Mokulele Airlines, the Kona-based commuter carrier that gambled it could survive as a new third carrier in Hawaii's competitive interisland market, is in payment default with Indianapolis-based partner Republic Airways and could have its planes and other assets seized by Republic as early as the close of business today.

Bryan Bedford, chairman, president and chief executive of Republic, said in an earnings conference call yesterday that Mokulele has fully drawn its $8 million line of credit and that Mokulele has exceed that amount by about $300,000 under their airline services agreement.

“;If the default does not clear by the close of business (Wednesday), we will assume control of our collateral,”; Bedford said.

Mokulele General Manager Chris Van Den Heuvel said yesterday that Mokulele is working with its current investors and outside companies to acquire additional capital.

“;I don't think we're going to shut down (Wednesday),”; he said. “;We're going to restructure and work on a recapitalization plan.”;

Republic said late yesterday that it would assume responsibility for the continuation of jet service if the airline is not successful in efforts to recapitalize.

If Mokulele were to shut down, it would be the third local carrier serving Hawaii to cease service in less than a year following the abrupt closures of Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines at the end of last March. Ironically, about half of Mokulele's just-under 200 employees are former Aloha employees.

Mokulele operates three 70-seat Embraer 170 jets between the islands under its capacity-purchase agreement with Republic Airways. The fourth and final Embraer jet that Mokulele was going to put into service was due to arrive next month, but that delivery date is now in limbo. Mokulele also operates seven nine-seat 208B Cessna Grand Caravans, with one of them being utilized as a dedicated freighter.

Republic, which reported yesterday a fourth-quarter profit of $19 million, took a $1.5 million impairment expense to account for money it estimated it would not be able to collect from Mokulele if Republic foreclosed on Mokulele's assets.

Still, Bedford said on the conference call that he's not writing off Mokulele.

“;They do have a number of relationships that are coming online with both mainland and Pacific Asian carriers,”; Bedford said. “;Those relationships - interline agreements, frequent flyer agreements and code-share agreements - should probably start producing revenue in the April time frame. But they've got a hurdle to get over. A lot of those distribution channels were anticipated to have been operating by the end of December. But they're probably running three months behind actually getting those channels functioning.”;