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Pro Bowl attendance, spending increase

A Hawaii Tourism Authority study of this year's NFL Pro Bowl showed an increase in overall visitor attendance and spending in Hawaii.

Attendance at the Pro Bowl jumped 22 percent from the previous year to a total of 49,000 spectators, of which 30,000 were visitors. Of that number, 22,000 visitors came to Hawaii specifically to attend the game. Those visitors accounted for $29.5 million in visitor spending and $2.8 million in state taxes.

The survey found that 91 percent of visitors to the Pro Bowl made the decision to attend the game before coming here. Visitors also said they would not necessarily have attended the Pro Bowl had it been held in another location such as Florida or Southern California.

The study also found that visitor spending during that period increased in other activities on Oahu, as well as the neighbor islands.

Judge OKs 8th Hawaiian extension

Federal Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris approved a request yesterday from Hawaiian Airlines and Boeing Capital Corp. for an eighth extension that gives the two sides until April 15 to reach a deal. The deadline for the seventh extension was due to expire Monday.

Without the extension, Boeing would have had the right to repossess its planes under federal bankruptcy law. However, Boeing has said it won't repossess the planes because of a reorganization plan it proposed that includes a restructured lease deal.

Hawaiian, whose entire fleet is 25 planes, is trying to renegotiate leases on three 767s and the 11 717s that comprise its interisland fleet. The airline already has restructured its leases on seven 767s with Ansett Worldwide and four 767s with International Lease Finance Corp.