Posted on: Friday, April 23, 2004

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Lau selected for A&B Inc. board

Advertiser Staff

American Savings Bank chief Constance Lau has become a director of Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

Lau, 52, replaced longtime board member Leo E. Denlea Jr., who reached A&B's mandatory retirement age of 72. Denlea is a retired chairman and CEO of California-based insurance firm Farmers Group Inc., and was an A&B director since 1987.

Lau has been president and CEO of American Savings since 2001.

Starwood plans hotel transition

Starwood plans to begin operating its first W hotel on Maui next year when the Renaissance Wailea, now operated by Marriott, transitions to the W brand. Starwood acquired the 345-room property last year.

Store leasing strong on O'ahu

Retail store leasing has started strong this year on O'ahu, except in Waikiki, according to a Colliers Monroe Friedlander report released this week.

Since January, about 130,000 square feet of retail space at shopping centers was leased, most of it at the former JC Penney space under renovation at Ala Moana Center.

Leeward, Central and East O'ahu centers also did well. Waikiki suffered a 25,000-square-foot loss of retail shops.

Honolulu gas up 5 cents in month

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline for Honolulu hit a high of $2.073 a gallon yesterday, according to the AAA travel club.

That's up nearly 5 cents from a month ago.