Hawaiian boosts San Diego service

Hawaiian Airlines launched yesterday its Maui-San Diego flight, which will run through Aug. 24. This is the first nonstop daily flight between the two destinations since 2008, adding about 18,000 seats to Maui’s summer travel season. This is on top of 24,000 seats added by the Maui-Oakland, Calif., service, which launched earlier this month.

Hawaii and Japan team up on energy

The United States and Japan are partnering on clean energy programs that will be explored in Hawaii and Okinawa.

Government leaders from both countries signed a memorandum of cooperation Thursday aimed at accelerating energy programs through combined efforts toward renewable energy, energy efficiency and next-generation vehicles.

Gov. Linda Lingle says the rapid transformation of Hawaii’s and Okinawa’s energy systems will provide lessons for other regions of the world.

The partnership intends to use government resources to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

The project intends to demonstrate technologies, financing methodologies and government policies to support the acceptance of clean energy.

Caterpillar’s machine sales strong

NEW YORK » Caterpillar Inc. said yesterday its machine sales worldwide jumped 11 percent in May compared with a year ago as a rebound in North American and Asian business markets helped offset declines in European sales.

It was the first time since August 2006 the company has reported year-over-year growth in North America machine sales, said Jefferies & Co. analyst Stephen Volkmann.

Caterpillar is the world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment. Because its iconic yellow-and-black equipment is used in many different sectors all over the world, the company’s sales are considered an indicator of global economic health.

Teens, adults on par in text-driving

SAN FRANCISCO » Adults and teenagers are equally likely to have texted while driving. And adults are more likely to have chatted on their phones while driving, according to a study released yesterday by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

The study found that 47 percent of adults who text reported sending or reading texts while behind the wheel. In a 2009 Pew study, a lower number – 34 percent – of 16- and 17-year-olds who send texts said they did while driving.

Because not everyone has a phone or sends texts, the report said the findings indicate that 27 percent of all U.S. adults have sent or read texts while driving and that 26 percent of all U.S. 16- and 17-year-olds have done so. The study also found that adults are much more likely to chat on their phones while driving, with 75 percent of adults saying they talked and drove. Fifty-two percent of teenagers with cell phones said they did so in last year’s study.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii First has promoted and hired the following:

» Casey Rothstein to vice president from Kauai regional manager.

» William Spotts as vice president for condominium association property management.

» Chentelle Ramos as senior property manager.

» Jonathan Mosqueda, Brenda Agbayani and Jonathan Billings as condominium association property managers.

The Pacific Beach Hotel has appointed Fenton Lee as bake shop executive. He was previously an executive pastry chef at Grand Wailea Resort.

Elite Pacific Construction was the recipient of the "2010 DHS Small Business Achievement Award" by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Safelite AutoGlass has named Blake Higa as general manager of the Honolulu market. He has more than 30 years of automotive industry experience.

» Securities America has announced that David Ostler has affiliated with them as a financial consultant. He has 35 years experience in security and financial consulting and was previously with American Savings Bank and Merrill Lynch in Hawaii.