Hawaiian puts Tokyo tickets on sale

Hawaiian Airlines began selling tickets for its new daily Honolulu-Tokyo route yesterday after receiving authorization from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Tickets are available online via Hawaiian’s new Japanese-language website at www.HawaiianAirlines.co.jp, its English-language site, www.HawaiianAirlines.com, or by phone through its sales office in Japan at 03-5405-8761 or toll-free in the U.S. through its reservations center at 800-367-5320.

Hawaiian’s inaugural flight from Honolulu to Haneda International Airport is on Nov. 17, with the inaugural departure from Haneda to Honolulu on Nov. 19. The flight from Honolulu will depart at 6:05 p.m. and arrive at Haneda at 10:05 p.m. the next day. The flight from Haneda will leave at 11:59 p.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 12:05 p.m. the same day.

Tokyo is 19 hours ahead of Honolulu.

Big Island company gets $5M grant

A Big Island company will receive a $5 million federal loan guarantee to help finish construction of a facility that will convert macadamia nut shells into granular activated carbon for use in hybrid car power units and as an industrial purifier.

The loan is guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and paid for by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

Big Island Carbon LLC began work on the $20 million facility in April 2009 at a 4-acre site in the Kaie Hana Industrial Park in Kawaihae, leased from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

In addition to hybrid car power units, granulated activated carbon can help purify air and water and is often used in filtration devices like gas masks, air filters and water filters.

Molokai water rates to rise 126.5%

The state Public Utilities Commission has approved an annual revenue increase of $548,682, or 126.5 percent, for Molokai Public Utilities Inc.

The commission said yesterday that it recognizes the increase in MPU’s water rates is large, but says the increase is needed for MPU to continue essential water service in the Kaluakoi area without interruption.

The company initially requested an increase of 201.5 percent, but subsequently amended its request.

On May 28 the PUC approved an interim increase of about 125 percent, effective July 1. The percentage increase from the interim decision to yesterday’s final decision is about 1.5 percent.

Avis raises bid for Dollar Thrifty

NEW YORK » Avis raised its offer for Dollar Thrifty to $1.52 billion in cash and stock yesterday, one week before a scheduled vote by shareholders on a bid from rival car rental company Hertz.

The latest offer from Avis values Dollar Thrifty at $53 per share, compared with a $50-per-share offer from Hertz.

The rental car rivals are fighting for control of Dollar Thrifty, a chain known for lower rates that appeal to leisure travelers, to gain access to those customers.

The entire industry has been hammered by a drop-off in business car rentals and that has created a new urgency to capture leisure travelers and others who are still spending money to travel.

On the Move

The Queen’s Medical Center has named Virginia Walker director of the Cancer Center at the Women’s Health and Imaging Services. She will be responsible for implementing, planning and support of the cancer center. Walker was previously responsible for the oncology department and supervised and managed inpatient nursing and the emergency department at Kuakini Medical Center.

Prudential Locations has hired:

» Andreina Keller as marketing specialist. She was a specialist in marketing that included special events, public relations and design.

» Sonnet Grant as a career coach and sales trainer. She was a sales professional for the past six years.

Pacific Biodiesel has appointed Beth Mathias its new marketing associate. She was previously managing director of Media Systems.

Keith Ogata of Honolulu has been elected secretary to the board of directors of National SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives. Ogata is president of 3-K Financial Corp. in Nevada and was previously chief financial officer and treasurer of the National Education Corp. in Irvine, Calif.