SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
           Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                              Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  [x]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  [ ]

Check appropriate box:
[x] Preliminary Proxy Statement
                                            [ ] Confidential, For Use of the
                                                Commission Only (as permitted
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement                  by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

                              CB BANCSHARES, INC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



                                 Not Applicable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[x] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 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:

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
[ ] 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.:

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(4) Date Filed:


           PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 5, 2003

                              [CB BANCSHARES LOGO]

                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                  May 28, 2003

To our Shareholders:

         Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the
"Special Meeting") of CB Bancshares, Inc. ("Bancshares") will be held at _____,
on Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at 8:00 a.m. local time for the sole purpose of
considering, pursuant to Chapter 414E of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (the
"Hawaii Control Share Acquisitions Act"), whether to approve the acquisition
(the "Control Share Acquisition") of shares of Bancshares common stock by
Central Pacific Financial Corp. ("CPF") pursuant to CPF's proposed Offer to
Exchange, as set forth in its registration statement on Form S-4 dated April
28, 2003, and modified by CPF's press release dated May 1, 2003 (the "Proposed
Offer to Exchange").

         Pursuant to CPF's Proposed Offer to Exchange, each shareholder of
Bancshares would be entitled to elect to exchange each of its shares of
Bancshares common stock for $19.09 in cash and 1.7233 shares of CPF common
stock, or for consideration consisting solely of cash or stock of CPF.
Regardless of the type of consideration elected, the value of the consideration
to be exchanged for each share of Bancshares common stock tendered would equal
the amount determined by adding $19.09 to the product of 1.7233 and the average
closing price of CPF common stock over a 20-trading-day period ending one
trading day prior to the close of the Proposed Offer to Exchange. Shareholders
of Bancshares choosing all cash or all stock could be subject to proration.

         THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BANCSHARES HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TERMS OF
THE PROPOSED OFFER TO EXCHANGE ARE INADEQUATE AND NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF
BANCSHARES AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT BANCSHARES SHAREHOLDERS VOTE AGAINST
APPROVAL OF THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION.

         Holders of record of Bancshares common stock as of the close of
business on May 5, 2003 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Special Meeting. Approval of the Control Share Acquisition at the Special
Meeting requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
voting power of all shares of Bancshares common stock entitled to vote which
are not beneficially owned by CPF.

         The attached proxy statement contains information relating to the
Special Meeting. The proxy statement also provides you with a copy of the
Hawaii Control Share Acquisitions statute, as well as additional information
about the parties involved. CPF's Acquiring Person Information Statement, dated
April 28, 2003, is attached as Exhibit A to the proxy statement.

                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                          Caryn S. Morita
                                          Corporate Secretary

May __, 2003

         To assure your representation at the Special Meeting, please complete,
sign, date, and promptly return the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the envelope
provided for that purpose, whether or not you expect to be present at the
Special Meeting. If you attend the Special Meeting and are a record holder or
hold your shares in "street" name and have a "legal proxy" from your bank,
broker or other nominee, you may vote your shares in person.




           PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 5, 2003



                              [CB Bancshares Logo]

                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                       of
                              CB BANCSHARES, INC.

                    For the Special Meeting of Shareholders
               Under Chapter 414E of the Hawaii Revised Statutes

                           To Be Held on May 28, 2003

         This Proxy Statement is being furnished by CB Bancshares, Inc., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of Hawaii (the "Company" or
"Bancshares"), in connection with the solicitation by the Company of proxies
for the purposes described in this Proxy Statement at the Special Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 28, 2003, and at any and all adjournments or
postponements thereof (the "Special Meeting"). This Proxy Statement and the
accompanying WHITE proxy card are first being sent or given to the Company's
shareholders on or about May ___, 2003.

         The Special Meeting will be held at _____, on Wednesday, May 28, 2003,
at 8:00 a.m. local time. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business
on May 5, 2003 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting (the "Record Date").

PURPOSE OF SPECIAL MEETING

         The sole purpose of the Special Meeting is to consider and vote on a
proposal (the "Control Share Acquisition Proposal") to approve, pursuant to the
Hawaii Control Share Acquisitions Statute (the "Act") set forth in Chapter 414E
of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the acquisition (the "Control Share
Acquisition") of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock,
$1.00 par value per share, of the Company ("Common Stock"), by Central Pacific
Financial Corp., a Hawaii corporation ("CPF"), pursuant to CPF's proposed Offer
to Exchange as set forth in its registration statement on Form S-4 dated April
28, 2003, and modified by CPF's press release dated May 1, 2003 (the "Proposed
Offer to Exchange").

         Pursuant to the Proposed Offer to Exchange, each shareholder of
Bancshares would be entitled to exchange each share of Common Stock for $19.09
in cash and 1.7233 shares of common stock, no par value per share, of CPF ("CPF
Common Stock"), or for consideration consisting solely of cash or shares of CPF
Common Stock. Regardless of the type of consideration elected, the value of the
consideration to be exchanged for each share of Bancshares common stock
tendered would equal the amount determined by adding $19.09 to the product of
1.7233 and the average closing price of CPF common stock over a 20-trading-day
period ending one trading day prior to the close of the Proposed Offer to
Exchange. The proposed acquisition is described further in CPF's Acquiring
Person Information Statement dated April 28, 2003, which is attached as Annex A
to this Proxy Statement.

         As more fully described below in the section entitled "Hawaii Control
Share Acquisitions Statute," Bancshares shareholder approval must be obtained
before CPF may acquire a majority of the voting power in the election of
directors of Bancshares. If the Control Share Acquisition is not approved by
the required vote, CPF may not proceed further with the Proposed Offer to
Exchange. If Bancshares shareholders authorize the Control Share Acquisition at
the Special Meeting, CPF would not be prohibited by the Act from completing the
Proposed Offer to Exchange. However, authorization of the Control Share
Acquisition for purposes of the Act would not require any Bancshares
shareholder to accept the Proposed Offer to Exchange.

         YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE CONSIDERATION TO BE OFFERED
IN THE PROPOSED OFFER TO EXCHANGE IS INADEQUATE AND NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF BANCSHARES. ACCORDINGLY, YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS VOTE AGAINST THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION.

         IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED AND RETURNED A ______ PROXY CARD TO CPF,
YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU SIGNED THE
_________ PROXY CARD, THE BANCSHARES BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO REJECT THE
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION BY SIGNING, DATING AND
RETURNING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF BANCSHARES SHARES YOU OWN, YOUR PROXY IS IMPORTANT.
PLEASE ACT TODAY.

         IF YOUR BANCSHARES SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF A BANK, BROKER OR
OTHER NOMINEE, WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT
AND DIRECT HIM OR HER TO VOTE YOUR BANCSHARES SHARES AGAINST THE CONTROL SHARE
ACQUISITION PROPOSAL.

         If you have any questions concerning the Company's solicitation of
WHITE proxy cards, please contact our proxy solicitor:

                           Innisfree M&A Incorporated
                         501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
                            New York, New York 10022

                             Call Toll Free: 1-877-
                        Banks and Brokers call collect:     212-


VOTING AT THE SPECIAL MEETING

         At the Special Meeting, Bancshares shareholders will be asked to
consider whether to approve a resolution authorizing the Control Share
Acquisition. Under the Act, approval of the Control Share Acquisition requires
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all
shares entitled to vote which are not beneficially owned by CPF. The Act
provides that "beneficial ownership" must be determined pursuant to Section 13
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the
rules adopted thereunder. See "Shares Eligible to be Voted" below.

         A quorum will be deemed present at the Special Meeting if at least a
majority of the shares of Common Stock issued, outstanding and entitled to vote
is represented at the Special Meeting in person or by proxy. Accordingly, no
shares beneficially owned by CPF will be taken into account for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum. In accordance with the Company's Bylaws,
the Special Meeting may be adjourned, from time to time, if a quorum is not
present, without notice other than the announcement at the Special Meeting, to
such date as shall be determined by vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares of Common Stock present and entitled to vote and to such time and place
as shall be determined by the Chairman. If a quorum is present, the Special
Meeting may be adjourned, from time to time, without notice other than the
announcement at the Special Meeting, only by the Chairman of the Special
Meeting and only to such date, time and place as shall be determined by the
Chairman. Pursuant to the Act, in no event may the Special Meeting be adjourned
to a date later than June 22, 2003.

         As of May 5, 2003 there were __________ shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding. Each share of Common Stock (other than shares beneficially
owned by CPF) entitles the holder thereof to one vote on the Control Share
Acquisition Proposal.

