Young Brothers, which provides cargo service among all major Hawaiian islands, asked the state Public Utilities Commission to add a fuel price adjustment clause to its tariff.

Young Brothers wants the authority to adjust its fuel surcharge each quarter based on fluctuations in the price of diesel fuel.

The company asked the PUC to allow the change this year.

"Nearly all other transportation providers have implemented a fuel price adjustment," Young Brothers said in a statement.

The PUC approved a 5.5 percent rate increase for Young Brothers on July 18, the first general rate increase for the company in eight years.

"Since July, the cost of fuel has increased rapidly and has effectively taken back much of the cost recovery Young Brothers achieved through the rate increase," the company said.

"Although Young Brothers continues to work and apply new technology to make its operations more fuel efficient, Young Brothers can no longer delay seeking PUC authority to impose a fuel price adjustment," said Young Brothers President Glenn Hong in the statement.

Aloha flight attendants agree to new contract

Aloha Airlines' flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, making it the fourth of five unions to support the bankrupt carrier's plan for reorganization, Aloha said in a statement.

The new contract must be approved by the flight attendant union membership and the bankruptcy court. If they approve, the contract would take effect immediately and run through April 30, 2009. The contract covers approximately 400 Aloha flight attendants.