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HAWAII
New airline offers interisland charters

Hawaii has a new interisland charter airline with the arrival of Pacific Air Charters Inc., which will start with three planes and has plans to expand.

The Honolulu-based company, which held a grand opening Saturday, flies two three-seat planes and one nine-seat plane. It is looking at adding several more aircraft with larger seating.

Under its pricing, a round-trip plane charter to Hilo would cost about $1,200.

The company offers 24-hour scheduling and can take off within 90 minutes on most flights. For more information, call 839-3559.

Business Action Center transferred

The state's Business Action Center will transfer to the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, effective July 1, the Lingle administration said.

The center, which provides information for people starting or expanding a business in Hawaii, is moving from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The center also helps with filing for a tax license, registering a trade name and other administrative functions.

The move was authorized by Act 62, which Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law last month.

The center's offices will remain at 1130 N. Nimitz Highway.

Arizona prof joins isle biotech firm

Hawaii-based biotech firm Tissue Genesis Inc. has hired as vice president a University of Arizona professor who specializes in tissue engineering.

Dr. Stuart Williams is chairman of the university's Biomedical Engineering Department and will assume the title of vice president of vascular development at Tissue Genesis.

Tissue Genesis, a start-up company that makes products to automate the tissue culture process, is completing its Bio Optimization System cell culture instrument, which is scheduled for sales beginning this fall.

Hawaii golf resorts sweep survey

Hawaii accounted for six of the top 10 golf resorts in the world in a recent readers poll sponsored by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

According to the publication in its June edition, "Pacific breezes blow through the upper echelon of our winners' list," with the "top lei" going to the Big Island's Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. The resort ranked highest in the Food/Dining and Service categories and earned accolades for Rooms and Other Facilities.

Other Hawaii winners in the top 10 were Manele Bay Hotel, second; Lodge at Koele, third; Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, fourth ; Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, fifth; and Mauna Lani Resort, eighth.

In terms of course design, three properties tied for first, including Maui's Prince Hotel. The other two were California's Lodge at Rancho Mirage and Michigan's Inn at Bay Harbor.