BUSINESS BRIEFS
GSA awards go! $2.5M contract
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The U.S. General Services Administration said it will award local carrier go! with a contract to fly federal workers on interisland business trips.
The GSA, which handles about a quarter of the federal government's purchases, estimated the value of the contract at around $2.5 million.
The contract, which covers the federal government's 2008 fiscal year and takes effect Oct. 1, will boost the local carrier's passenger loads. Since its launch on June 9, 2006, go!'s planes have been flying about two-thirds full.
K-SEA ACQUIRES SMITH MARITIME
K-Sea Transportation Partners L.P. said it agreed to acquire Honolulu-based Smith Maritime Ltd. and Seattle-based Sirius Maritime LLC for $205 million in cash and debt.
On a combined basis, these operations include 11 petroleum tank barges and 10 tugboats, with 777,000 barrels of capacity. The transactions are expected to be completed in July or early August, subject to customary closing conditions.
THOMPSON JOINS TOURISM BOARD
Charlene "Cha" Thompson will join the board of directors of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority effective Sunday, the agency announced.
Douglas Kahikina Chang will continue to serve as board chair and Kelvin Bloom will serve as its vice chair, according to Rex Johnson, HTA president and chief executive officer.
Thompson, owner and executive vice president of Tihati Productions, will replace Sharon Weiner, who along with Leon Yoshida is stepping down from the HTA board.
Thompson has extensive experience in Hawai'i's visitor industry and is an active community volunteer. She previously served as the chair of the Honolulu Police Commission, president of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association and vice president of the Institute for Human Services.
