BUSINESS BRIEFS
American adds flights to Islands
Advertiser Staff and News Services
American Airlines said it has added nine flights per week from the Mainland to the Neighbor Islands. The airline is adding four flights between Los Angeles and Lihu'e, three from L.A. to Kona and two from Chicago to Maui.
Henry Joyner, senior vice president for planning, said the new flights are a response to improved summer bookings.
Cruise line to expand sailings
Princess Cruises plans a "dramatic" expansion of its 2004-2005 Hawai'i schedule.
The larger Island Princess will sail 15-day, round-trip cruises from Los Angeles instead of the Regal Princess as previously announced. The 15 departures will double that of the current season.
The popularity of the Hawai'i sailings prompted the expansion, company officials said yesterday.
Honolulu hiring seen as steady
Honolulu employers expect little change in their hiring for the third quarter of 2003, based on a survey by Manpower Inc.
For July to September, 79 percent of respondents expect to keep current staff levels, 7 percent plan to hire more, 7 percent anticipate reductions and 7 percent were uncertain of their plans.
Job prospects appear best in construction; losses are expected in the finance/insurance/real estate sector.
A&B subsidiary sells Nevada property
A subsidiary of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin Inc. sold a Nevada shopping center for a $6.6 million gain.
WDCI Inc. sold the 18.6-acre Airport Square in Reno to Eureka Development Co. for $23.5 million.
Airport Square, which was purchased by WDCI in 1995, is 98 percent occupied, with Costco as its anchor tenant. The property is near Reno International Airport.
A&B stock, meanwhile, hit a 52-week high yesterday at $27.59 per share before closing at $27.48, up 74 cents.
Hawai'i to gain insurance company
Japanese company Mitsui & Co. has chosen Hawai'i as the site of its "captive insurance company," the state announced .
A captive insurance company is a business opened by a parent firm. The "captive" is used to insure the national and international risks of its parent.
Hawai'i is the domicile of more than 100 captive insurance companies.
Groark Cos. changes name
The Groark Cos., one of three unionized water feature contractors in the state, has changed its name to John Groark & Associates following a transfer in ownership. The company has been acquired by employees. The transfer includes the purchase of Groark Design Inc.
