Trade Winds

Advertiser Staff

• DONALD M. ASAM has been named general manager of the Ruth's Chris Steak House in Restaurant Row. Formerly the general manager of the 800-passenger Ali'i Kai catamaran dinner cruise ship, Asam also served as director of food and beverage at Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club; cruise director and operations manager for The Royal Prince; and general manager of Buzz's Steak and Lobster and Pieces of Eight restaurants. During his stint aboard the Ali'i Kai, he was also general manager of Regency Culinary Services, which provided the ship's more than 1,000 meals a day.

• HIRAM PAJO has been promoted to associate at architectural and planning firm Group 70 International. Pajo has more than 20 years' experience in the architectural field, and taught for six years at Leeward Community College. His past projects include work on the Japanese Cultural Center, Hallmark Jeweler's and the U.S. Army Reserve.

• DONALD S. GEDEON, chief financial officer for Helping Hands Hawai'i, has been promoted to executive vice president/chief operating officer. The nonprofit organization started as a volunteer referral service and works to match goods and services to those in the community in need. Also, DR. STANLEY LUKE has been promoted to vice president of behavioral health, and SUSAN FURUTA has been appointed vice president of human resources.

• Two newly created positions have been filled for the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund, established to raise some $34 million to build a new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitor Center. GARRETT H. GRAY JR. has joined the fund as a data entry associate, assisting with development and management of the fund's Hawai'i and national fundraising campaign data collection and processing. SANDRA SAKAMOTO FLIPPO has been named office assistant for the fund's Development Office, serving as support specialist for all fundraising and promotional activities.

• MICHAEL HIRAO has joined Finance Factors as vice president, commercial loan officer. He was previously vice president and senior loan officer for Central Pacific Bank's Real Estate Loan Division.

• TONY LONG has been hired by American Savings Bank as a residential real estate loan officer. He was previously with Bank of America in Seattle.

Announcements of promotions and job changes can be sent to: Trade Winds, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; faxed to 525-6763, or e-mailed to business@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please make sure the information is included in the body of the message, not as an attachment. Hard copy, color mug shots are preferred.