BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hawai'i boosts eatery's sales

Advertiser Staff

Cheesecake Factory said yesterday that since it opened a 14,500-square-foot restaurant in Waikiki late last year, the location has averaged weekly sales "in excess of $350,000."

Cheesecake Factory mentioned the sales in its earnings statement. Total revenues for the company were up 23 percent to $214.5 million in the fourth quarter compared to a year earlier. Net income was up 18 percent to $15.6 million.

Hawaiian best in on-time flights

Hawaiian Airlines had the nation's best on-time service for the second consecutive month with more than 88 percent of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time in December, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Southwest Airlines had the second best on-time performance with a little more than 83 percent. JetBlue Airways followed at 81 percent. Aloha Airlines is not part of the survey.

Gamer reports 1M downloads

Blue Lava Wireless, a Honolulu-based developer of games for cell phones, said yesterday it has sold 1 million paid game downloads as of last month.

Blue Lava Wireless went live with its first game, Tetris, in August 2002. The company was formed in 2002 and is headed by Henk Rogers, president, and John Ray, vice president of business development.

Dole's Murdock adds to duties

Dole Food Co. said yesterday that David Murdock, chairman and CEO, has added president and chief operating officer to his duties. The company also said Larry Kern decided to take early retirement to pursue other interests.

Westlake Village, Calif.-based Dole was taken private by Murdock in March 2003. Murdock said the goal of the company is to be "No. 1 in the world in growing and marketing nutritious and healthy foods and in nutrition and healthy-eating education."

The company had $4.4 billion in sales in 2002.