Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• LAURA K.M. COLBERT, former executive vice president of Child and Family Service, has been named president of LANAKILA REHABILITATION CENTER INC., the nonprofit organization that provides vocational rehabilitation services for people with physical or mental disabilities and operates Meals on Wheels.

• ERNEST H. FUKEDA JR., a 24-year veteran of the local insurance industry, has been elected president and chief operating officer of The Hawaiian Insurance and Guaranty Co. Ltd. Fukeda has been with HIG, as senior vice president and general manager, since June of last year. He is on the boards of directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Hawaiian Humane Society, and is former chairman of Hospice Hawai'i.

• Bank of Hawaii and its parent company, Pacific Century Financial Corp., have named DAVID W. THOMAS to the newly created position of vice chairman for retail banking. As head of the Retail Banking Group, Thomas will oversee branches, ATM distribution systems, small-business banking, deposit products, consumer lending and mortgage banking. Thomas was most recently executive vice president for retail lending at Summit Bank in Princeton, N.J., and before that he had a 24-year executive career at Bank One Corp. in Columbus, Ohio.

• Former Hawai'i resort sales and incentive specialist JOE HIGGINS has returned to the local market as vice president of incentive sales for 21st Century Group Inc. The primary focus of the Maui-based hotel marketing company is on meetings, conventions and the incentive market. Higgins' career has included work at Norwegian Caribbean Lines and land-based resorts, as well as experience in opening the Hyatt Regency Waikoloa, Hyatt Resorts Hawai'i and the Kapalua Bay Hotel and Villas.

• DAVID M. YAMAMOTO, former sous chef for airline and hospital caterers Dobbs International Services, has been named executive chef and director of food and beverage at the Queen Kapi'olani Hotel. Through more than 24 years, his career in local food service has included positions with Roy's restaurants at Hawai'i Kai and Kahana, Maui; L'Uraku Restaurant; the Cafe Ambassador Hotel; the Honolulu Country Club; and Flamingo Royal Lana'i. He also owned a restaurant and catering business for nine years.

• J.W. "JOE" HANLEY JR., vice president and chief operating officer for ORCHID ISLE AUTO CENTER, the Big Island franchise for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Isuzu, has added the title of general manager to his responsibilities. His father, J. WALSH HANLEY SR., continues as president, chairman of the board and chief executive officer.

• TODD WELLS, former sous chef at Ryan's Grill at Ward Centre, has been named executive chef for Ruth's Chris Steak House at Restaurant Row. Wells has also served at the Lodge at Ko'ele and Henry Clay's Rotisserie, both on Lana'i, and as executive chef at Sunset Grill in Restaurant Row.