BUSINESS BRIEFS
Airline wins labor givebacks

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ratified concessions to save the airline $3.475 million a year.

About 87 percent of flight attendants voted for the agreement, their union said.

Hawaiian's pilots and machinists also have approved concessions in response to a request for $15 million in givebacks to avoid greater job and flight cuts or possible bankruptcy.

Mac nut firm loses $480,000

Big Island macadamia nut grower ML Macadamia Orchards lost $480,000 in 2002.

The losses resulted from a disappointing fourth quarter harvest, lower nut prices and lower contract farming revenues. The losses followed a profitable 2001, when the company recorded net income of $1 million.

Revenues last year were $14.6 million, down from $16.9 million in 2000.

ML Macadamia declared a fourth-quarter stock dividend of 5 cents per share. Its stockclosed yesterday at $3.25 per share, down 9 cents, or 2.7 percent.

Hawai'i touted at Berlin show

The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau is promoting Hawai'i to the German and European markets at the International Tourism Exchange ITB Berlin, which runs through today.