Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley rang the opening bell of the Nasdaq Stock Market yesterday in an event that featured a taste of Hawaiian music and hula.

Dunkerley was joined by Chief Financial Officer Peter Ingram, Controller Brian Stewart and other Hawaiian employees, as well as a host of entertainers brought to New York by Hawaiian who performed on the bustling Times Square sidewalk fronting Nasdaq.

Video of Hawaiian's aircraft in flight over the skies of Hawai'i was shown on Nasdaq's seven-story video screen overlooking Times Square.

The honor of opening the Nasdaq Stock Market was in recognition of Hawaiian finishing 2008 as one of the nation's few airlines to post a profit during a year when several airlines shut down and the industry struggled with escalating fuel costs and shrinking demand.

NEW DENNY'S ON WINDWARD SIDE

Denny's is opening its fourth company-owned restaurant in Hawai'i tomorrow in the Windward City Shopping Center.

The new Denny's will open its doors at 8 p.m. and will serve customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Manager Bernard Birsch will lead a staff of about 100 employees.

Patrons can choose from favorites such as the Grand Slam and other breakfast entrees, as well as an extensive variety of burgers, sandwiches and Denny's American Dinner Classics. Also available will also be Denny's D-Zone Kid's menu, take-out and senior selections.

AVERAGE GAS PRICE STILL $2.45 A GALLON

The average price of a gallon of gasoline statewide was unchanged this week at $2.45 a gallon, AAA Hawaii reported yesterday.

In Honolulu, the average price was $2.38 a gallon, up 1 cent from last week. The Honolulu average was up 10 cents from a month ago, but $1.07 lower than a year ago.

In Hilo, the average price was $2.53 a gallon, down 2 cents from a week ago. It was 6 cents higher than a month ago, but $1.05 lower than a year ago.

The average price in Wailuku of $2.60 a gallon was down 1 cent from last week. It was up 12 cents from a month ago, but down $1.31 from a year ago.

SHIDLER TO REDEEM, SELL SHARES IN TRUST

Honolulu resident Jay Shidler said he will redeem 1.6 million partnership units in Corporate Office Properties Trust for shares in the publicly traded company, which he will sell and use the proceeds for charitable giving.

Shidler serves as chairman of the Columbia, Md.-based real estate investment trust that owns suburban office properties. Corporate Office Properties said Shidler is redeeming less than 50 percent of his partnership interests in the operating partnership.

Shidler, who has pledged more than $30 million of donations for the University of Hawai'i-Manoa business college, said his potential sale of common shares shouldn't be construed as a lack of confidence in Corporate Office Properties and that he remains an active board member and supporter of the business.