         A vote to approve the Control Share Acquisition will not obligate a
Bancshares shareholder to tender its Bancshares shares pursuant to the Proposed
Offer to Exchange if and when it is commenced. Each shareholder of record on
the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, even if such
shareholder has sold its shares of Common Stock after the Record Date. As
discussed above, the votes of holders of shares beneficially owned by CPF will
not be taken into account in determining whether a quorum exists or whether the
Control Share Acquisition is approved.

         Whether or not a Bancshares shareholder plans to attend the Special
Meeting, the Bancshares Board of Directors urges all Bancshares shareholders to
vote AGAINST approval of the Control Share Acquisition on the accompanying
WHITE proxy card and immediately mail it in the enclosed postage paid envelope.
Each Bancshares shareholder may revoke its proxy at any time before it is voted
at the Special Meeting by delivering a written notice of revocation or a later
dated proxy for the Special Meeting to CB Bancshares, Inc., c/o Innisfree M&A
Incorporated, 501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

         Proxies for the Special Meeting also may be revoked by voting in
person at the Special Meeting, although attendance at the Special Meeting will
not in and of itself revoke a proxy. Unless revoked in the manner set forth
above, WHITE proxies received by Bancshares in the accompanying form will be
voted at the Special Meeting only in accordance with the written instructions
set forth on the proxy card. In the absence of written instructions, WHITE
proxies in the form accompanying this Proxy Statement will be voted AGAINST the
Control Share Acquisition.

         Any abstention from voting on a proxy which has not been revoked will
be included in computing the number of shares of Common Stock present for
purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting and
will have the same effect as an AGAINST vote. When brokers do not receive
voting instructions from customer, they are permitted to, and generally do,
exercise discretionary voting authority with respect to the customer's shares
on "routine" matters being voted on at the meeting. If there are non-routine
matters also being voted upon at the same meeting, the broker is not permitted
to exercise discretionary voting authority on such matters, and the shares
voted by the broker in its discretion on routine matters are considered broker
non-votes with respect to the non-routine matters. The Control Share
Acquisition Proposal is a non-routine matter and brokers may not exercise
discretionary voting authority with respect to the Control Share Acquisition
Proposal. Since, pursuant to applicable Hawaii law, there are no other matters
that may be voted upon at the Special Meeting, the Company does not believe
there will be any broker non-votes. If, however, there are any broker
non-votes, such broker non-votes will be included in the quorum and will have
the same effect as a vote AGAINST the proposal.

SHARES ELIGIBLE TO BE VOTED

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, none of the shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by CPF will be eligible to be voted at the Special
Meeting. According to the Information Statement delivered by CPF on April 28,
2003, CPF and its affiliates own in the aggregate 88,741 shares of Common
Stock. These shares of Common Stock will not be eligible to be voted at the
Special Meeting.

         CPF entered into a voting agreement and proxy (the "TON Voting
Agreement") with TON Finance, B.V. ("TON") as of April 16, 2003, pursuant to
which TON has agreed to vote 295,587 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned
by it in favor of proposals to, among other things, approve the Proposed Offer
to Exchange and any proposal to facilitate such transaction. In addition, TON
has agreed to vote its remaining 52,677 shares of Common Stock in favor of the
Proposed Offer to Exchange if, among other things, the Control Share
Acquisition Proposal is approved at the Special Meeting. TON and CPF have also
agreed that TON will vote all of its shares against any alternative proposal
that may be presented to the shareholders of the Company. The Company has
advised CPF that, as a consequence of the terms of the TON Voting Agreement,
CPF is deemed to beneficially own all of the 348,264 shares of Common Stock
owned by TON and has solicited a proxy from TON with respect to the Control
Share Acquisition Proposal sooner than 30 days prior to the Special Meeting.
Accordingly, the 348,264 shares of Common Stock owned by TON and subject to the
TON Voting Agreement are not entitled to vote to approve the Control Share
Acquisition Proposal at the Special Meeting in accordance with the Act.
However, CPF has taken a contrary position in its Acquiring Person Information
Statement and in its other public documents.

         The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned or deemed to
be beneficially owned by CPF may change prior to the Special Meeting.
Accordingly, the number of shares of Common Stock that are not eligible to vote
on the Control Share Acquisition Proposal will be finally determined as of the
time of the Special Meeting.

BACKGROUND

         Sometime late in 1999 or early in 2000, Bancshares approached CPF on
an informal basis to discuss the possibility of entering into discussions
concerning a business combination. This discussion was preliminary in nature
and was terminated prior to any formal discussion or negotiation.

         On or about May 23, 2002, CPF approached Bancshares with an indication
of interest regarding a possible combination between Bancshares and CPF. The
proposed transaction contemplated the acquisition of Bancshares by CPF in a
stock-for-stock merger.

         On June 10, 2002, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of
Bancshares met with management to discuss CPF's proposal. After careful
consideration, the Executive Committee determined not to pursue the proposal
with CPF. At the request of the Executive Committee, Bancshares delivered a
written response to CPF informing them that Bancshares was not interested in
pursuing further discussions on its proposal.

         On March 17, 2003, representatives of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ("Bear
Stearns") met with Ronald K. Migita, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Bancshares, and Dean K. Hirata, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Bancshares. Management of Bancshares believed that the purpose of
the meeting was a business courtesy call. The representatives of Bear Stearns,
identifying themselves as representing CPF, briefly discussed a proposal for
the merger of CPF and Bancshares. The contemplated cash and stock merger
intended to provide $70 in value for each share of Common Stock, comprised of
approximately 30% in cash and 70% in stock.

         On March 21, 2003, CPF delivered to Bancshares' senior management a
letter detailing the terms of the transaction proposed in the March 17
presentation. Bancshares' management met with representatives of CPF and Bear
Stearns on April 2, 2003 to seek clarification regarding certain terms of CPF's
proposal. Following that meeting, Bancshares' management believed that further
discussions with CPF's management would not be productive while it continued to
study CPF's proposal.

         On or around April 7, 2003, CPF sent another copy of its March 21,
2003 letter to each of the directors of Bancshares and City Bank, Bancshares'
wholly owned banking subsidiary. Bancshares acknowledged receipt of CPF's April
7, 2003 letter.

         On April 15, 2003, before the Bancshares Board of Directors had had an
opportunity to meet to discuss and evaluate CPF's proposal, CPF delivered a
second letter to the members of Bancshares' Board of Directors. In that letter,
CPF indicated that it was prepared to offer 1.8956 shares of CPF Common Stock
plus $21 in cash for each share of Common Stock. CPF also indicated that it
intended to publicly announce its merger proposal the following day and
requested that Bancshares respond to its proposal before 12:00 noon, Hawaii
time, on April 25, 2003. CPF also indicated in its April 15, 2003 letter that
TON had agreed to vote 295,587 of its shares of Common Stock in favor of the
proposed merger, a possible exchange offer, and other proposals that could be
made to facilitate the transaction. On April 16, CPF issued a press release
announcing its merger proposal and reiterating its April 25, deadline. On April
17, 2003 CPF held a conference call with analysts in which it presented the
details of its merger proposal.

         On April 17, 2003, the Company announced that it had received the
proposal from CPF, and on April 23, 2003 it advised CPF that the Company's
Board would address the merger proposal promptly and in an orderly manner and
would respond in a timely fashion, but not before April 25, 2003. On April 23,
the Company also issued a press release announcing that it had engaged a
financial advisor and legal counsel to assist its Board of Directors and
management team in evaluating CPF's merger proposal.

         On April 28, 2003, Bancshares received a notice from CPF demanding
that Bancshares call a special shareholders meeting under the Act for the
purpose of voting upon the Control Share Acquisition Proposal. CPF also
announced that it had filed documents with federal and state regulators in
furtherance of its attempt to seek control of Bancshares.

         On April 29, 2003, Bancshares announced that at its Board of Directors
meeting held on April 23, 2003, the Board declared a 10% stock dividend and a
cash dividend of $0.12 per common share for the second quarter of 2003, payable
on June 27, 2003 to stockholders of record on June 16, 2003. Similar 10% stock
dividends were declared in the second quarters of 2001 and 2002.

         On May 1, 2003, CPF announced that, in light of the 10% stock dividend
announced by Bancshares on April 29, it was amending its offer so that the per
share amount of cash to be paid and of shares of CPF Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Proposed Offer to Exchange was adjusted from $21.00 to $19.09
in cash and from 1.8956 to 1.7233 shares of CPF Common Stock.

