Honolulu-based Diamond Bakery is introducing its crackers this week to consumers in the Northeastern U.S. with the help of Miss Hawaii USA.

Diamond Bakery's Saloon Pilot and original soda crackers will be available in 167 Hannaford supermarkets in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts under a new distribution agreement.

Miss Hawaii USA Aureana Tseu will greet customers in three Hannaford stores in Maine, presenting lei and dancing the hula, as part of the product launch.

"We're especially pleased to bring Saloon Pilot crackers to our customers to satisfy demand for a specialty item that's traditional with New England chowders," said Michael Norton, Hannaford spokesman.

ALASKA ADDS PORTLAND-MAUI ROUTE

Alaska Airlines will inaugurate nonstop service tomorrow between Portland, Ore., and Maui, with a Hawaiian-themed celebration at Portland International Airport.

Passengers will be welcomed aboard the first flight following a traditional Hawaiian blessing and Hawaiian music performance.

The Portland-Maui service will be three times a week until Aug. 7 when the airline will launch daily service.

The new flights are part of a continuing expansion for Alaska Airlines into the Hawai'i market. The carrier will inaugurate four-times-weekly service between Oakland, Calif., and Maui, Nov. 9, and thrice-weekly service between Oakland and Kona Nov. 10.

Additionally, the airline yesterday expanded its Seattle-Honolulu schedule from one daily flight to two.

GO! PLANES 71.1% FULL IN JUNE

Interisland carrier go! yesterday said its planes were 71.1 percent full in June, up from 68.7 percent in the same month a year earlier.

The airline carried 67,150 passengers in June, down 22 percent from 86,021 in June 2008. The airline generated 13.45 million available seat miles and 9.56 million revenue passenger miles, down from 17.94 million available seat miles and 12.31 million revenue passenger miles a year earlier.

"We are very pleased to have achieved a higher year-over-year load factor in spire of this difficult economic environment," said Paul Skellon, go! vice president.

Go! is a subsidiary of Arizona-based Mesa Airgroup Inc.