HPM Building Supply buys Kauai Lumber

HPM Building Supply has expanded its presence to the Garden Island with the purchase of Kauai Lumber.

HPM, based in Keeau on Hawaii island, acquired family-owned Kauai Lumber on Dec. 1. Kauai Lumber, founded 19 years ago, is based in Lawai. The new owners will retain the Kauai Lumber name as well as all nine employees, including General Manager Joe McEvoy.

HPM will be able to expand the products and services offered by Kauai Lumber and reduce prices because it can buy direct from certain vendors without going through a middleman, said Jon Miyata, senior vice president of director of distribution.

HPM Building Supply has three full-service building supply centers and four lumberyards on Hawaii island, and one building supply center and lumberyard on Oahu. The company manufactures pre-engineered trusses, wall panels, metal roofing and pre-hung doors, and treats its own lumber.

Seawater Air Conditioning clears hurdle

Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC said it has successfully completed its survey of buried utility cables and pipes as it prepares to begin construction early next year on a project that will use cold ocean water to provide air conditioning for office buildings in downtown Honolulu.

The company drilled holes using a "keyhole" technique and used ground-penetrating radar to verify locations of 17 "targeted utilities at critical areas" of HSWAC’s chilled water distribution network, the company said.

HSWAC recently signed a 55-year agreement to lease a 30,000-square-foot parcel in Kakaako from Kamehameha Schools to build and operate the pumping station and heat exchange facility for its sea water cooling system. Service to customers is projected to start sometime in 2013.

AT&T drops bid for T-Mobile

DALLAS » AT&T is ending its $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA after facing fierce government objections. The cellphone giant said Monday that the actions of the government to block the deal do not change the challenges of the wireless phone industry, which it says requires more airwaves to expand. AT&T’s purchase of T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom of Germany would have made it the largest cellphone company in the U.S. AT&T is currently the country’s second-largest wireless carrier, while T-Mobile is the fourth largest.

ON THE MOVE

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii has named Michael Masterson director of sales and marketing for the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kaanapali and Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. He has more than 20 years of experience in hotel sales and marketing.

Central Pacific Bank has appointed Patti Cristobal to vice president and community banking sales manager. She has 18 years of banking experience.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has appointed Alan S. Ito the state community hospital system’s chief information officer. He has more than 30 years of experience in the health care information technology industry.

Royal Kona Resort has announced that Jay Rebenstein has been appointed to director of sales and hotel manager. He has 25 years’ experience in the hotel industry.