         On May 2, 2003, CPF amended and supplemented its prior application
submitted to the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of
Commerce & Consumer Affairs of Hawaii to include a request that the
Commissioner of the Division approve CPF making a tender/exchange offer,
pursuant to Section 412:3-612(a)(2) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. CPF cannot
commence its Proposed Offer to Exchange until such application is approved.

         On May 4, 2003, the Board of Directors of the Company met with senior
management and the Company's independent financial and legal advisors to
consider and discuss CPF's merger proposal and Bancshares' response. After
careful consideration, the Board concluded that the CPF proposal was inadequate
and not in the best interests of the Company. The Board of Directors of the
Company authorized the issuance of a press release and delivery of a letter to
CPF communicating its determination. Accordingly, on May 4, 2003, the Company
issued a press release announcing the Board's unanimous rejection of CPF's
proposal. In addition, the letter authorized by the Board of Directors was sent
to CPF. A copy of the letter follows:

May 4, 2003


Mr. Clinton K. Arnoldus
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Central Pacific Financial Corp.
P. O. Box 3590
Honolulu, Hawaii 96811-3590

Dear Chairman Arnoldus and Directors of Central Pacific Financial Corp.:

         After a full and thorough analysis of your proposal including
consultation with our independent financial and legal advisors, the Board of
Directors of CB Bancshares, Inc. has unanimously rejected your proposal. Our
decision is based on what we believe is in the best interest of our
shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, the communities we serve, and
the economy of the State of Hawaii. After careful consideration, we have
concluded that the financial terms of your offer fail to recognize the value
that we are capable of delivering to our shareholders through the continued
execution of our current strategy. Your unsolicited proposal undervalues our
franchise, our market position and the loyalty of our customers, and raises
serious concerns about the adverse effect such a combination would have on the
people, communities and economy of Hawaii.

         As responsible members of the local business community, it is
incumbent upon us to express our regret over the tactics employed throughout
this ill-advised endeavor. A merger between two major financial institutions in
a place of our size and culture is a serious undertaking that impacts many
thousands of individuals and businesses. A transaction pursued in such an
overtly hostile manner only serves to reduce the value of both of our
franchises.

         For all of these reasons and others, we cannot in good faith offer
anything other than a rejection of your proposal. In the spirit of our founders
and for the benefit of both of our constituencies, we ask that you honor and
accept our decision. We would then welcome you back as a worthy competitor and
member of the community.


                                                     Sincerely,

                                                     /s/ Lionel Y. Tokioka
                                                     Chairman of the Board


RECOMMENDATION OF THE BANCSHARES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the CPF
proposal and the Proposed Offer to Exchange with Bancshares' independent
financial and legal advisors, the Bancshares' Board of Directors unanimously
determined that the Proposed Offer to Exchange was inadequate and not in the
best interests of Bancshares and that Bancshares shareholders should vote
AGAINST the approval of the Control Share Acquisition.

         In reaching the conclusion that the Proposed Offer to Exchange is
inadequate and not in the best interests of Bancshares and the recommendation
described above, the Bancshares Board of Directors consulted with its senior
management and its independent legal and financial advisors and took into
account numerous factors, including but not limited to the following:

i.       The Bancshares Board's familiarity with and review of Bancshares'
         business, operations, financial condition and earnings on both an
         historical and prospective basis and the historical trading prices of
         the Common Stock. In this respect, the Board noted that Bancshares'
         financial outlook has improved as a result of, among other things,
         positive momentum with compound annual earnings per share growth of
         more than 15 percent over the last five years, continued growth in
         core deposits and fee income, a declining efficiency ratio and
         improved asset quality. The Board also took into account management's
         view that, with increased loan loss reserves and significant funding
         and capital capacity, Bancshares is well positioned for future growth
         and its improved outlook is not adequately reflected in Bancshares'
         current stock price.

ii.      The written opinion, dated May 4, 2003, of Sandler O'Neill & Partners,
         L.P. ("Sandler O'Neill") to the effect that, as of the date of such
         opinion and based upon and subject to the matters set forth therein,
         the consideration to be offered in the Proposed Offer to Exchange is
         inadequate, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares
         of Common Stock, other than CPF and its affiliates. A copy of the
         opinion of Sandler O'Neill, which sets forth the matters considered,
         assumptions made, and limitations on the review undertaken by Sandler
         O'Neill is attached as Annex C hereto and is incorporated herein by
         reference. Sandler O'Neill's opinion is addressed to Bancshares' Board
         of Directors, addresses only the inadequacy, from a financial point of
         view, to the holders of shares of Common Stock of the consideration to
         be offered in the Proposed Offer to Exchange, other than CPF and its
         affiliates, and does not constitute a recommendation to any
         shareholder as to whether or not such shareholder should tender shares
         pursuant to the Proposed Offer to Exchange or with respect to how such
         shareholder should vote or act on any matter relating to the Proposed
         Offer to Exchange. Shareholders are urged to read the opinion of
         Sandler O'Neill carefully in its entirety.

iii.     The Bancshares Board's review of the business, operations, earnings
         and financial condition of CPF on both a historical and prospective
         basis. In this regard, the Bancshares Board took into account the
         possibility that CPF will face difficulties sustaining its historical
         rate of earnings growth, due to, among other things, the following
         factors:

         o    Concurrent with announcing its merger proposal, CPF management
              lowered its estimated range of earnings per share growth to 6%-8%
              from 10%-12%;

         o    The increased level of competition in the commercial real estate
              market in which CPF operates, particularly in construction
              lending, and the possibility that such increased competition
              could negatively affect CPF's revenue in the future;

         o    CPF's negative interest rate sensitivity "gap" position, which
              could reduce its ability to increase leverage and/or negatively
              impact its balance sheet if interest rates rise;

         o    CPF's dependence on share buybacks to help generate earnings per
              share growth, including the fact that since 1998 CPF has
              repurchased approximately 27% of its shares outstanding and that
              share buybacks represented as much as one-third of the trading
              volume in CPF's common stock in certain quarterly reporting
              periods; and

         o    The fact that CPF took no loan loss provision in the first
              quarter of 2003.

iv.      The fact that CPF's senior management team is new and untested, with
         three of CPF's top executive officers having assumed their present
         offices with CPF in the past year. Furthermore, the Bancshares Board
         was advised that Mr. Arnoldus, CEO and President of CPF, has only 12
         months of experience leading a publicly-traded financial institution
         and has never managed the process of consummating a bank acquisition.
         The Bancshares Board also noted that CPF recently has undertaken a
         major organizational restructuring due to perceived weaknesses in its
         existing organizational structure.

v.       The fact that, based on a review of publicly available data, CPF has
         not completed a single acquisition of another entire financial
         institution in the last 25 years and therefore lacks any institutional
         experience in successfully completing the delicate task of merging and
         integrating the operations of an institution that is more than
         three-quarters its size (based on total assets). In this regard, the
         board noted that hostile transactions such as Wells Fargo's
         acquisition of First Interstate Bancorp in 1996 have demonstrated that
         hostile acquisitions present dramatically higher execution and
         integration risk than fully consensual transactions that combine the
         best management talents of both organizations.

vi.      The Bancshares Board's review of the historical trading prices of CPF
         Common Stock. In this regard, the Bancshares Board noted,

         o    the volatility of CPF's common stock price, which during the last
              12 months has fluctuated between $15.75 and $31.08, suggesting
              that any premium currently offered to Bancshares shareholders may
              not be a reliable indicator of the future value of the CPF Common
              Stock that Bancshares shareholders would receive in the Proposed
              Offer to Exchange;

         o    that CPF's common stock was very recently trading at an all-time
              high of 2.4 times book value; and

         o    that the Common Stock outperformed CPF Common Stock over the
              three-year period ending April 16, 2003.

vii.     The negative effect that an acquisition of Bancshares by CPF can be
         expected to have on Bancshares' non-shareholder constituencies,
         including its customers, suppliers, communities, employees and the
         state of Hawaii. In this regard, the Bancshares Board noted that:

         o    approximately 10 branches of the combined company would be
              consolidated and Bancshares' loan production offices in
              California would be closed, which would result in a disruption in
              services, loss of jobs, and customer attrition, all of which
              could negatively affect the revenue of the combined company;

         o    achieving CPF's projected annual cost savings of $16 million will
              require a substantial reduction in the workforce, with many job
              cuts expected to come from middle managers, branch personnel and
              back office employees of Bancshares; and

         o    Bancshares has a long history of offering financial products and
              services that are uniquely targeted to the needs of the
              community's low and medium-income clients, and it is unlikely
              that CPF would be able to continue these products and services.

