Electricity to cost more on all islands

Electricity bills for customers on all islands are expected to increase more this month than in February, Hawaiian Electric Co. says.

Because of fuel prices, Oahu customers will pay about 5.6 percent more, or $156.57, this month than last month's $148.23. The price is an estimate of a typical residential bill of 600 kilowatt-hours.

Hawaii island customers will see a 0.7 percent increase to $216.66 this month, up from $215.06 in February. On Maui there's a 1.2 percent increase to $180.57, up from $178.39 in February.

Less than 1 percent of Oahu's increase is due to a rate increase received in late February to pay for a biodiesel generating station at Campbell Industrial Park. The rates for Oahu, Hawaii and Maui are still lower than September 2008 highs by 22.5 percent, 22.1 percent and 29.7 percent, respectively.

Go! Mokulele passenger traffic drops

Go! Mokulele filled a greater percentage of its flights, but its passenger traffic fell 9.7 percent in February as the airline reduced the number of flights.

The interisland carrier transported 50,590 passengers compared with 56,052 a year ago, while its load factor improved 3.9 percentage points to 70.1 percent from 66.2 percent.

Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, decreased 21.2 percent to 9.5 million from 12 million, and revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, fell 16.6 percent to 6.6 million from 7.9 million.

Northrop out of tanker competition

WASHINGTON » Northrop Grumman Corp. announced yesterday that it won't compete against Boeing Co. for a $35 billion contract to build refueling tankers for the Air Force because Northrop doesn't think it can win.

The decision puts the Pentagon on a path to doing something President Barack Obama said shouldn't happen anymore: paying large amounts of money to a major defense contractor without undergoing any competition.

The decision also will probably knock out a major international competitor from gaining a foothold in the U.S. market. EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., had partnered with Northrop Grumman to vie for the tanker but was not expected to be able to compete against Boeing on its own.

Bankoh offers virtual coupon book

Bank of Hawaii has begun a free, virtual coupon book, “;Online Marketplace,”; that will be available to everyone, not just its account holders.

The site will offer more than 100 coupons from nearly 100 businesses in various categories, including dining, retail, automotive, entertainment, groceries, travel, health and beauty, and home and garden.

For more information, go to http://www.boh.com/coupons.

ON THE MOVE

  Outrigger Enterprises Group has announced the following:

» TJ Oesterling as general manager of the Kapalua Villas. His experience includes being regional vice president operations — Pacific Region for Wyndham Vacation Ownership, holding various positions with Hilton Grand Vacation Club and being regional vice president of Shell Hospitality Management, regional account representative for RCI and vice president of Outrigger's Condominium and Timeshare Division.

» Dina McCallion as director of sales in Maui, Outrigger Condominium Collection. She has experience as sales manager and director of sales at the Kapalua Villas, director of sales for Kapalua Resort and working in sales at Kapalua Bay Hotel, when it was managed by Marriott Renaissance and Starwood.

Prudential Locations has announced the following awards:

» Carlin Yamashita is “;Listor of the Year,”; “;Newcomer of the Year”; and “;Most Transactions of the Year.”;

» Michelle Takushi is “;Rookie of the Year.”;

» Atau Sakuma and Orion Barels are “;Salespersons of the Year.”;

» Dolores Bediones is “;Outstanding Partner in Sales”; for 2009.

» Russell Nishimoto is “;Top Partner Listor of the Year”; and “;Top Partner with Most Transactions.”;