Maui County has slapped a half-million dollar fine on the owner of a popular boutique hotel as part of a settlement involving 30 alleged permit violations.

Michael Baskin, owner of the 14-room Paia Inn, said Wednesday that he’s not acknowledging wrongdoing but wants to resolve the issue and have as good a relationship as possible with the community.

Baskin said he’s done his best to comply with a new vacation rental ordinance he believes is confusing and flawed.

Reviewers on the travel site TripAdvisor rate the quaint inn in the sugar plantation town of Paia among Maui’s best hotels. Travel and Leisure listed it among the nation’s most romantic hotels in 2012.

The county claims Baskin illegally converted a garage and shed into bedrooms and rented more rooms than allowed, among other violations. The county said Baskin will have to pay an additional $500,000 if terms of the agreement are violated.

The penalty comes while Hawaii’s counties struggle to regulate a thriving vacation rental and bed-and-breakfast industry as increasing numbers of travelers seek accommodations outside traditional resort areas.

Maui County in 2009 adopted a law to streamline its permit process and cap the number of permits.

Hawaiian passenger traffic up

Hawaiian Airlines’ passenger traffic rose 5.2 percent in July from the year-earlier month as the company added more seats to its systemwide operation.

The state’s largest carrier said Wednesday it transported just more than 1 million people compared with 957,876 in July 2014. Hawaiian’s load factor, or the percentage of seats filled, ticked down 0.1 percent to 84.5 percent from 84.6 percent.

Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, rose 3.9 percent to 1.61 million from 1.55 million. Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, increased 3.8 percent to 1.36 million from 1.31 million.

Bankoh offers aid to Saipan

Bank of Hawaii has initiated four financial assistance programs to help those affected by Typhoon Soudelor in Saipan. The assistance programs provide either access to cash via special loan programs for qualifying borrowers or relief on existing Bank of Hawaii loans through loan extensions or forbearances.

“Our hearts go out to all of those who suffered home or property damage from the typhoon,” Hobbs Lowson, Bank of Hawaii West Pacific Region manager, said Wednesday. “We realize that recovery may be a slow process and dealing with the aftermath is not easy. The financial emergency relief programs are designed for fast approval and quick funding to allow recovery as swiftly as possible.”

Depending on the particular special loan program, funds may be used to provide immediate cash relief for emergency supplies and living essentials; the repair of homes and/or vehicles, replacement of living essentials, or to bridge working capital needs; or to make vehicle purchases at dealerships located on Saipan. The program includes low interest rates on loans, no payments for the first three months, fast approval and quick funding, loan terms of 24 or 60 months, and loan amounts up to $25,000.

Information and specific details on each of the programs are available by visiting the Chalan Kanoa branch or calling Bank of Hawaii at 670-235-5420. Once services have been restored, the bank can be reached at 670-322-4200.

Bank of Hawaii has two branches in Saipan, Garapan and Chalan Kanoa.

Ellison ranks No. 2 on tech list

Oracle founder Larry Ellison, the owner of Island Air and 98 percent of Lanai, ranks second on Forbes’ World’s Richest in Tech list with a net worth of $50 billion.

Not surprisingly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, the richest person in the world, was No. 1 with a $79.6 billion net worth. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos was third with $47.8 billion.

Bumatai to talk at monthly lunch

American luxury will be the focus of the monthly Auto Lunch Bunch Kars at the Kurb display. Celebrity gearhead Andy Bumatai will be the featured speaker.

Bumatai’s electric-powered Cadillac ELR will be part of the display, as will the new, smaller Cadillac ATS, the revamped and larger CTS and, subject to prior sale, an Escalade luxury SUV.

Bumatai will talk about his experiences driving the alternative powertrain Cadillac, as well as his TV shows “In the Car” and “Toolin’ Around.”

The noon Wednesday luncheon will be on the second floor of the Hawaii Yacht Club at 1739 Ala Moana Blvd.

The $15 cost includes a meal, iced tea, tax and tip. Reservations are required. Call Ed Kemper at 225-2965 or email edracers@aol.com.

Mazda recalls 206,000 CX-9s

DETROIT » Mazda is recalling its biggest SUV to fix suspension parts that can rust and come loose, causing a loss of steering control.

The recall covers 206,000 CX-9 SUVs from the 2007 through 2014 model years, mainly in the U.S. and Canada.

The company said in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that front ball joints can rust from water leaks and separate from the suspension. Ball joints allow the wheels to pivot when the steering wheel is turned.

Owners will be notified by letter starting in September. Dealers will replace suspension parts on both sides.

On The Move

» Charina Sumner, PA-C, will practice at Honolulu Medical Office at the same-day care facility. She previously worked at a free community health clinic, hosted by Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.

» Hawaiian Airlines has appointed Rock Tang as senior director of corporate real estate. He was previously a senior real estate manager at Walgreen Co. as well as a regional director for real estate at CVS Caremark Corp. and Longs Drug Stores California. Tang’s other experience includes serving as a consultant for Chambers & Chambers Wine Merchants and Owmniwines Distributing Co. and as an agent for Colliers Monroe Friedlander.

» CBRE Group Inc. has announced that Amelia Lim is now a vice president of CBRE’s Valuation and Advisory Service practice in Hawaii. She previously was an executive vice president for JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group for 16 years. Lim’s experience also includes serving as an associate director for Insignia/ESG, and she began her career as an analyst for HVS International.

Ship Ahoy!

Thursday’s ship arrivals and departures: