Business briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Pihana Pacific gains investors

Honolulu-based data center company Pihana Pacific said yesterday that its investors include GE Capital Telecom and UBS Capital, which have put in $34 million as part of a financing plan the company announced late last year.

The investments, which followed a $190 million financing round to help build out Pihana's data center network across Asia, bring the company's total financing to $236 million.

Other investors include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Hewlett-Packard and PacifiCap Group.

Pihana, which started in January 2000 and was formerly Pacific Internet Exchange Corp., now has operating data centers in Los Angeles, Honolulu, Singapore and Tokyo.

Another center will open soon in Seoul, and Pihana wants to expand its network of centers throughout the most affluent Asian nations.

Hawaiian opens San Diego office

Hawaiian Airlines has opened a San Diego sales office to handle business for a new San Diego-to-Honolulu daily flight, which starts June 15.

The office will be run by Mara McSparran, a former Southwest Airlines Vacations regional manager.

The San Diego flight will depart at 9:10 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 11:40 a.m. The return flight leaves Honolulu at 1:15 p.m., arriving in San Diego at 9:25 p.m.

Reinhardt heads Maui Electric

Maui Electric Co. Ltd. said yesterday that Ed Reinhardt has succeeded William A. Bonnet as president of the utility company.

Bonnet will become vice president of government and community affairs for Hawaiian Electric Co., the Maui company's corporate parent under Hawaiian Electric Industries. Bonnet, 57, Maui Electric's president since 1996, will replace Ed Hirata, who will retire in early May.

Reinhardt, a 14-year Maui Electric veteran, was promoted from manager of energy delivery.