Hawaiian Air passenger traffic up

Hawaiian Airlines carried more passengers in August than it did a year ago, filling 85.4 percent of its available seats.

The state's largest carrier said its passenger traffic rose 2.9 percent to 746,646 last month from 725,272 in the year-earlier period when its load factor was 82.1 percent.

Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, increased 7.3 percent to 734.8 million from 684.7 million. Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, rose 3.2 percent to 860.1 million from 833.6 million.

Maui Prince Hotel taking bookings

The Maui Prince Hotel and Makena Resort is continuing to take reservations as it prepares for its expected transition to new management.

The Second Circuit Court on Maui is expected to approve a receiver on Tuesday to take over operations and keep open the resort.

“;The threat of closing has disappeared,”; said Barry Sullivan, attorney for Wells Fargo Bank, the mortgage lenders' trustee.

“;We are confident there will be a smooth transition to the new resort management company.”;

Hawaii closing costs getting lower

The cost of getting a mortgage in Hawaii has fallen from a year ago, mirroring a nationwide shift, according to a new study by Bankrate.com

The average origination and title fees in the state are $2,739 this year, down from $3,134 a year ago. The decline places Hawaii's closing costs as the 21st highest in the nation, an improvement from 20th a year ago.

Texas has overtaken New York as the state with the most expensive closing costs at $3,855. New York's closing costs are $3,408.

Nevada has the least expensive closing costs at $2,276.

For the study, Bankrate surveyed one area in 49 states, two areas in California (Los Angeles and San Francisco) and the District of Columbia. Researchers picked a ZIP code in some of the largest cities in each state and requested information on the closing costs for a $200,000 loan.

They requested fees on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for a borrower with a 20 percent down payment and good credit to buy a single-family house.

United, American double flier miles

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines has matched larger rival AMR Corp.'s American Airlines in boosting mileage awards for frequent fliers to encourage travel.

The Chicago-based carrier will give members of its Mileage Plus loyalty program double the normal miles to qualify for elite status.

The offer applies to travel through Dec. 15 on United and United Express.

Airlines such as United and American are trying to retain frequent-flier participants who travel more often and pay higher fares for premium service than average passengers.

'Clunkers' cash slow in coming

The U.S. “;Cash for Clunkers”; program has repaid 17 percent of dealer rebate applications nine days after the filing deadline, and is hiring more workers to process the paperwork, an official said.

The program, which approved 120,000 filings from the almost 700,000 sales it generated, has come under criticism from auto retailers for what they say is a slow pace of reimbursement.

Mortgage rates stay near lows

WASHINGTON » Rates for 30-year home loans edged down this week, remaining close to record lows reached over the spring.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.08 percent, down from 5.14 percent a week earlier, mortgage company Freddie Mac said yesterday.

Rates, while above the record low of 4.78 percent hit in the spring, are still at attractive levels for people looking to buy a home or refinance.

The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.54 percent, from 4.58 percent last week, according to Freddie Mac.

Rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 4.62 percent from 4.69 percent.

ON THE MOVE

MADD Hawaii has named Jennifer L. Dotson to be its executive director. Her experience includes involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the communications team for Gov. Linda Lingle and the Hawaii Republican Party, the U.S. Embassy in London, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the U.S.-China Business Council in Washington, D.C.

Beachhouse at the Moana has named Mami McInerney as restaurant sales manager. She previously was a restaurant coordinator.

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties said Michael Bates has joined the company's Waikiki office. He has been a licensed Realtor since 1994.