Autos lift retail sales

WASHINGTON » A surge in auto purchases helped lift retail sales in October by the largest amount in seven months. Excluding autos, increases were more modest, but October marked the fourth straight uptick in retail sales after declines in May and June. Overall retail sales rose 1.2 percent in October, the Commerce Department said yesterday. Excluding autos, sales rose 0.4 percent.

Hertz Equipment expands to Hawaii

Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. said it has acquired Western Machinery, a construction equipment rental company based in Kapolei.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1985, Western Machinery has locations on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui. In addition to equipment rental, the company is also an equipment dealer for Gradall, JLG, Bobcat, Liebherr, Linkbelt and Allied Hammers.

Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hertz Corp.

"We’re excited to have acquired Western Machinery as this marks Hertz Equipment Rental’s first foray into the Hawaiian market," said Mark Frissora, chairman and chief executive officer of the Hertz Corp.

Hawaii’s construction industry was one of the harder hit sectors during the recent recession. Construction spending, which declined by 18 percent in 2009, is forecast to drop by another 15.9 percent this year before rising by 2.8 percent in 2011, according to a recent report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.

Outrigger expands Australia ties

Honolulu-based Outrigger Enterprises Group has signed a memorandum of understanding to manage two new Meridien waterfront resorts at the $754 million Port of Airlie at Airlie Beach in North Queensland.

The first phase, luxury two- and three-bedroom apartments to be branded the Boathouse by Outrigger, is expected to begin receiving guests early next year. The Meridien development’s second phase, the Port of Airlie Resort, will feature resort-style apartments, conference facilities and other amenities.

Mainland firm to manage Kauai hotel

The 311-room Courtyard by Marriott Kauai Coconut Beach in Waipouli will be managed by Tennessee-based Davidson Hotel Co. It will be the sixth Marriott-branded resort under Davidson’s management, but it is the company’s first management contract in Hawaii.

An 18-month, multimillion dollar renovation of the hotel will begin immediately, officials said. Formerly the Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa Hotel, the property is owned by Texas-based investment firm Behringer Harvard.

Big Island restaurant files Chapter 11

C & T Restaurants LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization citing liabilities of more than $1.8 million and assets of slightly more than $1 million. The largest debts are the nearly $379,000 owed to Katherine Pelca of Kamuela and the nearly $267,000 owed to KCMI, a Kamuela-based destination management and event production company also known as Kathy Clarke Hawaii.

The filing, though incomplete, indicated a reorganization plan was being filed with the petition, in which debtor-partners Charles Clarke and Daniel Thiebaut are representing themselves.

On the Move

Tiki’s Grill and Bar in Waikiki has hired Ronnie Nasuti as executive chef. He was executive chef for Roy’s Restaurant in Hawaii Kai for 10 years as well as having worked at Roy’s Poipu on Kauai, Chez Michel’s, Roy’s Park Bistro in Waikiki and Kincaid’s.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union has promoted the following:

» Kaleo Kuroda to vice president-controller from controller. He has been with the company for 4 1/2 years and was as an auditor for Grant Thornton and Weinberg Foundation.

» Glen Shimada to assistant vice president of operations and risk management from operations risk manager. He has been with the company for 19 years and has held numerous positions in the branch and at administration levels.

Children’s Alliance of Hawaii has named Joan Naguwa as president. She has 30 years experience in the nonprofit sector, including executive director of Waikiki Community Center and vice president of programs for Helping Hands Hawaii.

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced Diane Oyadomari as Realtor associate. She has more than 20 years experience in real estate, buying, selling and managing properties.