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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.           )

Filed by the Registrant /x/
ý

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /o

Check the appropriate box:
/x/
ý

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ /
o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/ /
o

 

Definitive Proxy Statement
/ /
o

 

Definitive Additional Materials
/ /
o

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Pacific Century FinancialBank of Hawaii Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
     
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/x/ý

 

No fee required

/ /o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11

 

 

(1)

 

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        

  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        

  (5) Total fee paid:
        


/ /o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

/ /o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        

  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        

  (3) Filing Party:
        

  (4) Date Filed:
        


PACIFIC CENTURY FINANCIAL CORPORATIONLOGO


Your VOTE is important!

Notice of 20022004
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and Proxy Statement

Meeting Date: April 26, 200230, 2004

Pacific Century FinancialBank of Hawaii Corporation

130 Merchant Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813


PACIFIC CENTURY FINANCIAL CORPORATIONLOGO

PACIFIC CENTURY FINANCIALBANK OF HAWAII CORPORATION
130 Merchant Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

         March 8, 200218, 2004

Dear Shareholder:

        The 20022004 Annual Meeting of shareholders of Pacific Century FinancialBank of Hawaii Corporation ("Pacific Century"Bank of Hawaii" or the "Company") will be held on Friday, April 26, 200230 2004 at 8:30 a.m. on the Sixth Floor of the Bank of Hawaii Building, 111 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii. Each shareholder may be asked to present valid picture identification. Shareholders holding stock in brokerage accounts will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting stock ownership as of the record date.

        The Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement accompanying this letter describe the business we will consider and vote upon at the meeting. A report to shareholders on the affairs of Pacific CenturyBank of Hawaii also will be given, and shareholders will have the opportunity to discuss matters of interest concerning the Company.

        For reasons explained in the accompanying Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR all proposals.

        Your vote is very important.    Please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card and mail it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid return envelope, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. You may also vote by telephone or electronically via the Internet. If you wish to do so, your proxy may be revoked at any time before its use.

        On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your cooperation and support.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 Page
Notice of 20022004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders 1

Proxy Statement

 

2
 
Questions and Answers About the Proxy Materials and the Annual Meeting

 

2
 
Proposal 1: Election of Directors

 

56
 
Board of Directors

 

56
  Beneficial Ownership 79
  Corporate Governance and Board Structure and Compensation 911
  Board Committees and Meetings 1014
  Audit Committee Report 1117
 
Executive Compensation

 

1218
  Compensation Committee Report 1218
  Summary Compensation Table 1723
  Stock Option/SAROption Grants in Last Fiscal Year 1824
  Aggregated Option/SAROption Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values 1925
Long-Term Incentive Plans—Awards In Last Fiscal Year25
  Pension Plan Table and Retirement Plan 1926
  Change-in-Control Arrangements 2027
 
Performance Graph

 

2128
 
Certain Transactions with Management and Others

 

2228
 
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

2229
 
Proposal 2: Amendment to CertificateApproval of Incorporation to Change Company NameBank of Hawaii Corporation 2004 Stock & Incentive Compensation Plan

 

2229
 
Proposal 3: Election of Independent Auditor and Audit Fees

 

2234
 
Appendix A. Audit Committee Charter

 

2436

Appendix B. Corporate Governance Guidelines


39

Appendix C. Bank of Hawaii Corporation 2004 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan


45


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To be held April 26, 200230, 2004


To Our Shareholders:

        The Annual Meeting of shareholders of Pacific Century FinancialBank of Hawaii Corporation ("Pacific Century"Bank of Hawaii" or the "Company") will be held on Friday, April 26, 2002,30, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. on the Sixth Floor of the Bank of Hawaii Building, 111 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, for the following purposes:

        The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR all proposals.

        Shareholders of record of Pacific CenturyBank of Hawaii common stock (NYSE: BOH) at the close of business on February 26, 2002March 1, 2004 are entitled to attend the meeting and vote on the business brought before it.

        We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. However, if you cannot attend the meeting, your shares may still be voted if you complete, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid return envelope. You also may vote by telephone or electronically via the Internet. The accompanying proxy statement, also available online at www.boh.com, provides certain background information that will be helpful in deciding how to cast your vote on business transacted at the meeting.

Honolulu, Hawaii
Dated: March 8, 200218, 2004

IMPORTANT



PROXY STATEMENT

        The Board of Directors of Pacific Century FinancialBank of Hawaii Corporation (the("Bank of Hawaii" or the "Company" or "Pacific Century") is soliciting the enclosed proxy for the Company's 20022004 annual meeting. The proxy statement, proxy card, and the Company's 2001 Summary Annual Report to Shareholders and Annual Report on Form 10-K are first being distributed to the Company's shareholders on or about March 8, 2002.18, 2004.



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

Q:
What am I voting on?

A:
The election of directors, one amendment to the Company's CertificateBank of Incorporation,Hawaii Corporation 2004 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan and the election of an independent auditor.

Q:
Who can vote at the annual meeting?

A:
Holders of Pacific Century'sBank of Hawaii's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, as of the close of business on February 26, 2002March 1, 2004 (the "Record Date") can attend and vote at the annual meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. On the Record Date, there were 73,241,107                        shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

Q:
How many votes do we need to hold the annual meeting?

A:
The holders of at least one-third of the outstanding common stock on the Record Date entitled to vote at the annual meeting must be present to conduct business. That amount is called aquorum. Shares are counted as present at the meeting if a shareholder entitled to vote is present and votes at the meeting, has submitted a properly signed proxy, or has properly voted by telephone or overvia the Internet. We also count abstentions and broker non-votes as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a quorum.beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

Q:
What shares can I vote?

A:
You may votesvote all shares you own on the Record Date. The enclosed proxy card shows the number of shares you may vote.

Q:
How can I vote my shares in person at the annual meeting?

A:
If you are a shareholder of record, you can attend the annual meeting and vote in person the shares you hold directly in your name as the shareholder of record. If you choose to do that, please bring the enclosed proxy card or proof of identification. If you hold your shares as a beneficial owner, you must vote your shares through your broker or other nominee.
Q:
How can I vote my shares without attending the annual meeting?

A:
You may direct your vote without attending the annual meeting. You may vote by granting a proxy, or, for shares held in street name, by submitting voting instructions to your broker or other nominee. You can do that overvia the Internet, by telephone, or by mail. If your shares are held by a broker or other nominee, then you will receive instructions from it, that you must follow to have your shares voted. If you hold your shares as the shareholder of record, then you may instruct the proxies how to vote your shares, using the toll free telephone number or the Internet voting site listed on the proxy card, or by signing, dating, and mailing the proxy card in the postage paidprepaid and addressed envelope we have provided you. Please refer

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