HAWAII

Hawaiian Air passengers up 6.5%

Hawaiian Airlines Inc. reported yesterday that its passenger traffic for October rose 6.5 percent from last year. The carrier hauled 646,756 passengers last month, while recording 643,964 revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, down 8.6 percent from last year.

Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, totaled 777,189, 0.8 percent lower than October 2007, with a load factor of 82.9 percent, 7 percentage points lower than last year.

Separately, the company said that Peter Ingram, chief financial officer, will be presenting at the Imperial Capital Global Opportunities Conference on Tuesday at the Hilton New York Hotel. Hawaiian's presentation is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. in New York, and will be available through http://www.hawaiianair.com. The call will be archived.

Architects Hawaii gives green help

Small businesses interested in “;going green”; can get some help from Architects Hawaii Limited.

The architectural firm will provide free green consulting to one business every two months in the downtown Chinatown and Kakaako areas. Businesses are encouraged to apply at http://www.ahldesign.com/freegreen.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-accredited professionals will meet with the selected businesses and review goals, requirements, plans, layouts and building information.

Finance Factors extends hours

Finance Factors said last week that its Liliha branch will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Dec. 13.

“;With the recent opening of this branch, the community has welcomed us into the neighborhood with open arms and we are excited to offer them the great service and deposit and loan products we're known for,”; Steven Teruya, president of Finance Factors, said in a statement.

The Liliha branch is at 1808 Liliha St., on the corner of Liliha and N. Kuakini Streets. Finance Factors has been providing financial services in Hawaii for more than 55 years.

Isle papayas decline in August

Hawaii fresh papaya production fell 22 percent in August from a year ago, to 2.2 million pounds. Output for 2008 has totaled 20 million pounds, up 4 percent from last year.

Production increased 10 percent in August from a month earlier. Dry conditions prevailed under water conservation measures, while warm temperatures allowed fruit ripening to continue at a steady pace, the state Department of Agriculture reported.

Papaya growers are expected to receive an estimated 50 cents a pound for fresh fruit in August, an increase of 11.9 cents, or 31 percent, more than August 2007.

Isle marine licensing online

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, launched its online commercial marine licensing system at http://www.ehawaii.gov.

This new system allows fishers who catch and land marine life in the state for commercial purposes, and businesses that commercialize regulated marine life in the state be able to obtain new licenses, or renew their licenses online. Fishers who harvest live marine life for aquarium activities can also obtain permits online.

The license fee is $50 for all license types, except for a non-resident commercial applicant, which is $200. There is no fee for aquarium permits and the aquaculture dealer license. For additional information about online licensing, contact the Division of Aquatic Resources at 587-0103. 

[ Taking notice ]

Promotions / New hires

» Swinerton Builders Hawaii has hired Jay Iranon as business development manager. He has 20 years of real estate development, construction and finance experience.

» Sub-Zero/Wolf has hired Debbie Ann Ogata as product specialist for Hawaii. She will oversee the information center for all showroom visitors including architects, retail dealers and kitchen designers. She was previously a project administrator at Brett Hill Construction, and an administrator/events coordinator at Pacific Beach Hotel, Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort.

» Argosy University, Hawaii Campus has named Kawika Kane associate director of university outreach. He was previously field admissions representative for the State of Hawaii and High Tech Institute, and sales manager for Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.

» Parker Ranch Inc. has named William “;Bill”; Maris chief financial officer. He was previously chief financial officer at Cyanotech Corp. and is a certified public accountant with experience in the public and private sectors.

Board elections

» Bishop Museum has elected the following new members to its board of directors: Sanne Higgins, Anton Kruck and Gulab Watumull.

Awards/certifications

» The Retail Merchants of Hawaii has honored Surfing Goat Dairy with the 2008 Ho'okela Award for Retail Business of the Year Maui. The award recognizes an outstanding business that has contributed to the success and vitaliity of Hawaii's retail industry.