Courtyard Maui opens near airport in June

The Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport Hotel, a new hotel that has been more than a decade in the making, is slated to open in June.

The planned 138-room hotel will cater to business travelers and visitors interested in Central and Upcountry Maui. The four-story hotel is being built on three acres at the intersection of Dairy Road, Haleakala Highway and Keolani Place, also known as Kahului Airport Road.

The lobby will feature technology to keep guests informed and free Wi-Fi, and iPod docking stations in rooms.

There will be indoor and outdoor meeting space, breakfast and dinner service at the hotel’s signature Bistro restaurant and free airport shuttle service.

The hotel will join three other Courtyard hotels in Waikiki, Kona and Kapaa.

Marriott manages 16 hotel and time-share properties in Hawaii under the Courtyard and four other brand names.

Emerging markets boost Coca-Cola sales

NEW YORK » The Coca-Cola Co. said Tuesday that its net income rose 8 percent in the first quarter as it increased prices and sold more of its drinks around the world. Although volume growth came from all regions, the world’s largest soft-drink maker said increases were far greater in emerging markets. In the region encompassing Russia, India, the Middle East and Africa, for example, volume grew 9 percent, compared with a 2 percent increase in North America. The Atlanta-based company also saw strong growth beyond its sodas as consumers have become more concerned about healthier drinking and eating. Global volume for bottled water grew 15 percent in the quarter, while volume for energy drinks rose 25 percent. That surpassed the volume gains in the company’s namesake Coca-Cola soda, which increased 4 percent.

J&J first-quarter profit up despite sales dip

Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday that its first-quarter profit jumped 12.5 percent on lower spending on research, sales and administration and a boost from selling rights to a drug. Its revenue slipped due to generic competition.

The health products giant again said it will take longer than anticipated to return many recalled consumer products to stores and to rebuild a factory that made them, because of serious quality problems.

Yahoo earnings increase under new CEO

SAN FRANCISCO » Yahoo’s first-quarter results showed signs of modest progress under recently hired CEO Scott Thompson.

The long-struggling Internet company earned $286 million, or 23 cents per share, during the first three months of the year. That represented a 28 percent increase from net income of $223 million, or 17 cents per share, at the same time last year.

The earnings exceeded the average estimate of 17 cents per share among analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Revenue totaled $1.22 billion, an increase of less than 1 percent from the same time last year. Still, that slight uptick represented a breakthrough for Yahoo because the company’s revenue has been steadily falling since 2008.

First Solar lays off workers in Germany

NEW YORK » First Solar Inc. is laying off 2,000 workers and closing its plant in Frankfurt, Germany, in response to waning demand for solar panels and increased competition from China.

America’s largest maker of solar panels said the layoffs amount to 30 percent of its global workforce. Some cuts come from shutting down the Frankfurt plant, where it doubled the number of employees to more than 1,200 just last year. The company will also shutter some production in Malaysia. More jobs will be cut in Europe and the United States.

Solar manufacturers have been hurt by the global recession, an influx of Chinese panels and declining subsidy programs in Europe.

ON THE MOVE

Hawai‘i Pacific Health, the parent company of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Clinic &Hospital and Wilcox Memorial, has hired:

» Linda Jameson as director of philanthropy for the Kapiolani Health Foundation.
» Clifford Jamile as director of employee relations for Hawaii Pacific Health.
» Kathy Dittmar has been named director of the women’s services center at PaliMomi Medical Center.
» Amanda Price joins as associate director, corporate giving and annual fund, of the philanthropy department.