Former Matson VP takes over at Guam ports

Former Matson VP takes over at Guam ports Kenneth Tagawa assumed the leadership of the Port Authority of Guam Monday, taking his new position of general manager.
   Tagawa replaces Joaquin P. Cruz who has served as acting general manager of the authority for the past four months. Cruz was serving in the capacity after former general manager Joseph Duenas took a position heading up the island government's parks department.
   Tagawa, who retired from Oakland-based Matson Navigation in 2003 as vice president of terminals, Hawaii and area operations manager, was selected from a pool of eight applicants who were evaluated and screened by the port authority's board of directors.
   The board said it is looking to Tagawa to play an instrumental role in preparing the agency for the upcoming U.S. military build up, including the securing of new gantry cranes for the effort.
   'We welcome Mr. Tagawa to our port family and we look forward to his contributions in achieving some of the goals and objectives we have set forth to upgrade our equipments and facilities', Cruz said.