Hawaiian sees surge in passengers

Hawaiian Airlines' passenger traffic jumped 17.7 percent in March as the state's largest carrier transported 716,320 people compared with 608,828 a year ago when rival Aloha Airlines still existed.

However, the carrier's load factor, or percentage of seats filled, dropped 3.1 percentage points to 84.6 percent from 87.7 percent as its available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, rose 6.6 percent to 825.9 million from 774.6 million.

Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, increased 2.9 percent to 698.6 million from 679.1 million.

Oahu Publications cuts work force

Oahu Publications Inc., parent company of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and MidWeek, laid off 23 people, or about 7 percent, of its work force yesterday.

Fifteen were members of the Hawaii Printing and Graphic Communications Union Local 413, while eight were represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142. They worked in the press and distribution operations, respectively. Union officials could not be reached.

The layoffs come as the Star-Bulletin prepares to cease publishing an afternoon edition and convert to morning only. Its last afternoon edition is today.

In addition, a month and a half ago the company “;eliminated a pretty large press run of the Friday MidWeek,”; said Dennis Francis, president and publisher, leaving a smaller volume of work at the Kaneohe printing and distribution facility.

Oahu Publications had 380 employees as of early February when 17 newsroom job cuts were announced. Job cuts since then, including yesterday's total, amount to a nearly 18 percent staffing decrease and leave the work force at 312.

PUC awards energy efficiency pact

The state Public Utilities Commission has awarded a contract worth $38 million for the first two years to San Diego-based Science Applications International Corp. to become the program administrator for the Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program, whose purpose is to help Hawaii residents and businesses become more energy efficient.

The multiyear contract runs through Dec. 31, 2013, but may extend beyond 2013 for an additional three-year period. No value of the contract was given beyond the first two years.