BUSINESS BRIEFS
Mokulele flights cut over training
Advertiser staff
Mokulele Airlines voluntarily canceled 17 flights, or about 30 percent of its schedule, yesterday after a routine inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration found that some of its cabin crew didn't have proper training for using fire extinguishers and life preservers.
Mokulele, which has since provided the training for the employees, said 22 passengers were affected and all were reimbursed or rebooked on other airlines.
Bill Boyer, the airline's CEO, said the company has resumed its regular schedule for today.
LONGS SALE TO CVS NEARLY COMPLETE
Longs Drug Stores Corp. said the sale of the company to CVS Caremark Corp. is expected to be completed by the end of the month, following a sufficient number of shareholders agreeing to sell their stock in Longs to CVS last week.
CVS initially fell just short of obtaining approval from holders of two-thirds of Longs shares, but extended its $71.50-per-share tender offer until Friday night in a move that resulted in the company acquiring about 77 percent of Longs shares.
CVS may now pay $71.50 per share for all remaining Longs stock its doesn't own, and expects to do so by the end of the month to close the deal.
After the buyout is complete, Longs will become a wholly owned subsidiary of CVS.
However, CVS said it will maintain the Longs name in Hawai'i while converting Mainland stores to the CVS brand.
KAUA'I RETAILERS JOIN KUKUI'ULA
Developers of the 1,500-home luxury residential subdivision Kukui'ula on Kaua'i said three well-established Kaua'i retailers — Lappert's Hawai'i, Kela's Glass Gallery and Taro Fields — have leased space in the project's retail complex slated to open next summer.
Lappert's, an ice cream shop chain that began in Hanapepe, presently has six stores, including four on Kaua'i.
Kela's Glass was established in Kapa'a 14 years ago, and will expand with a second store.
Taro Fields has three locations on the Garden Isle selling Kaua'i-made products.
Previously announced tenants at the Koloa project include Merriman's Cafe, Tommy Bahama, Quiksilver, Maui Divers and Tortilla Republic Grill & Margarita Lounge.
JAL INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS DOWN
Japan Airlines said it flew 15 percent fewer international passengers in September as higher fuel surcharges damped demand, Bloomberg News Service reported yesterday.
The decline was much sharper than the 1 percent drop the Tokyo-based airline experienced in its domestic passenger load.
Japan Airlines currently charges a fuel surcharge of about $400 on roundtrip tickets to Hawai'i.
MEXICAN EATERY OPENS IN LAHAINA
A new restaurant called Los Pelones Mexican Bar and Grill has opened in the Lahaina Cannery Mall, taking over the space previously occupied by Compadres Bar & Grill.
Steve Austin, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife Ashlan, was a nine-year veteran of Compadres, serving as general manager since 2003.
The two also opened a taqueria in the Lahaina Cannery Mall Pineapple Food Court
Open from 8 a.m. to midnight, the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The taqueria is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
