Petco opening store in Pearl City

Petco is opening its second store on Oahu at Pearl City Gateway, a new retail center being developed by Robertson Properties Group.

The 13,000-square-foot store will be the first one to open at the center, and is holding a blessing and soft opening on Monday. Its doors officially open next Saturday.

About 25 employees were hired for the new store.

Petco, a pet-specialty store based in San Diego, opened its first location in Hawaii at Kona Commons on the Big Island in October. In March, Petco opened its second store at Kapolei Commons. The Pearl City store will be its third in Hawaii.

Alm named chairman of PBS Hawaii

Hawaiian Electric Co. Executive Vice President Robert Alm has been elected chairman of PBS Hawaii, succeeding longtime Chairman Neil Hannahs. Alm is also the new board chairman of Enterprise Honolulu and teaches a graduate course in leadership at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The board also has welcomed four new members: Ian Kitajima, marketing manager of Oceanit; Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and recording artist Kawika Kahiapo; Ken Hiraki, attorney and Hawaiian Telcom government affairs director; and Marissa Sandblom, vice president of Kauai-based Grove Farm Co. and president of the Grove Farm Co. Foundation. The 21 PBS Hawaii board members are unpaid and serve three-year terms.

Pacific Office Properties CEO leaving

Dallas Lucas, president and chief executive officer of California-based Pacific Office Properties Trust Inc., will step down Aug. 31 at the end of his contract. He was “;instrumental in leading the company through its formative period and we truly appreciate his support and many contributions,”; said Jay Shidler, chairman, in a statement.

The company expects to name a successor “;in the near future,”; he said.

Pacific Office Properties is a real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and operates office properties in western U.S. states, including Waterfront Plaza, the Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Center and Davies Pacific Center, among others, in Honolulu.

Toy to oversee Aston Makaiwa

Joseph Toy, president and CEO of Hospitality Advisors LLC, has been appointed the receiver for the Aston Makaiwa at Kapaa, Kauai.

The 311-room hotel—which used to be the Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Waipouli Beach—was foreclosed on in April after a potential sales deals fell through last year.

Wells Fargo Bank said the current owner, Waipouli Owner LLC, has defaulted on a $52 million mortgage made in 2006.

Alaska air links Maui, Portland

Alaska Airlines inaugurated thrice-weekly flights between Portland, Ore., and Kahului, Maui, yesterday and will expand to daily service Aug. 7.

Flights depart Portland at 9:50 a.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving on Maui at 12:45 p.m. Return flights leave Maui at 1:45 p.m. and arrive in Portland at 10:15 p.m.

Operated with Boeing 737-800 jets, the flights can accommodate 157 passengers.

On the move

First Hawaiian Bank has promoted the following:

» Neill A. Char to senior vice president and manager in the private banking division from senior vice president and branch manager at the University branch.

» Martha L. Camacho to vice president and area manager at the Wahiawa branch from vice president and branch manager at the Kaimuki branch.

» Brad K. Gushiken to vice president and BSA and OFAC officer for the corporate compliance division from vice president and corporate compliance officer.

» Wayne K. Suehiro to vice president and area manager at the Pearlridge branch from vice president and area manager at the Moanalua branch.