Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire services
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HAWAII
Go!'s planes less full in August
Mesa Air Group's interisland carrier go carried more passengers in August than a year ago but its planes weren't as full.
Go!, which began Hawaii operations in June 2006, said yesterday that its load factor, or percentage of seats filled, was 70.66 percent last month versus 71.49 percent a year ago. However, the airline's passenger count rose 14.1 percent to 75,037 passengers compared with 65,736 last year.
Its available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, increased 18.3 percent to 15.4 million from 13.02 million. Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile rose 17.1 percent to 10.9 million from 9.31 million.
Go!'s on-time performance rate was 82 percent, down from 92.3 percent a year ago.
Separately, go! said it will donate $1 to Muscular Dystrophy Association Hawaii for round trips purchased now through next Monday for travel during the same period.
Insurer to offer hurricane option
Universal North America Insurance Co. has been approved by the state Insurance Division to offer Hawaii homeowners dwelling, fire and flood policies, as well as a hurricane option, beginning Feb. 22, with automobile coverage to be added in 2009.
Unlike many other policies in Hawaii, the Sarasota, Fla.,-based company's standard homeowners insurance policy will provide the option to include coverage for hurricane loss. Visit www.universalnorthamerica.com.
HECO to participate in cleanup
More than 100 employees of
Hawaiian Electric Co. and their families will participate in a cleanup on Sept. 20 coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy to collect trash at Kahe's Electric Beach across the power plant from 8 a.m. to noon.
Overall last year in Hawaii, 4,382 volunteers participated in the International Coastal Cleanup, removing 72,224 pounds of trash and debris from 160 miles of shoreline. To learn more, contact statewide coordinator Christina Woolaway at 753-3311.
Isle dry cleaner owner expands
U.S. Dry Cleaning Corp., which recently acquired Caesar's Dry Cleaning and also owns Young Laundry and Dry Cleaning, both in Hawaii, has acquired 29 additional stores in Indiana. The combined revenue of the acquired stores is in excess of $7 million annually.
NATION
99 Cents Only boosts top price
99 Cents Only Stores said it will raise its top price for the first time in 26 years to 99.99 cents in response to "dramatically rising costs and inflation."
The 0.99 cent increase to its maximum price will take place at its 277 stores later this month, the City of Commerce, Calif.-based retailer said.
WORLD
China to review Coca Cola bid
BEIJING »
Coca-Cola Co. will have to submit its bid to buy a Chinese juice producer for review under China's new anti-monopoly law, state television reported, setting up the first major test of the legislation.
New Hires / Promotions
» Alexander & Baldwin has announced the following promotions:
* Stanley M. Kuriyama to president of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. from president and chief executive officer of A&B Land Group.
* James S. Andrasick to chairman of Matson Navigation Co.
* Matthew J. Cox to president of Matson Navigation Co. from executive vice president and chief operating officer.
* Robert K. Sasaki to vice chairman of A&B Properties.
* Norbert M. Buelsing to president of A&B Properties from executive vice president.
» Hilton Waikiki/Prince Kuhio Hotel has named Frank Robinson as director of catering. His 15 years of experience include special events sales manager at Kualoa Ranch Hawaii, senior program manager at Island Partners Hawaii and related positions at Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Fairmont Kea Lani Resort and the Manele Bay Hotel.
BUSINESS PULSE