Aloha Ka Punahou 2005.02
Tropics sold to Alexander & Baldwin
Hawaii's 3rd largest company buys baseball franchise
Don Ho steps down due to health factors & etc
Rumors of relocation put to rest?
Honolulu, HI
November 28
Alexander & Baldwin [NYSE: ALEX], which got its start in 1869 when Samuel
Thomas Alexander and Henry Perrine Baldwin started growing sugar cane on a dusty 12
acre ranch on Maui and has grown to become the state's third largest corporation, has
shown its continued commitment to community involvement by purchasing the Hawai'i
Tropics Baseball Franchise for an undisclosed amount from previous owner, Don Ho
Enterprises.
Charles Oliver Hough
A&B quickly named Honolulu-born Charles Oliver 'Charlie' Hough as CEO of its
baseball operations. Hough pitched for 25 years in the MLB, chiefly for the Los Angeles
Dodgers and Texas Rangers, throwing a knuckleball and winning 216 games. Hough
was pitching coach for the Mets from 2001 to 2002. He is an inductee of the Texas
Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame.
“We're delighted to have Charles Hough as CEO of our baseball enterprises," said a
spokesperson for Alexander & Baldwin. "It also shows our commitment to Hawaii and
its favorite professional sports team.”
Hough will retain Alan Hoot as General Manager of the Tropics; Hoot will continue to
run the team's day-to-day operations, including all hiring and firing duties, said team
spokesperson Stitch Lilo.
The purchase by A&B has helped calm the nerves of Hawai'i baseball fans, who have
been hearing rumors of team relocation the past two years. Don Ho, 74, will retain a
minority share in the team but has relinquished all executive functions. Ho intends to
concentrate on his health and family, with plans to help jump start daughter Hoku's
music career, which came to an abrupt stop three years ago.
Alexander & Baldwin has a history of innovation, exemplified by its construction in 1876 of a first-of-its-kind 17-mile long aqueduct that brought water from the rainy,
windward side of Maui to the semi arid plains.
Today A&B operates in three major areas:
* Agribusiness (primarily as Hawaii Commercial & Sugar Company)
* Shipping (Matson Navigation Co)
* Real Estate & Development (A&B Properties)
* It's East Maui Irrigation Co maintains the irrigation systems first built 128 year ago.
Alexander & Baldwin owns 88,000 acres of land in Hawaii; is one of the largest employers in
the state; and operates the largest sugar plantation on the islands and the largest coffee
plantation in the United States.
Hough said he was pleased to be back in his native state after a long absence (he attended
high school in Florida) and to assume the challenges of baseball ownership.
Lilo noted that A&B has not given an official pledge to keep the baseball franchise in the
state. He also hinted that Hough was not native Hawaiian.
“The howlies come, the howlies take,” Lilo said.
Don Ho, age 74
The Don Ho era of Hawaii Tropics ownership has finally faded away.