Mesa Air Group, Inc., which is scheduled to begin interisland service in the second quarter of 2006, has hired two Honolulu-based companies to do its advertising and public relations.

The companies are Hendrix Miyasaki Shin Advertising Inc. and Bright Light Marketing Group.

Phoenix-based Mesa in September announced plans to start its new, low-cost interisland carrier to compete directly against Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines.

"Our goal is to offer local traveling families, friends and business people the highest quality service with the aloha spirit, at the lowest fares available," said Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and CEO of Mesa. "We have a strong belief that Hendrix Miyasaki Shin Advertising, Inc. and Bright Light Marketing Group will help us gain the confidence and support of Hawaii travelers and visitors," he added.

Sale of Fairmont Orchid boosts parent company's profits

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc., the luxury-hotel operator being bought by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, said it had profit in the fourth quarter that topped analysts' estimates, helped by higher room rates and the sale of the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island.

The company had net income of $68.4 million, or 88 cents a share, compared with a loss of $4.4 million, or 6 cents, a year earlier. Revenue rose 41 percent to $232.4 million, the Toronto- based company said today in a statement.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. in December sold the 540-room Fairmont Orchid on the South Kohala Coast to Westbrook Partners LLC, a Boston real estate investment firm for $250 million. Fairmont, which bought the hotel for $140 million three years ago, continues to manage the property.

Kona Wal-Mart to hold job fairs in early March

The Kona Wal-Mart has scheduled several job fairs in early March to fill 85 positions, including full- and part-time cashiers, overnight stockers, and sales associates.

The job fairs will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2, 3, 9 and 10. The average wage for regular, full-time Wal-Mart hourly workers in Hawai'i is $10.58 per hour, the company said. Applications also will be accepted on an ongoing basis at the store's online hiring center. For more information, call 334-0466.

New Chinese imported beer headed for Hawai'i

Anheuser-Busch will launch a Chinese import beer in Hawai'i and Los Angeles next week, the company announced today.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. will release its Harbin Lager beer in the two locations on Monday, said Andy Goeler, vice president of imports.

Anheuser-Busch said the beer will be made available throughout the U.S. later this year. The announcement comes days after Anheuser-Busch announced it will be the sole U.S. distributor of Grolsch, a European beer.

The nation's biggest brewer is increasing its selection of imported beers to tap into the high-end market. Beer sales are flat overall, with imports and microbrews accounting for most of the industry's growth.