Polynesian Air considering new isle-New Zealand flight

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa >> Polynesian Airlines is exploring a new route from Hawaii to New Zealand via Tonga and Samoa now that the governments of two island nations have signed an "open skies" agreement to open up airline travel between the islands. The "open skies" agreement easing travel between the two countries was signed in Nauru last week.

Under the new agreement, Polynesian Airlines would create a route that would originate in Honolulu, stop in the Samoan capital of Apia, then stop in Tonga before ending in New Zealand, said John Fitzgerald, acting chief executive officer of the airline. The proposed route should be finalized next month, he said.

Polynesian announced last week that it was adding a second flight between Apia and Honolulu at the end of October.

KITV electrical workers approve 4-year contract

Local 1260 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union has ratified a new four-year contract with KITV-4. Some 36 IBEW members serving in mostly technical positions, such as news photographers, studio technicians and master control operators, ratified the agreement this week during two meetings at the TV station. The contract, which expires in 2005, provides for wage increases of 10 percent over four years.

"The package we negotiated is comparable to all other broadcast agreements throughout the United States," said union Assistant Business Manager J.R. Rothschild. He said there was full participation in the ratification voting, and that the pact was approved "by a good ratio."

Talks toward the new contract went smoothly, according to both Rothschild and KITV President and General Manager Mike Rosenberg.

"I would describe the labor negotiations as collegial," Rosenberg said, adding that the parties had been through the process several times. "We find the IBEW to be a group that is reasonable in their demands."

KITV, Hawaii's ABC network affiliate, is owned by New York-based Hearst-Argyle Television Inc.

[TAKING NOTICE]

NEW JOBS

>> Kamehameha Schools has named Teresa Haunani Makuakane-Drechsel director of financial aid, counseling and scholarship services, a new position with the Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation. Makuakane-Drechsel will seek to expand financial, guidance and educational opportunity services to the Native Hawaiian community. She is a 1971 graduate of Kamehameha Schools.

>> Walter Howard was named general manager of Papa John's Pizza Hawaii's new store in Kapolei. The eatery is Papa John's 15th Hawaii outlet and makes it one of the first tenants in the new Farrington Commercial Center. Howard was most recently assistant store manager at Papa John's Kaneohe location.

PROMOTIONS

>> Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo has promoted Kevin Scholl to vice president. Scholl joined WATG's Newport Beach office in 1992 as a senior designer and project manager. He moved to the firm's Honolulu office, where he was promoted to associate in 1996 and to senior associate in 1998. Scholl currently is a design director in WATG's London office.