viii.    The significant antitrust and anti-competitive concerns that an
         acquisition of Bancshares by CPF would raise, especially with respect
         to the market for commercial loans to small- and medium-sized
         businesses.

ix.      The fact that the Proposed Offer to Exchange is highly conditional,
         including the following:

         o    MINIMUM TENDER CONDITION. Valid tender of a number of shares of
              Common Stock which, when added to the shares owned by CPF,
              constitute at least 75.1% of the outstanding shares of Common
              Stock on a totally diluted basis.

         o    DUE DILIGENCE CONDITION. CPF's completion of satisfactory due
              diligence on Bancshares;

         o    REGULATORY APPROVALS CONDITION. CPF's receipt of all applicable
              regulatory approvals required to consummate the acquisition of
              Bancshares, including the Federal Reserve Board and the Hawaii
              Commissionor of Financial Institutions, and the expiration or
              termination of any applicable waiting periods;

         o    CONTROL SHARE CONDITION. Receipt of the requisite approval of
              Bancshares' shareholders under the Act or CPF being satisfied, in
              its sole discretion, that such law is inapplicable or invalid;

         o    CPF SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL CONDITION. Approval of the issuance of
              shares of CPF common stock pursuant to the Bancshares acquisition
              by the shareholders of CPF in accordance with the rules of the
              New York Stock Exchange;

         o    RIGHTS PLAN CONDITION. The Board of Directors of Bancshares
              having redeemed the rights under Bancshares' shareholder rights
              agreement or such agreement having been made or found
              inapplicable or illegal;

         o    NO ADVERSE AGREEMENT OR TRANSACTION CONDITION. Bancshares' not
              having entered into or effectuated any other agreement or
              transaction with any person or entity having the effect of
              impairing CPF's ability to acquire Bancshares or otherwise
              diminishing the value of the acquisition of Bancshares; and

         o    CPF REGISTRATION STATEMENT CONDITION. The registration statement
              filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by CPF,
              relating to the securities to be issued in the Proposed Offer to
              Exchange, having become effective.


HAWAII CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITIONS STATUTE

         The Act provides that, unless otherwise expressly provided in the
articles incorporation of an issuing public corporation, any control share
acquisition with respect to such corporation requires the prior authorization
of its shareholders. An "issuing public corporation" is defined as a
corporation incorporated in Hawaii with at least one hundred shareholders and
having its principal place of business or substantial assets located in Hawaii.

         A "control share acquisition" is defined by the Act as an acquisition
of shares of any issuing public corporation resulting in beneficial ownership
by an acquiring person of any of the following ranges of voting power in the
election of directors:

         o    At least ten per cent but less than twenty per cent;

         o    At least twenty per cent but less than thirty per cent;

         o    At least thirty per cent but less than forty per cent;

         o    At least forty per cent but less than a majority; or

         o    At least a majority.

The definition of "control share acquisition" does not include, among other
things, an acquisition (i) pursuant to a merger or share exchange executed in
accordance with applicable law, if the issuing public corporation is a party to
the plan of merger or share exchange; (ii) that is approved by resolution of
the board of directors of the issuing public corporation before the acquisition
occurs; or (iii) that the board of directors of the issuing public corporation
determines, by resolution before the acquisition occurs, is not a control share
acquisition.

         A person proposing to make a control share acquisition must deliver to
the issuing public corporation an information statement containing all of the
following: (1) the identity of the person, (2) a reference that the statement
is made under Section 414E-2 of the Act, (3) the number of shares of the
issuing public corporation beneficially owned by the person, (4) the range of
voting power in the election of directors that would result from the
consummation of the control share acquisition, and (5) the terms of the
proposed control share acquisition, including but not limited to, the source of
funds or other consideration and the material terms of the financial
arrangements for the control share acquisition; any plans or proposals of the
acquiring person to liquidate the issuing public corporation, sell all or
substantially all of its assets, or merge it or exchange its shares with any
other person, change the location of its principal executive office or of a
material portion of its business activities, change materially its management
or policies of employment, alter materially its relationship with suppliers or
customers or the communities in which it operates, or make any other material
change in its business, corporate structure, management, or personnel, and such
other information which would affect the decision of a shareholder with respect
to voting on the proposed control share acquisition. A copy of the information
statement provided to the Company by CPF is attached to this Proxy Statement as
Annex A.

         A person who is required to deliver an information statement (an
"acquiring person") may consummate the proposed control share acquisition if
and only if both of the following occur:

         o    The proposed control share acquisition is approved by the
              affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power
              of all shares entitled to vote which are not beneficially owned
              by the acquiring person (the Act provides that "beneficial
              ownership" must be determined pursuant to Section 13 of the
              Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules promulgated
              thereunder, as amended); and

         o    The proposed control share acquisition is consummated within 180
              days after shareholder approval.

All shares acquired by an acquiring person in violation of the foregoing must
be denied voting rights for one year after acquisition. The shares must be
nontransferable on the books of the issuing corporation for one year after
acquisition and the issuing corporation, during the one-year period, must have
the option to call the shares for redemption either at the price at which the
shares were acquired or at book value per share as of the last day of the
fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of the call for redemption. The
redemption must occur on the date set in the call notice but not later than
sixty days after the call notice is given.

         Within five days after receipt of an information statement, a special
meeting of the shareholders of the issuing public corporation must be called to
vote on the proposed control share acquisition. The meeting must be held no
later than fifty-five days after receipt of the information statement, unless
the acquiring person agrees to a later date and no sooner than thirty days
after receipt of the information statement, unless the acquiring person so
requests in writing when delivering the information statement. The notice of
the meeting must be given within twenty-five days after receipt of the
information statement.

         Under the Act, any proxy relating to a meeting of shareholders must be
solicited separately from the offer to purchase or solicitation of an offer to
sell shares of the issuing public corporation and must not be solicited sooner
than thirty days before the meeting unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
acquiring person and the issuing public corporation.

         The foregoing summary does not purport to be a complete statement of
the provisions of the Act. The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Act (a copy of which is attached as Annex B to this Proxy
Statement).

ADMITTANCE TO SPECIAL MEETING

         You are entitled to attend the Special Meeting only if you were a
Bancshares shareholder as of the close of business on May 5, 2003 or hold a
valid proxy for the Special Meeting. You should be prepared to present photo
identification for admittance. In addition, if you are a record holder, your
name will be verified against the list of record holders on the record date
prior to being admitted to the meeting. If you are not a record holder but hold
Bancshares shares through a broker or nominee (i.e., in street name), you
should provide proof of beneficial ownership on the Record Date, such as your
most recent account statement prior to May 5, 2003, or other similar evidence
of ownership. If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the
other procedures outlined above upon request, you will not be admitted to the
Special Meeting. If you are a participant in the Bancshares Employee Stock
Ownership Plan, your name will be verified against the list of plan
participants on the Record Date prior to being admitted to the meeting.

VOTING, SOLICITATION AND CERTAIN OTHER INFORMATION

         Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone, telegram, facsimile,
electronic mail and other electronic means and in person. Solicitations may be
made by directors, officers, investor relations personnel and other employees
of Bancshares, none of whom will receive additional compensation for such
solicitations. Bancshares has requested banks, brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward all of its solicitation
materials to the beneficial owners of the Bancshares shares they hold of
record. Bancshares will reimburse these record holders for customary clerical
and mailing expenses incurred by them in forwarding these materials to their
customers.

         Bancshares has retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated ("Innisfree") for
solicitation and advisory services in connection with the Special Meeting and
the Company's communications with the Bancshares shareholders with respect to
the Proposed Offer to Exchange. Innisfree will receive a fee of approximately
$____ for its services and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses in
connection therewith. The Company has agreed to indemnify Innisfree against
certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with the engagement.
Innisfree will solicit proxies from individuals, brokers, banks, bank nominees
and other institutional holders.

         Bancshares has retained Sandler O'Neill as independent financial
advisor in connection with, among other things, the Company's analysis and
consideration of the Proposed Offer to Exchange. The Company has agreed to pay
Sandler O'Neill a reasonable and customary fee for such services. The Company
has also agreed to reimburse Sandler O'Neill for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses, including fees of counsel, and to indemnify them and certain related
persons against certain liabilities relating to, or arising out of, the
engagement. In the ordinary course of business, Sandler O'Neill may purchase
securities from and sell securities to Bancshares and CPF or their affiliates.
Sandler O'Neill may also actively trade the equity and/or debt securities of
both Bancshares and CPF or their affiliates for their own account and for the
accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short
position in such securities.

