BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hawaiian wins Sydney route OK

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Hawaiian Airlines got final approval from the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services to start a new nonstop service between Sydney and Honolulu May 18.

Hawaiian will offer four weekly flights between Sydney and Honolulu.

BancWest profit rises 10.7%

BancWest Corporation, parent company of First Hawaiian Bank and Bank of the West, yesterday reported net income of $113.1 million for the first quarter, up 10.7 percent from the same quarter of 2003.

The company did not break out earnings for First Hawaiian.

Walter Dods, BancWest chairman and CEO, highlighted the bank's cut in its nonperforming assets. BancWest had total assets of $38.9 billion as of March 31, up 11.5 percent from a year earlier. Nonperforming assets were 0.58 percent of loans and foreclosed properties, an improvement from 0.98 percent a year ago.

Wireless waiver to spur activity

State regulatory requirements waived earlier this month make it easier for wireless phone companies to pursue new and innovative communications technology, according to the Public Utilities Commission.

Hawai'i's wireless carriers no longer have to seek commission approval for proposed financial transactions, mergers or transfers of control. The companies affected — AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile and Nextel — won't have to file changes in rates and terms of service with the commission.

Gas station lists cap-law prices

Keith's Service station at 2004 Pacific Heights Road temporarily posted higher prices on its sign yesterday to illustrate to the media what prices could be if a state price cap law scheduled to take effect in July were currently in place.

The price of regular on the station's sign was changed to $2.27 a gallon; however, the gasoline continued to be sold at its normal price of $2.07 a gallon. The event was arranged by House Republicans opposed to the price cap.