HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Cab drivers fail to block airport rules

Advertiser Staff

Independent taxicab drivers lost a court bid yesterday to block new fees to be imposed this month for operating at Honolulu International Airport.

A new company in charge of dispatching cabs at the airport eliminated a $400-per-month operating fee available to cabbies and said all drivers must now charge $4 per trip.

Members of the Honolulu Cabbies Association wanted Circuit Judge Victoria Marks to delay imposition of the new fee schedule pending further court action.

But Marks refused, saying if legal objections to the new fees are later upheld, cabbies can collect refunds.

State officials said Monday elimination of the monthly fee is not necessarily permanent, but will be in effect while the new firm collects data on the number and duration of cab fares originating at the airport.

Cabbies said the per-trip fare will significantly increase their monthly operating costs. The higher expenses can't be passed on to customers because the city caps the amount taxi drivers can charge, drivers said.

Event targets kids with cancer, moms

Anyone wishing to honor mothers with a special box of candies is invited to the "Mother's Day Candy Making Special" set for today, tomorrow and May 8 at the Menehune Mac Chocolate Factory and Gift Center, 707A Waiakamilo Road.

Proceeds will benefit the Hawai'i Children's Cancer Foundation.

For $7, the gift-giver can design a Mother's Day label and make a box of chocolates. The production lines will roll from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. To make reservations, call 841-3344.