         The entire expense of the solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors of Bancshares for the Special Meeting is being borne by Bancshares.
Bancshares' costs incidental to this proxy solicitation include expenditures
for printing, postage, legal and related expenses and are expected to be
approximately $_____ (which amount does not include costs incurred in
connection with the Proposed Offer to Exchange). Bancshares' total costs
incurred to date in furtherance of or in connection with this proxy
solicitation are approximately $______.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF BANCSHARES COMMON SHARES

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

         To the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth below, no person
beneficially owns more than five percent of any class of the Company's voting
stock. The following table presents information as of May 1, 2003 derived from
Schedules 13D filed with the Commission by persons beneficially owning more
than five percent of the Common Shares:





                                                 Number of Shares and
                                                       Nature of
  Name and Address of Beneficial Owner         Beneficial Ownership (1)            Percent of Class (1)
------------------------------------------    ----------------------------     -----------------------------
                                                                             
TON Finance, B.V.
   De Ruyterkade 120 1011 AB
   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Central Pacific Financial Corp.
   220 South King Street
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96813................             437,005(2)                         11.15%

CB Bancshares, Inc. Employee Stock
   Ownership Plan
   Pacific Century Trust, Trustee
   Financial Plaza of the Pacific
   111 South King Street
   Honolulu, Hawaii  96813...............             265,535 (3)                         6.77%


(1)      Percentage of ownership is based on 3,919,388 shares of common stock
         outstanding as of May 1, 2003. Beneficial ownership is determined in
         accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.

(2)      Based on (i) the Schedule 13D filed by CPF with the Commission on
         April 25, 2003 (the "CPF 13D") and (ii) the Schedule 13D (Amendment
         No. 1) filed by TON with the Commission on January 31, 2003 (the "TON
         13D"). The TON 13D states that TON owns 348,264 shares of Common
         Stock. In the CPF 13D, CPF states that CPF has sole voting and
         dispositive power with respect to 88,741 shares of Common Stock, and
         shares voting power with TON with respect to 295,587 shares pursuant
         to the terms of the TON Voting Agreement. In the April 13D, CPF
         disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock covered
         by the Voting Agreement. The Company, however, believes that CPF is
         deemed to beneficially own all of the 348,264 shares of Common Stock
         owned by TON.

(3)      Participants in the CB Bancshares, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan
         ("ESOP") are entitled to direct the ESOP Trustee how to vote shares
         which have been allocated to their respective accounts. In the absence
         of such direction, such shares will be voted by the Retirement
         Benefits Committee. The Trustee has sole investment power.


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

         The following table presents share ownership for the Directors and the
named executive officers as of the close of business on May 1, 2003. Unless
there is a footnote to the contrary, sole voting and investment power in the
shares owned are held either by the named individual alone or by the named
individual and his or her spouse.



                                      Number of Shares of
                                           Bancshares                Percent of
                                   Common Stock Beneficially           Shares
             Name                          Owned (1)               Outstanding (1)
--------------------------------  -----------------------------  --------------------
                                                                 
Donald J. Andres...............            11,386 (7)                     *
Ronald K. Migita...............            50,976 (8)                   1.29%
Calvin K. Y. Say...............             5,730 (2)                     *
Dwight L. Yoshimura............             5,730 (2)                     *
Colbert M. Matsumoto...........            27,094 (2)(3)(4)               *
Lionel Y. Tokioka..............            39,278 (3)(5)                  *
Maurice H. Yamasato............             5,924 (6)                     *
Tomio Fuchu....................             5,730 (2)                     *
Duane K. Kurisu................             6,940 (2)                     *
Mike K. Sayama.................             5,730 (9)                     *
Richard C. Lim.................            32,199 (10)                    *
Dean K. Hirata.................            10,029 (11)                    *
Jasen H. Takei.................            26,539 (12)                    *
Warren Y. Kunimoto.............            21,239 (13)                    *
Weld, Douglas..................                --                        --
Directors and Executive
Officers
   as a group (15 persons).....           254,524                       6.29%

* Less than 1 percent.

(1)      Percentage of ownership is based on 3,919,388 shares of common stock
         outstanding as of May 1, 2003. Beneficial ownership is determined in
         accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.

(2)      These shares include 5,730 shares held under exercisable options.

(3)      Includes 19,714 shares of Bancshares common stock owned by Island
         Insurance Co., Ltd. Colbert M. Matsumoto and Lionel Y. Tokioka,
         directors of Bancshares, are also directors of Island Insurance Co.,
         Ltd; as such, they may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power
         with respect to those 19,714 shares. Messrs. Matsumoto and Tokioka
         disclaim beneficial ownership of those 19,714 shares.

(4)      Includes 425 shares owned by Island Holdings, Inc. Profit Sharing
         401(k) Plan. Colbert M. Matsumoto is a member of the Administrative
         Committee of Island Holdings, Inc. Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan; as
         such, he may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with
         respect to those 425 shares. Mr. Matsumoto disclaims beneficial
         ownership of those 425 shares.

(5)      Of the 39,278 shares beneficially owned by Lionel Y. Tokioka, 5,730
         shares are held under exercisable options. Not included in the 39,278
         shares owned by Mr. Tokioka are 1,060 shares owned by Thym, Inc., a
         related corporation, and 1,492 shares owned by his spouse, as to which
         he disclaims any beneficial ownership.

(6)      Of the 5,924 shares beneficially owned by Maurice H. Yamasato, 3,310
         shares are held under exercisable options.

(7)      Of the 11,386 shares beneficially owned by Donald J. Andres, 2,026
         shares are owned jointly with his former spouse as to which he shares
         voting and investment power, 1,210 shares are owned by Mr. Andres,
         2,420 shares are owned by a family limited partnership, as to which he
         exercises sole voting and investment power, and 5,730 shares are held
         under exercisable options.

(8)      Of 50,976 shares beneficially owned by Ronald K. Migita, 19,575 shares
         are held by a trust with Mr. Migita and his spouse as co-trustees, as
         to which he shares voting and investment power, 2,966 shares are owned
         by Mr. Migita and 27,401 shares are held under exercisable options. Of
         the 2,966 shares owned by Mr. Migita, 1,034 shares are allocated to
         his account in the ESOP, the voting of which shares he is entitled to
         direct.

(9)      Of the 5,730 shares beneficially owned by Mike K. Sayama, 5,565 shares
         are held under exercisable options.

(10)     Mr. Lim beneficially owned 32,199 shares of Common Stock, which
         included 1,513 shares allocated to his account in the ESOP, the voting
         of which shares he is entitled to direct. These shares include 16,862
         shares held under exercisable options.

(11)     Mr. Hirata beneficially owned 10,029 shares of Common Stock, which
         included 477 shares allocated to his account in the ESOP, the voting
         of which shares he is entitled to direct. These shares include 5,702
         shares held under exercisable options.

(12)     Mr. Takei beneficially owned 26,539 shares of Common Stock, which
         included 1,004 shares allocated to his account in the ESOP, the voting
         of which shares he is entitled to direct. These shares include 15,903
         shares held under exercisable options.

(13)     Mr. Kunimoto beneficially owned 21,239 shares of Common Stock, which
         included 878 shares allocated to his account in the ESOP, the voting
         of which shares he is entitled to direct. These shares include 12,784
         shares held under exercisable options.


NO DISSENTER'S RIGHTS

         Dissenters' rights are not available to the shareholders of an
"issuing public corporation" in connection with the approval of a "control
share acquisition" under the Act.

OTHER MATTERS

         Pursuant to applicable Hawaii law, no other business may be brought
before the Special Meeting. However, if any other matter properly comes before
the Special Meeting, the named proxies will vote all proxies granted to them in
their sole discretion.

INFORMATION ABOUT BANCSHARES

         Bancshares is a Hawaii corporation with its principal executive
offices located at 201 Merchant Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. The telephone
number of Bancshares is (808) 535-2500.

         Bancshares is subject to the informational requirements of the
Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other information
with the Commission. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by
Bancshares may be obtained on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov
and directly from the Commission, upon payment of the Commission's customary
charges, by writing to its principal office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room
1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. Such materials also are available for inspection
and copying at the principal office of the Commission at the address set forth
immediately above, at the Commission's regional offices at 233 Broadway, New
York, New York 10279 and 175 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois
60604.

