Hawaiian Air passenger traffic rises

Hawaiian Airlines' passenger traffic rose 5.9 percent in July, as it carried fuller flights despite the downturn in the economy. The state's largest air carrier transported 771,668 passengers last month, compared with 728,718 a year ago.

Hawaiian's load factor, or the percentage of available seats filled, rose 6.5 percentage points to 85.2 percent from 78.7 percent.

Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, jumped 10.4 percent to 745.4 million from 675.4 million; and available seat miles rose 1.9 percent to 874.7 million from 858.6 million.

Continental to offer Fiji flights

Continental Airlines will begin new service from Guam and Honolulu to Nadi, Fiji, beginning Dec. 18.

The service will be operated by Continental Micronesia using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with 14 seats in business class and 141 seats in economy.

Fights from Honolulu will operate on Mondays and Fridays, departing at 6:55 p.m. and arriving in Nadi at 11:40 p.m. the following day.

Return flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing at 8:50 a.m. and arriving in Honolulu at 5:25 p.m. the previous day, after crossing the international date line.

Vacations Hawaii revenue plunges

Vacations Hawaii, which runs charter flights six days a week to Las Vegas from Honolulu, saw second-quarter revenue sink 39.5 percent in the second quarter to $7.5 million from $12.4 million.

Las Vegas-based parent company Boyd Gaming Corp. could see further erosion due to a new Hawaii law that went into effect in July that no longer permits Hawaii residents to offset their gambling winnings with their losses when filing a state tax return.

“;Obviously, it's not a positive relative to our customer base,”; said Paul Chakmak, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Boyd.

“;At the same time, we think we've got some great customers that come out of the state of Hawaii, and really don't necessarily see something like that impacting their patterns.”;

Companywide, Boyd said revenue fell 8 percent to $423 million in the quarter from $460.8 million a year ago. Boyd earned $12.8 million, or 15 cents a share, compared with $21.7 million, or 25 cents a share, a year earlier.

Storage company offers hardship help

Hawaii Self-Storage is accepting applications for four months of free storage from Hawaii residents experiencing financial hardship relating to their residences.

Applicants must submit a letter and proof of residence-related financial hardship, to be reviewed by the company's Transition Assistance Program board.

It will fill qualified requests on a first-come, first-served basis.

All five Hawaii Self-Storage locations are participating.

On the move

The Hawaii Business Roundtable has named Gary K. Kai as executive director. He previously was vice president of Towne Development of Hawaii Inc., and also has served as general manager of HomeStreet Bank, senior vice president of First Hawaiian Bank, president and chief operating officer of Finance Factors Ltd. and president and chief operating officer of Finance Mortgage Ltd.

First Wind, an independent developer of wind power in North America, in Hawaii has hired:

» Kelly O'Brien as vice president of development.

» Stephen Jiran as construction project manager.