Former Hawaii Tourism Authority executive David Uchiyama has been named vice president of sales and marketing at Hawaii Gas.

Uchiyama will be part of the senior executive team and be responsible for leading corporate and residential sales and service for the company’s 70,000 synthetic natural gas and propane customers statewide.

He previously was vice president of brand management for the HTA but lost his position during an executive shake-up earlier this year when George Szigeti took over as president and CEO.

Prior to joining the HTA, Uchiyama was the regional director of communications for Starwood Hotels and Resorts — Hawaii & French Polynesia for 11 years.

He has 37 years of experience in sales and marketing.

Mokulele Airlines cuts fares from Kalaeloa

Mokulele Airlines, which is now the state’s second-largest carrier ahead of Island Air, is offering one-way fares of $36 from West Oahu’s Kalaeloa Airport to Molokai and $59 from Kalaeloa to Kahului.

“Kalaeloa (the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station) is the best-kept secret in the state,” Mokulele CEO Ron Hansen said. “It’s not just an airport for the military, and we hope that kamaaina will take advantage of these savings to spend more time with their family and friends this holiday season.”

In addition to the discounted fares, Mokulele is holding a Halloween costume contest for customers Saturday at all their stations. Fans will vote on their favorites, and the person with the most votes Nov. 7 will win two round-trip tickets on the airline.

U.S. economy slows to 1.5% growth rate

WASHINGTON » The U.S. economy slowed sharply in the summer, reflecting a cutback in businesses’ stockpiling of goods, which offset solid consumer spending. But most economists think growth has been strengthening since the July-September quarter ended.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that the economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, grew at a tepid annual rate of 1.5 percent in the July-September quarter, far below the 3.9 percent rate of the previous quarter.

The biggest reason was a push by businesses to shrink unwanted stockpiles, which slashed 1.4 percentage points from quarterly growth but is expected to be only temporary.

Encouragingly for the economy, consumer spending remained solid over the summer: It rose at a 3.2 percent annual rate, down only slightly from the previous quarter.

On The Move

» Bennet Group Strategic Communications has hired Allison Andrade Gammel as a director at the firm. She has professional expertise in construction, consumer marketing, retail and development, including previously having served as the public involvement and communications manager at Kiewit Building Group.

» Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has announced the appointment of Kansas Henderson as hotel manager. He previously was an assistant director of rooms at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii island. Prior to that, Henderson served at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley in East Palo Alto, Calif., in a number of positions, including director of housekeeping, guest relations manager and assistant director of rooms, as a member of the opening team.

Ship Ahoy!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures: