Bath & Body to debut at Ala Moana

Hawaii’s first Bath & Body Works store will open at Ala Moana Center in March.

The store will be on the mall level of the Macy’s wing, Sharon James, regional vice president of marketing for General Growth Properties of Hawaii, which operates Ala Moana Center, said yesterday.

Bath & Body Works has more than 1,600 stores nationwide. Its parent company, Limited Brands, opened Hawaii’s first Victoria’s Secret store last fall.

Ito named insurance commissioner

Gordon Ito has replaced J.P. Schmidt as insurance commissioner for the state Insurance Division, effective last Tuesday. Ito has been chief deputy insurance commissioner since 2000 and worked as supervising staff attorney of the Insurance Division from 1993 to 2000.

"We are fortunate to have Gordon Ito accept the important position of insurance commissioner," Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday. "Mr. Ito has been with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for more than 17 years and is highly experienced in all areas of insurance."

Schmidt has headed the division since 2003 and was the state’s longest-serving insurance commissioner. He joined the law firm of Bays Deaver Lung Rose and Holma on July 1.

Ito has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Hawaii and a law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

New home sales up but remain slow

WASHINGTON » Sales of new homes jumped last month, but it was still the second-weakest month on record. The lackluster economy has made potential buyers skittish about shopping for homes.

New home sales rose nearly 24 percent in June from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 330,000, the Commerce Department said yesterday. May’s number was revised downward to a rate of 267,000, the slowest pace on record dating back to 1963. Sales for April and March also were revised downward.

Ford introduces new Explorer

DEARBORN, Mich. » The Ford Explorer used to be one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S., but as demand for big, trucklike SUVs fell, so did its sales. Now Ford is trying to breathe new life into the Explorer by reinventing it as a more carlike, fuel-efficient utility.

Ford began a marketing campaign yesterday for the 2011 Ford Explorer, which will be in dealerships this winter.

The automaker promises a utility vehicle with seating for seven that has similar fuel economy to a Toyota Camry sedan. At $28,190 the base price is also $1,000 less than the 2010 Explorer.

Nissan recalls 51,100 hatchbacks

WASHINGTON » Nissan is recalling 51,100 of its Cube hatchbacks in the United States and Canada because of possible problems with fuel spilling during rear-end collisions.

Pamela Young

In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan Motor Co. said yesterday tests conducted by NHTSA safety regulators found more fuel spilled than federal standards allow. The spillage occurred during rear-end crash tests at 50 miles per hour where the vehicle also spun onto its side.

ON THE MOVE

» KITV news anchor Pamela Young has been inducted into the Asian-American Journalists Association’s Honor Roll of Asian-American Pioneer Journalists. She will be recognized at the AAJA National Convention on Aug. 4 in Hollywood, Calif. Young is the past recipient of a Peabody Award and 10 Emmy Awards, and has been inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Northern California region. Young is weekend anchor for KITV 4 News, which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Mixed Plate," a special program Young produces and hosts, this fall.

Aimee Vogelgesang

» McNeil Wilson Communications has promoted Brooke Wilson to senior account executive of the public affairs division from account executive and Aimee Vogelgesang to account executive of the public affairs division from assistant account executive.

» Erica Rasmussen, manager and head designer at Haleakala Florist on Maui, was awarded the "Accredited in Floral Design" designation and inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers during a ceremony at a symposium earlier this month. AIFD accredited membership is regarded as a "high honor" in the floral industry.