INFORMATION ABOUT CPF

         CPF is a Hawaii corporation with its principal executive offices
located at 220 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. The telephone number
of CPF is (808) 544-0500.

         CPF is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act,
and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the
Commission. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by CPF may be
obtained on the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov and directly from
the Commission, upon payment of the Commission's customary charges, by writing
to its principal office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C.
20549. Such materials also are available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of the Commission at the address set forth immediately above,
at the Commission's regional offices at 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10279
and 175 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         In order for a shareholder proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 to be
eligible to be included in Bancshares' proxy statement and form of proxy for
the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders, such proposal much be received by
Bancshares no later than November 14, 2003. Proposals must be submitted in
writing and sent to the Secretary of Bancshares at CB Bancshares, Inc., 201
Merchant Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

         A shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the Company's
annual meeting in 2004, other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, must provide the Company notice of the proposal no later
than January 28, 2004, or management of the Company will have discretionary
voting authority at the 2004 annual meeting with respect to any such proposal
without providing any advice on the nature of the proposal in the Company's
annual meeting proxy statement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This Proxy Statement may be deemed to include forward-looking
statements, such as statements that relate to Bancshares' financial results.
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intent," "estimate," "may increase," "may
fluctuate," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as
"will," "should," "would," and "could." Forward-looking statements are
Bancshares current estimates or expectations of future events or future
results. For such statements, Bancshares claims the protection of the safe
harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from
those indicated by these statements because the realization of those results is
subject to many risks and uncertainties. Bancshares' 2002 Annual Report on Form
10-K and other periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission
contain additional information about factors that could affect actual results.
All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on
information available at the time of the release, and Bancshares assumes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

OTHER INFORMATION

         The information concerning CPF and the Proposed Offer to Exchange
contained herein has been taken from, or is based upon, publicly available
documents on file with the Commission and other publicly available information.
Although Bancshares has no knowledge that would indicate that statements
relating to CPF and the Proposed Offer to Exchange contained in this Proxy
Statement in reliance upon publicly available information are inaccurate or
incomplete, it has not to date had access to the books and records of CPF, was
not involved in the preparation of such information and statements and is not
in a position to verify any such information or statements. Accordingly,
Bancshares does not take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of
such information or for any failure by CPF to disclose events that may have
occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information.

         YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED WHITE
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY AND ADVISE EACH BANK, BROKER OR OTHER NOMINEE HOLDER OF
BANCSHARES SHARES TO VOTE YOUR BANCSHARES SHARES AGAINST THE CONTROL SHARE
ACQUISITION PROPOSAL DESCRIBED ABOVE.

                                  ------------

Subject to future developments, CB Bancshares may file with the SEC a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 relating to any
tender/exchange offer made by Central Pacific Financial Corp. Shareholders of
CB Bancshares are advised to read CB Bancshares' Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 when it becomes available because it will contain
important information. Shareholders of CB Bancshares and other interested
parties may obtain, free of charge, copies of the Schedule 14D-9 (when
available) and other documents filed by CB Bancshares with the SEC at the SEC's
internet website at www.sec.gov. Each of these documents (when available) may
also be obtained, free of charge, by calling investor relations at CB
Bancshares at 808-546-8413.



                                                                       Annex A

                     ACQUIRING PERSON INFORMATION STATEMENT

This Acquiring Person Information Statement (this "Statement"), dated as of
April 28, 2003, is being delivered at the principal executive offices of CB
Bancshares, Inc., a Hawaii corporation (the "Company") at 201 Merchant Street,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

         1. IDENTITY OF THE ACQUIRING PERSON. Central Pacific Financial
Corp., a Hawaii corporation ("CPF" or the "Acquiring Person"). The principal
executive office of the Acquiring Person is 220 South King Street, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96813.

         2. DELIVERED PURSUANT TO HAWAII LAW. The Acquiring Person is
delivering this Statement pursuant to Section 414E-2(c) of Chapter 414E
(Control Share Acquisitions) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended.(1)

--------
(1) Notwithstanding the making and delivery of this Statement, the Acquiring
Person reserves all rights to (i) challenge the constitutionality, validity
and/or legality of all or any part of Chapter 414E and related provisions of
the Hawaii Revised Statues, as amended, and the application of such provisions
to the Acquiring Person's acquisition of capital stock of CB or the Exchange
Offer (as defined herein) and/or (ii) seek an amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of CB to provide that Chapter 414E and related
provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended, do not apply to control
share acquisitions of capital stock, including, but not limited to, pursuant to
the Exchange Offer (as defined herein).


         3. NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED. The Acquiring Person is
currently the beneficial owner of 88,741 shares of the outstanding common
stock, $1.00 par value per share, of CB ("Common Shares"). On April 25, 2003,
Acquiring Person filed information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on Schedule 13D
covering 384,328 Common Shares. The filing of the Schedule 13D should not be
construed as an admission by Acquiring Person that it is, for the purpose of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, or any other federal or State law, including
specifically Chapter 414E, the beneficial owner of any Common Shares other than
the 88,741 shares reported therein.

         4. RANGE OF VOTING POWER IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF CB THAT
WOULD RESULT FROM THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION. If consummated, the proposed
transaction (the "Control Share Acquisition") would result in the acquisition
of at least a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company.

         5. TERMS OF THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION. On the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer filed by the Acquiring Person
as a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2003 (as amended from time to time, the
"Exchange Offer"), the Acquiring Person seeks to acquire at least a majority
and up to 100% of the outstanding Common Shares. A copy of the Exchange Offer
is attached as Exhibit A hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. In
addition to the acquisition of shares in the Exchange Offer, the Acquiring
Person reserves the right to purchase Common Shares in privately negotiated
transactions and in open market purchases.

SOURCE OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION AND THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION. The Acquiring Person will
utilize shares of its common stock and cash available from working capital,
proceeds from the sale of Trust Preferred Securities, of which $15 million has
been raised, and dividends from its subsidiaries as described in the attached
Exchange Offer. The Acquiring Person will seek the approval of its shareholders
to issue additional shares as required by the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange.

PLANS OR PROPOSALS OF ACQUIRING PERSON TO LIQUIDATE THE COMPANY, SELL ALL OR
SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ITS ASSETS, OR MERGE IT OR EXCHANGE ITS SHARES WITH ANY
OTHER PERSON. The purpose of the Control Share Acquisition is for the Acquiring
Person to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, the
Company. As soon as practicable after completion of the Control Share
Acquisition, and subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Acquiring
Person intends to seek to have the Company complete a merger with the Acquiring
Person, or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Acquiring Person ("Merger"), in
which each outstanding share of capital stock of the Company (except for
treasury shares of the Company and shares beneficially owned directly or
indirectly by the Acquiring Person for its own account) would be converted into
the right to receive the same consideration to be paid in the Exchange Offer
subject to dissenters' rights available under Hawaii law. Pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, each Company shareholder may elect to exchange each Common
Share for cash, the Acquiring Person's common stock, or a fixed exchange of
$21.00 in cash plus 1.8956 shares of the Acquiring Person's common stock.
Regardless of the type of election made by the Company's shareholders, the
value of the consideration received for each tendered Common Share will be the
same. The value of the per share consideration will equal $21.00 plus the
product of 1.8956 and the average closing price of the Acquiring Person's
common stock for the 20 trading day period ending on one trading day prior to
the expiration date of the exchange offer. Depending on the elections made by
the Company's shareholders, those choosing all cash or all stock may be subject
to proration. For a more detailed description of the terms and conditions of
the Control Share Acquisition, reference is made to the information set forth
in the attached Exchange Offer.

No determination has been made with respect to the sale or transfer of a
material amount of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, but if the
Control Share Acquisition and the Merger are consummated, it is likely that
bank offices outside of Hawaii will be closed and that the resulting combined
branch network will be evaluated for consolidation opportunities. It is
currently estimated that up to 10 branches of the combined branch network may
be closed.

