Hawaii pineapple operations.

NATION

Vegas airport sees fewer travelers

LAS VEGAS » New figures show 13.2 percent fewer passengers used McCarran International Airport in September compared with a year ago, the 11th consecutive monthly decline.

Just less than 3.4 million passengers used the Las Vegas airport during September, compared with 3.9 million a year ago. Slower traffic at the airport represented another sign of the slumping southern Nevada tourism industry. 

[ Taking Notice ]

Promotions / New hires

» Aqua Hotels announces the following appointments to newly created positions:

* Rose Kemna as director of sales, who will oversee the daily revenue generation for Park Shore Waikiki. Her previous experience includes senior sales manager at The Kahala Hotel & Resort.

* Leonor Wong as director of guest relations, who will be responsible for guest relations initiatives and increasing service standards throughout the Aqua hotels in Waikiki.

» St. Regis Princeville Resort announces the following hires:

* Milton Sgarbi as general manager. He previously served as general manager at St. Regis Bora Bora in French Polynesia and also has international experience in Italy and Portugal.

* Christopher White as director of sales and marketing, who will lead the resort through its transformation when it debuts in spring 2009. He previously held similar positions at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis and Hyatt Regency Calgary.

» The Gas Company LLC has hired Jill Tokunaga as vice president of sales. She will oversee the company's statewide sales program and create a comprehensive sales strategy for new products and services.

» Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge has hired Nalani Say to lead its Documentation and Customer Service Department. Her responsibilities include the handling of cargo and overseeing data entry and documentation, billing and invoicing. Say previously worked at Aloha Airlines as customer service manager.