BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hawaiian's Mainland flights up $30
Advertiser Staff
Hawaiian Airlines said it has increased its roundtrip fare for flights between Hawai'i and the Mainland by $30 effective immediately for travel beginning May 1.
The hike is necessary to offset rising operating costs, including higher fuel prices, the company said.
Hawaiian offers nonstop daily service between Honolulu and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Portland, Phoenix, Seattle and Las Vegas. The airline also offers nonstop service between Kahului, Maui and Seattle, Portland and San Diego.
HAWAIIAN ASSET BUILDING LUNCH TOPIC
Ramsay Taum, noted cultural expert and director of external relations and community partnerships at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's School of Travel Industry Management, will be the featured speaker at the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce's luncheon meeting Thursday.
The topic of his talk will be "Asset Building — What Does This Mean for Native Hawaiians?"
Registration and networking will begin at 11:30 a.m., with lunch and the program starting at noon. Cost for members is $20 and $25 for nonmembers. The location is 1451 Queen Emma St.
For more information, call Pauline Worsham at 951.5373, or e- mail her at pauline@pmwconsult.com.
SMALL-BUSINESS FINANCING HELP
The U.S. Small Business Administration's first "Loan Blitz" of the year will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. March 28 at the Honolulu Country Club.
The purpose of the event is to match small-business borrowers with lenders to discuss different financing options and loan application procedures. Business owners will meet with lenders and business specialists in free, 30-minute sessions.
"This is a great, fast way for a busy businessperson to research and compare loan options with multiple financial institutions," said Andy Poepoe, SBA district director.
Business owners should bring identification, copies of their business license and business bank account, any organizational documents, and a current credit report and credit score.
For information or to schedule a consultation, call Kim Hite at 541-2990, ext. 212, or Mary Dale at 541-2990, ext. 211. Registration also is available at www.sba.gov/hi.
MAUI INVITATIONAL BRINGS $8 MILLION
The 2007 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Hosted by Chaminade University contributed more than $8 million to the Maui economy, according to a Maui Visitors Bureau analysis.
The nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament has pumped nearly $130 million into Maui's economy since the tournament's debut in 1984.
An estimated 4,500 out-of-state visitors, boosters, players, officials, media, team and game personnel, sponsors and production crews traveled to Maui for the season-opening tournament.
DOLLAR WEAKENS AGAINST YEN, EURO
The dollar continued to weaken against major currencies yesterday, falling below 100 yen at one point during the Tokyo trading session.
The dollar changed hands at 100.68 yen, after touching 99.77 yen, the weakest level since October 1995. The dollar traded at $1.5613 per euro in Tokyo, the weakest since the European currency's debut in 1999.