CHANGE THE LOCATION OF ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OR A MATERIAL PORTION OF
ITS BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. Upon completion of the Merger it is expected that the
principal executive office of the Company will be consolidated with the
principal executive office of the Acquiring Person at 220 South King Street,
Honolulu. It is expected that the business activities of the Company will
remain substantially the same except that such activities will be conducted
under the name of the Acquiring Person and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

CHANGE MATERIALLY ITS MANAGEMENT OR POLICIES OF EMPLOYMENT. It is anticipated
that senior management of Acquiring Person will continue in such capacities
following the Control Share Acquisition and Merger. Upon completion of the
Merger, Acquiring Person will consider offering certain members of the
Company's management and its board of directors management positions and board
seats, respectively, with the Acquiring Person or its subsidiaries, in its sole
discretion. Directors, who do not become members of the board of directors of
the Acquiring Person, may be offered membership on an advisory board of the
Acquiring Person. Upon completion of the Merger, it is expected that employees
of the Company will be offered, to the extent possible, similar positions at
the Acquiring Person or its subsidiaries and will be entitled to participate in
insurance and other benefit programs under Acquiring Person's benefit plans.

ALTER MATERIALLY ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SUPPLIERS OR CUSTOMERS OR THE
COMMUNITIES IN WHICH IT OPERATES. Upon completion of the Merger, the Acquiring
Person does not expect to alter the relationship between the Company and its
customers in any material respect. With respect to suppliers, it is expected
that the Acquiring Person will review all vendor relationships prior to the
Merger and eventually consolidate or eliminate duplicate functions. Acquiring
Person does not expect to abandon any community in which the Company or
Acquiring Person currently operates.

ANY OTHER MATERIAL CHANGE IN ITS BUSINESS, CORPORATE STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT,
PERSONNEL, AND SUCH OTHER INFORMATION WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE DECISION OF A
SHAREHOLDER WITH RESPECT TO VOTING ON THE PROPOSED CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION.
Acquiring Person does not currently anticipate any material change to the
business, corporate structure, management, or personnel that is not referred to
in this Information Statement or in the Exchange Offer and related registration
statement. The Acquiring Person hereby represents that it has the financial
capacity to fully consummate such proposed Control Share Acquisition upon the
terms and subject to the conditions described herein and in the Exchange Offer.
The facts upon which the foregoing representations are based are set forth in
the Exchange Offer.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Central Pacific Financial Corp. has caused this
Information Statement to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the
date first set forth above.

                                            CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP.

                                            By:  /s/ Clint Arnoldus
                                                 ______________________
                                                  Name:  Clint Arnoldus
                                                  Title: President





                                                                      Annex B

                       HAWAII CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITIONS


                                  CHAPTER 414E


ss.414E-1.  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context
otherwise requires:

         "Acquiring person" means a person who is required to deliver an
information statement.

         "Beneficial ownership" shall be determined pursuant to section 13 of
the federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules adopted thereunder,
as amended.

         "Control share acquisition" means an acquisition of shares of an
issuing public corporation resulting in beneficial ownership by an acquiring
person of a new range of voting power specified in this chapter, but does not
include an acquisition:

         (1) Before or pursuant to an agreement entered into before July 1,
1987;

         (2) By a donee pursuant to an inter vivos gift not made to avoid this
chapter or by a distributee as defined in chapter 560;

         (3) Pursuant to a security agreement not created to avoid this
chapter;

         (4) Pursuant to a merger or share exchange executed in accordance with
applicable law, if the issuing public corporation is a party to the plan of
merger or share exchange;

         (5) From the issuing public corporation;

         (6) That is approved by resolution of the board of directors of the
issuing public corporation before the acquisition occurs; or

         (7) That the board of directors of the issuing public corporation
determines, by resolution before the acquisition occurs, is not a control share
acquisition.

         "Issuing public corporation" means a corporation incorporated in this
State with at least one hundred shareholders and having its principal place of
business or substantial assets located in this State.

ss.414E-2.  Control share acquisitions.

         (a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the articles of
incorporation of an issuing public corporation, this section applies to a
control share acquisition.

         (b) All shares acquired by an acquiring person in violation of
subsection (e) shall be denied voting rights for one year after acquisition.
The shares shall be nontransferable on the books of the corporation for one
year after acquisition and the corporation, during the one-year period, shall
have the option to call the shares for redemption either at the price at which
the shares were acquired or at book value per share as of the last day of the
fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of the call for redemption. The
redemption shall occur on the date set in the call notice but not later than
sixty days after the call notice is given.

         (c) A person proposing to make a control share acquisition shall
deliver to the issuing public corporation at its principal executive office an
information statement containing all of the following:

                  (1) The identity of the person;

                  (2) A reference that the statement is made under this
section;

                  (3) The number of shares of the issuing public corporation
beneficially owned by the person;

                  (4) A specification of which of the following ranges of
voting power in the election of directors would result from consummation of the
control share acquisition:

                      (A) At least ten per cent but less than twenty per cent;

                      (B) At least twenty per cent but less than thirty per
cent;

                      (C) At least thirty per cent but less than forty per
cent;

                      (D) At least forty per cent but less than a majority; or

                      (E) At least a majority; and

                  (5) The terms of the proposed control share acquisition,
including, but not limited to, the source of funds or other consideration and
the material terms of the financial arrangements for the control share
acquisition; any plans or proposals of the acquiring person to liquidate the
issuing public corporation, sell all or substantially all of its assets, or
merge it or exchange its shares with any other person, change the location of
its principal executive office or of a material portion of its business
activities, change materially its management or policies of employment, alter
materially its relationship with suppliers or customers or the communities in
which it operates, or make any other material change in its business, corporate
structure, management, or personnel, and such other information which would
affect the decision of a shareholder with respect to voting on the proposed
control share acquisition.

         (d) Within five days after receipt of an information statement
pursuant to subsection (c), a special meeting of the shareholders of the
issuing public corporation shall be called pursuant to section 414-122, to vote
on the proposed control share acquisition. The meeting shall be held no later
than fifty-five days after receipt of the information statement, unless the
acquiring person agrees to a later date and no sooner than thirty days after
receipt of the information statement, unless the acquiring person so requests
in writing when delivering the information statement. The notice of the meeting
at a minimum shall be accompanied by a copy of the information statement, and a
statement disclosing that the issuing public company recommends:

                  (1) Acceptance of;

                  (2) Expresses no opinion and is remaining neutral toward; or

                  (3) Is unable to take a position with respect to;

the proposed control share acquisition.

         The notice of meeting shall be given within twenty-five days after
receipt of the information statement.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, a proxy relating to a
meeting of shareholders required under this subsection must be solicited
separately from the offer to purchase or solicitation of an offer to sell
shares of the issuing public corporation and must not be solicited sooner than
thirty days before the meeting unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
acquiring person and the issuing public corporation.

         (e) The acquiring person may consummate the proposed control share
acquisition if and only if both the following occur:

                  (1) The proposed control share acquisition is approved by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares
entitled to vote which are not beneficially owned by the acquiring person. A
class or series of shares of the corporation is entitled to vote as a class or
series if any provision of the control share acquisition would, if contained in
a proposed amendment to the articles, entitle the class or series to vote as a
class or series; and

                  (2) The proposed control share acquisition is consummated
within one hundred eighty days after shareholder approval.






                                                                       Annex C


                [Letterhead of Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.]


May 4, 2003


Board of Directors
CB Bancshares, Inc.
201 Merchant Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813


Gentlemen:

         On April 16, 2003, Central Pacific Financial Corp. ("CPF") announced a
proposal for a merger of CB Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") with and into CPF.
In furtherance of that proposal, on April 28, 2003, CPF filed a Registration
Statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Registration Statement") setting forth the proposed terms of an exchange offer
(the "CPF Offer") for all outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, par
value $1.00 per share (the "Company Common Stock"). Pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the CPF Offer as more fully set forth in the Prospectus (the "CPF
Prospectus") contained in the Registration Statement, CPF proposes to exchange
1.8956 shares of common stock, no par value per share, of CPF (the "CPF Common
Stock") and $21.00 in cash for each of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Company Common Stock, or at the election of the shareholders of the Company,
consideration consisting solely of cash or shares of CPF Common Stock, subject
to election and proration procedures which provide generally, among other
things, that the total amount of cash paid by CPF in the CPF Offer will not
exceed the product of $21.00 multiplied by the total number of shares of the
Company Common Stock accepted for exchange and the total number of shares of
CPF Common Stock issued by CPF in the CPF Offer will not exceed the product of
1.8956 multiplied by the total number of shares of Company Common Stock
accepted for exchange (the "Initial Consideration"). Thereafter, on May 1,
2003, CPF announced that the per share amounts of cash to be paid and shares of
CPF Common Stock to be issued in the CPF Offer will be adjusted from $21.00 to
$19.09 in cash and from 1.8956 to 1.7233 shares of CPF Common Stock for each
share of the Company Common Stock (the "Adjustments") as a result of the
announcement by the Company of a 10% stock dividend on April 29, 2003. The
Initial Consideration, as modified by the Adjustments, is referred to herein as
the "Consideration." The CPF Prospectus states that CPF presently intends,
after completion of the CPF Offer, to merge the Company with CPF or a
wholly-owned subsidiary of CPF pursuant to which each outstanding share of the
Company Common Stock (other than shares of Company Common Stock held by CPF,
shares of Company Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company and shares
of Company Common Stock held by shareholders who properly exercise their
dissenters' rights under Hawaii law) would be converted into the right to
receive the Consideration (such subsequent transaction, together with the CPF
Offer, being hereinafter referred to as the "CPF Acquisition Proposal").

