Marriott International Inc. this week opened the 400-room Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach, the first Courtyard brand property for the resort chain in Hawai'i.

Formerly known as the Wyland Waikiki, the hotel underwent an extensive multimillion-dollar makeover in 2007.

"Courtyard has a loyal following worldwide, and we are excited to introduce the brand to Waikiki," said Ed Hubennette, vice president, North Asia, Hawaii and South Pacific, Marriott International.

The hotel will operate under a franchise agreement with Lodging Capital Partners LLC, owner of the property. Outrigger Hotels & Resorts will manage the hotel.

MOKULELE PASSENGERS UP 34%

Mokulele Airlines flew 40,500 passengers in May, a 34 percent jump over its previous busiest month in March.

The carrier also said 96.6 percent of its flights were on time in May. Mokulele's on-time performance is 97.3 percent through the first five months of the year.

"Over the past few months, we've marked a number of milestones that underscore both our steady growth and our commitment to maintaining it," said Scott Durgin, interim president and CEO of Mokulele Airlines.

OCEAN ACTIVITIES COMPANY HIRING

KanDoo!, a new ocean activities company operating out of Kewalo Basin, said it plans to hire as many as 200 people as part of its expansion plans.

The new hires will staff the company's KanDoo Island project, a 150-foot catamaran that will be anchored off Waikiki offering a range of ocean activities, including parasailing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

"We know these are tough economic times," said Robert Maynard, Kandoo! chief executive officer. "But we believe in Waikiki as one of the top global destinations. We are confident that will never change, and we believe in our vision for ocean activities."

Job applicants should send resumes to jobs@gokandoo.com.