GRAND SLAM OF GOLF
 It was the first time in seven years that Tiger Woods did not come to Kauai for the Grand Slam of Golf. Tiger first played in 1997 and won a record five straight starting in 1998, but failed to win a major this year, precluding him from defending his five titles in the exclusive 36 hole event.
But other top golfers, including Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Davis Love III also didn't qualify. So that left the Grand Slam field headlined by Jim Furyk, Mike Weir, Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel-all first time major winners. It was the first time in the event's 21 year history that featured all first time champions.
U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk took a five stroke lead the first day of the event. He putted just 12 times on the final nine holes to shoot a five under par 67. His second round was a four under 68 to total 135, giving him the overall win by an eight stoke margin. He pocketed $400,000 of a $1 million purse. Weir, the first Canadian to win a major, closed with a two round total of 143 to earn $250,000. PGA champion Shaun Michell finished 10 stokes back at 145 and collected $200,000. British Open champion Ben Curtis made $150,000 with a two round total of 146.
The Poipu course was designed around several ancient Hawaiian "heiaus" or sacred worship sites and features 86 bunkers and seven water hazards. The scenic course has a backdrop of the lush, green, rugged mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
Furyk, who owns a home on Maui, came into the Grand Slam having earned more than $1.8 million in Hawaii. He won the 2001 Mercedes Championship in the Islands, and took the 1996 Hawaiian Open.
ALOHA AIRLINES SELLS ISLAND AIR
 Aloha Airgroup announced the sale of Island Air to a company that plans to double its fleet and serve six new inter island routes linking the Big Island and Kauai with Maui and Oahu. The new routes announced include a direct Kauai to Maui flight which will be welcome news to local residents, who previously had to fly to Honolulu and then on to Maui.
Island Air currently flies four 37 passenger turboprop de Havilland DASH-8's. The additional aircraft being purchased, five de Havilland DASH-8's will bring the total fleet to nine planes. The airline also plans to increase the current staff by 50 percent, eventually hiring 120 new employees
Island Air was purchased by aviation financier Charles Willis of San Francisco and his son, Austin Willis, 23, a recent graduate of the London School of Economics. Neil Takekawa will remain president and chief executive office of Island Air and the airline's management team and employees will remain. Austin Willis, who recently moved to Hawaii, will be the airline's vice president of strategic and business development and his father will be the chairman.
Local reaction to the purchase was generally favorable. As one travel agent said "On the surface, initially, it has very strong potential for the traveling public because whenever there are more choices, it will produce better options and better choices for the consumer, " he said.
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