         You have asked us to advise you with respect to the adequacy, from a
financial point of view, of the Consideration to the holders of the Company
Common Stock, other than CPF and its affiliates.

         Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P., as part of its investment banking
business, is regularly engaged in the valuation of financial institutions and
their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other
corporate transactions. In connection with this opinion, we have, among other
things: (i) reviewed the CPF Prospectus and certain related documents,
including, without limitation, the investor presentation dated April 17, 2003
filed on Form 425 by CPF on April 16, 2003, and a draft dated May 4, 2003 of
the Company's Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission; (ii) reviewed certain publicly available financial
statements and other historical financial information of the Company that we
deemed relevant; (iii) reviewed certain publicly available financial statements
and other historical financial information of CPF that we deemed relevant; (iv)
reviewed internal financial projections for the Company for the years ending
December 31, 2003 and 2004 prepared by and reviewed with senior management of
the Company and conducted limited discussions with members of senior management
of the Company regarding the Company's business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects; (v) reviewed earnings per share estimates for CPF
for the years ending December 31, 2003 and 2004 published by I/B/E/S; (vi)
reviewed the publicly reported historical price and trading activity for the
Company Common Stock and CPF Common Stock; (vii) reviewed certain publicly
reported financial and stock market data for each of the Company and CPF and
compared that data with similar publicly available information for certain
other publicly traded companies that we deemed relevant; (viii) considered the
financial terms of certain recent business combinations in the commercial
banking industry, to the extent publicly available; and (ix) considered the
current market environment generally and the banking environment in particular
and such other information, financial studies, analyses and investigations and
financial, economic and market criteria as we considered relevant. In
connection with our engagement, we were not requested to solicit indications of
interest from, and did not hold discussions with, third parties regarding the
possible acquisition of all or part of the Company.

         In performing our review, we have relied upon the accuracy and
completeness of all of the financial and other information that was available
to us from public sources, that was provided to us by the Company or its
representatives or that was otherwise reviewed by us and have assumed such
accuracy and completeness for purposes of rendering this opinion. We have
further relied on the assurances of management that they are not aware of any
facts or circumstances that would make any of such information inaccurate or
misleading. We have not been asked to and have not undertaken an independent
verification of any of such information and we do not assume any responsibility
or liability for the accuracy or completeness thereof. We did not make an
independent evaluation or appraisal of the specific assets, the collateral
securing assets or the liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of the Company, or
the collectibility of any such assets, nor have we been furnished with any such
evaluations or appraisals. We did not make an independent evaluation of the
adequacy of the allowance for loan losses of the Company nor have we reviewed
any individual credit files relating to the Company and, with your permission,
we have assumed that the Company's allowance for loan losses is adequate to
cover such losses. We are not accountants and have relied upon the reports of
the independent accountants for the Company for the accuracy and completeness
of the audited financial statements made available to us. With respect to the
financial projections reviewed with management, management has confirmed that
they reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments of management
of the future financial performance of the Company and we have assumed that
such performance will be achieved. We express no opinion as to such financial
projections or the assumptions on which they are based. We have assumed in all
respects material to our analysis that the Company will remain as a going
concern for all periods relevant to our analyses and have also assumed that
there has been no material adverse change in the Company's assets, financial
condition, results of operations, business or prospects since the date of the
most recent financial statements made available to us.

         As you are aware, we have not had access to non-public information
regarding CPF, nor have we had an opportunity to conduct customary due
diligence with respect to business, financial or other information relating to
CPF. With respect to the financial projections for CPF used in our analyses, we
have based our analyses on a review of earnings per share estimates for CPF and
public statements of CPF management regarding CPF's expected future
performance, including estimates of future cost savings anticipated to result
from the consummation of the CPF Acquisition Proposal contained in certain
communications from CPF that were made available to the public and filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. We express no opinion as to such
financial projections or the assumptions on which they are based.

         Our opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and
other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to us as
of, the date hereof. Events occurring after the date hereof could materially
affect this opinion. We have not undertaken to update, revise, reaffirm or
withdraw this opinion or otherwise comment upon events occurring after the date
hereof. We are expressing no opinion herein as to the prices at which the
Company Common Stock or CPF Common Stock may trade at any time.

         We are acting as the Company's financial advisor in connection with
the CPF Acquisition Proposal and will receive a fee from the Company for our
services.

         In the ordinary course of our business as a broker-dealer, we may
purchase securities from and sell securities to the Company and CPF or their
affiliates. We may also actively trade the equity and/or debt securities of
both the Company and CPF or their affiliates for our own account and for the
accounts of our customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or
short position in such securities.

         It is understood that this letter is for the information of the Board
of Directors in connection with its consideration of the CPF Acquisition
Proposal and does not constitute a recommendation to any shareholder as to
whether or not such shareholder should tender shares pursuant to the CPF Offer
or with respect to how such shareholder should vote or act on any matter
relating to the CPF Offer. Our opinion is not to be quoted or referred to, in
whole or in part, in a registration statement, prospectus, proxy statement or
in any other document, nor shall this opinion be used for any other purposes,
without our prior written consent; provided, however, that we hereby consent to
the inclusion of this opinion as an annex to each of the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 and the Proxy Statement
on Schedule 14A to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission with respect to the CPF Offer and to the references to this opinion
therein.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that, as of
the date hereof, the Consideration is inadequate, from a financial point of
view, to the holders of the Company Common Stock, other than CPF and its
affiliates.


                                          Very truly yours,


                                          /s/ Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.





                                   IMPORTANT

         Your vote is important! No matter how many shares of Bancshares common
stock you own, please give your Board of Directors your support and your vote
by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the postage
paid envelope provided.

         If you have any questions, or need any assistance in voting your
Bancshares shares, please contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated, at the address or
phone numbers set forth below. If any Bancshares shares are held in the name of
a brokerage firm, bank, bank nominee or other institution, only it can vote
such Bancshares shares and only upon receipt of your specific instructions.
Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your account and advise
them to vote AGAINST the Control Share Acquisition.

                           Innisfree M&A Incorporated
                         501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
                            New York, New York 10022

                             Call Toll Free: 1-877-
                      Banks and Brokers call collect: 212-



           PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 5, 2003

                                     PROXY

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CB BANCSHARES, INC. FOR
THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF CB BANCSHARES, INC.

               UNDER CHAPTER 414E OF THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES

         The undersigned hereby appoints _____________, ___________ and
____________, and each of them, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, attorneys and proxies of the undersigned to vote all of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of CB
Bancshares, Inc. ("Bancshares") that the undersigned is entitled to vote, and
with all the power that the undersigned would possess, if personally present,
at the Special Meeting of Bancshares shareholders to be held on May 28, 2003
(the "Special Meeting"), or at any adjournment or postponement of the Special
Meeting, on the following matter:

         ACQUISITION PROPOSAL. A resolution of Bancshares' shareholders
approving the acquisition by Central Pacific Financial Corp. of shares of
Bancshares common stock pursuant to the proposed Offer to Exchange by Central
Pacific Financial Corp. dated April 28, 2003, as the same may be amended.

                 [ ] AGAINST      [ ] FOR        [ ] ABSTAIN

             YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
                      AGAINST THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH ABOVE

         In their discretion, the proxies named above are authorized to vote
upon such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting and any
adjournment or postponement thereof. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSAL.


                              All previous proxies given by
                              the undersigned to vote at
                              the Special Meeting or at any
                              adjournment or postponement
                              thereof are hereby revoked.


                              __________________________ Date: __________, 2003
                              (Signature)

                              --------------------------
                              (Signature, if jointly held)

                              --------------------------
                              (Title)


NOTE: Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Joint owners should
each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give your full title as such. If signing on behalf of a
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the president or other
authorized officer(s). If signing on behalf of a partnership, please sign in
full partnership name by authorized person(s).