More than 1,200 Hawaii workers were given pink slips last month as a result of so-called mass layoffs in which companies let go at least 50 workers

A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the state is continuing to pile up job losses with mass layoff firings up more than 50 percent from last year's February total of 786.

The number of mass layoff events also doubled to 15 in February from seven a year earlier.

Some Hawaii companies are shedding employees because of the worst recession since statehood, while others are simply closing. In February Maui Land & Pineapple Co. announced it was laying off 98 workers, while several notable restaurants, including Nick's Fishmarket, Brew Moon and E&O Trading said they were closing their kitchens.

Nationally Hawaii was one of 48 states and the District of Columbia where there were year-over-year increases in average weekly initial unemployment claims.

Hawaii is expected to report an unemployment of at least 6 percent when it releases a jobless report next week.

Hawaii's rate, while increasing, is still lower than the national average, which hit a seasonally adjusted rate of 8.1 percent in February.

Moreover, the state's initial jobless claims tied to mass layoffs rose slightly slower than the national total, which grew 83 percent compared with February 2007.