Ako takes PR reins at Halekulani

Former TV news anchor Diane Ako has been named director of public relations for Halekulani Corp., effective tomorrow.

Ako succeeds Erika Kauffman, who serves as unit publicist for CBS-TV’s "Hawaii Five-0," now shooting in the islands and set for an on-air debut Sept. 20.

Ako will handle communications and media relations for Halekulani Corp. and its Halekulani and Waikiki Parc hotels, and will support the company’s marketing initiatives.

Ako was an anchor and news reporter for KHNL/KFVE-TV from the mid-1990s until the stations’ operations were merged with those of KGMB-TV last year.

Hawaiian Springs boosts distribution

Hawaiian Springs said it has reached an agreement to sell its bottled water in 36 Henry’s Farmers Market stores in Southern California.

The health food chain has stores in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. Each store will carry a 1-liter bottle, while two locations in San Diego, Chula Vista and National City also will carry a the 1.5-liter size. In addition, Hawaiian Springs will be available at a Henry’s store in Elk Grove, near Sacramento, when it opens later this year.

Hawaiian Springs says in its marketing materials that its water is drawn from an "artesian aquifer" at the base of Mauna Loa. It is bottled in Keeau on Hawaii island.

MySpace users align with Facebook

LOS ANGELES » MySpace, which recently revamped itself to look more like Facebook, is now allowing users to sync their posts to Facebook, too.

That means people on Facebook can see their friends’ MySpace items without leaving Facebook. It’s a sign the site seeks to carve out a niche that is no longer about competing with Facebook, but coexisting.

MySpace users also will be able to share music, videos, game applications, links and photos across both social networking sites.

The changes announced yesterday are part of an overhaul at MySpace, which has faced falling advertising revenue and stagnant user growth. MySpace users can already sync their Twitter accounts with the site so that they can post updates on MySpace through Twitter and vice versa.

Research firm eMarketer estimates that advertisers worldwide will spend $347 million on MySpace this year and $297 million in 2011. Facebook, meanwhile, is expected to generate $1.29 billion in online ad revenue this year and $1.76 billion in 2011, according to eMarketer.

3M to buy Cogent for about $943M

NEW YORK » 3M Co., the conglomerate whose products range from Post-Its to respirators, computer arms and films for LCD TV screens, is trying to expand into the security market by buying Cogent Inc. for about $943 million.

Cogent develops automated systems that read finger and palm prints, and it makes iris and face recognition systems used by government, law enforcement and border patrol agencies.

Cogent’s board of directors already has agreed to the deal and is recommending that shareholders accept it. 3M said yesterday it will pay $10.50 per share for Cogent, or nearly 18 percent above Cogent’s closing price on Friday.

ON THE MOVE

Baldridge & Associates Structural Engineering has hired John Simmons as its newest special inspector for its testing and inspection division. He has 26 years of experience in the special inspection industry.

The Consumer’s Research Council of America of Washington, D.C., has selected Dr. John Pearce to be included in the 2010 guide to America’s Top Radiologists. Pearce is an associate medical director for breast imaging in the Women’s Health Center at the Queen’s Medical Center.

Territorial Savings Bank has appointed the following:

» Dale Lee as vice president/compliance manager. He has 18 years of banking experience.

» Shawn Villafuerte as assistant vice president supervisor/compliance specialist. He has 26 years of banking operations experience.

101 Financial has been ranked one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in United States by Inc. magazine, and this is the second consecutive year 101 Financial has been named to the magazine’s competitive list. The company is owned by Alan Akina and provides financial educational classes and counseling to middle-income families in Hawaii and the mainland.