The statewide average cost for regular gasoline rose to a record $2.601 a gallon yesterday, according to today's AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The statewide average was boosted by a record $2.517 for regular in Honolulu. In Hilo on the Big Island, it hit a record $2.638 a gallon, while in Wailuku, Maui, regular averaged $2.794 a gallon.

SUNTERRA TO BUY CONTROL OF RESORT

Sunterra Corp. said yesterday it has agreed to acquire the remaining 69.6 percent partnership interest it does not own in Poipu Resort Partner, which owns and operates the oceanfront Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point on Kaua'i.

The transaction is valued at nearly $27 million.

$2.3 MILLION DEAL FOR ISLAND FIRM

Honolulu-based Commercial Data Systems today said it received a $2.3 million dollar contract from the U.S. Central Command to provide hardware and software for a multilevel security system.

The agency's current technology requires one personal computer per network per person. The new system allows simultaneous access and transfer of data among multiple secure networks.

TRADEWINDS MISSES DEADLINE

Seattle-based Tradewinds LLC missed a Board of Land and Natural Resources July 1 deadline to raise at least $1 million in investment agreements by July 1. The company now faces losing the rights to harvest 12,000 acres of eucalyptus and maple planted in the Waiakea Forest Reserve.

NATION WORLD

TRIAL OPENS IN FIRST VIOXX SUIT

ANGLETON, Texas — The nation's first Vioxx-related lawsuit to go to trial opened yesterday with the plaintiff's lawyer contending Merck & Co. rushed a lucrative drug to market and a lawyer for the company asking jurors to maintain open minds.