BUSINESS BRIEFS
Military projects for 5 companies
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Four Hawai'i companies and a California firm will split a maximum $200 million contract for various construction projects within the state.
The companies are: American Piping & Boiler Co. in Kapolei, Niking Corp. in Wahiawa, Standard Sheetmetal & Mechanical Inc. and Su-Mo Builders Inc./NAN Inc. in Honolulu, and RMA Land Construction in Brea, Calif.
The work involves new construction, repair, alteration, and related demolition of existing infrastructure for the Department of Defense. The contract term is not to exceed five years, with an expected completion date of August 2012. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command at Pearl Harbor awarded the contract.
STARWOOD RESETS MAUI PLAN DATE
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said it expects construction and sales of its next Maui vacation ownership project to begin in the second half of 2008 because of some delays in entitlement and construction approvals.
The company included the Maui news in announcing that second-quarter income from continuing operations rose when special items were excluded. It said it earned $178 million on this basis, up from $169 million a year earlier.
Net income including the items was $145 million; last year's second-quarter income was $680 million. Starwood is the third-largest U.S. hotel company. Its brands include Sheraton, Westin, W and St. Regis. Second-quarter profit fell less than analysts expected as the company increased its 2007 forecast after raising U.S. and European room rates, Bloomberg News reported.
AMERICAN SAVINGS EXTENDING HOURS
American Savings Bank will offer extended hours on week- days, weekends and holidays starting Aug. 31.
The state's third-largest financial institution said nearly all of its 64 branches will remain open until 6 p.m. and that most branches will remain open until 7 p.m.
American Savings also said that 46 of its branches will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with some staying open until 4 p.m.
Fourteen branches will be open on Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MOBI PCS OPENS TODAY IN SALT LAKE
Wireless phone company Mobi PCS today said that it will open its seventh retail store today at the Salt Lake Shopping Center.
The 700-square-foot store, with Andy Honda as manager, is next to Cold Stone Creamery.
The new location joins existing Mobi PCS stores in Pearlridge Center, Windward City Shopping Center, Kapolei Ace Center, Mililani Town Center, the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange and at 1467 South King Street. Mobi PCS is also available through 68 dealer locations across O'ahu.
The company also expects to open a Wai'alae Avenue location in Kaimuki in August.
LONGS DRUGS SAYS SALES UP FOR JULY
Longs Drug Stores Corp., the largest operator of drug stores in Hawai'i, reported preliminary store sales from continuing retail operations of $359 million for the four-week period ended July 26, a 2.9 percent increase from $349 million in the comparable period a year ago.
The Walnut Creek, Calif.-based company operates 492 retail pharmacies on the West Coast and in Hawai'i.
Sales at 23 stores in Colorado, Oregon and Washington that Longs in February said it would close were not included in continuing operations for July.
NEW AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE
A new transportation service, GO Airport Shuttle Inc., said it has started operations at 110 airports, including Kahului and Kona in Hawai'i.
The Chicago-based company was formed by 40 independent transportation firms that will use an online reservation system at www.goairportshuttle.com.
COST-U-LESS SEES JULY SALES RISE
Cost-U-Less Inc., a Bellevue, Wash.-based discount retailer with two locations in Hawai'i, said sales at stores open at least 13 months rose 5.3 percent in July when compared to results from a year earlier.
Total sales for the month were $16.5 million, an $800,000 increase from July 2006.
