Hawaiian air raises bag fees

Hawaiian Airlines boosted its fees for checked baggage yesterday, matching increases by its rivals.

Customers paying at the airport will now pay $5 more — $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for a second checked bag—on mainland flights for tickets issued yesterday or afterward. For those prepaying online, the fee was increased to $23 from $15 for the first bag and to $32 from $25 for the second bag. Interisland tickets are still $10 for the first bag and $17 for the second bag.

Campaniano retires as Farmers CEO

Robin Campaniano, president and chief executive officer of Farmers Insurance Hawaii, has retired from the company but is continuing to be involved as a senior adviser and in providing counsel. His resignation was effective Jan. 1.

Michele Saito, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the company, formerly known as AIG Hawaii, took over as president.

The company, with 300 employees statewide, was purchased by Farmers Insurance last year. It is the third-largest writer of automobile policies in the state. There is no CEO in Hawaii under the new structure.

Campaniano joined the company in 1992 after serving as the state's insurance commissioner.

Saito has been with Farmers since 1984, serving in various financial and senior management capacities.

Campaniano plans to spend more time in his role as general partner in the Ulupono Initiative, a social investment firm formed last year by Pierre and Pam Omidyar that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Hawaii residents through sustainability.

Schuler selling new homes in Maili

D.R. Horton's Schuler Division said it will begin home sales Sunday at Makalae, the final phase of its Sea Country community in Maili. Makalae means “;near a coastline”; in Hawaiian.

A total of 282 three- and four-bedroom duplexes and single-family homes will be constructed over the next several years, and include more than $25 million in roadways, sewer, water and drainage systems, as well as other infrastructure.

Prices for the homes will start in the high-$300,000 range, and the first homes will be ready for occupancy in May of this year.

Overall, Sea Country encompasses 835 homes, some of which have been sold according to City and County of Honolulu guidelines for “;affordable housing.”; Another 61 affordable homes will be offered to qualifying families at Makalae.

Cher's house gets nearly $9M

The house designed and built, but never lived in, by Cher was snapped up by an Arizona buyer for $8.75 million at an auction on Monday.

Also sold were two homes in the Kukio resort for $4.95 million and $3.85 million and two home sites for $990,000 and $962,000. All five properties are on the Big Island's Kona Coast.

ConciergeAuctions.com solicited donations for Haitian earthquake relief at the start of the event and collected $23,500.

ON THE MOVE

Wealth Strategy Partners has announced the following promotions and hires:

» Marko Mijuskovic to vice president of Wealth Strategy Partners
» Kyle Shimoda as one of the top 15 leading managers in Guardian Life Insurance Company America
» Chris Belaras as a new financial representative as of 2009
» Michael Van as one of the top group leader financial representatives of 2009

The Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s Oahu Region chief executive officer, Vincent H.S. Lee, has been appointed board chairman of the Asian Health Care Leaders Association. He has more than 25 years' experience in senior health care administration.