Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its New Zealand service with up to five nonstop flights weekly between Auckland and Honolulu starting in March.

The state’s largest carrier has been flying three times a week since beginning service between the two cities in 2013. It has transported more than 260,000 passengers on the route since that time.

“Our growth in New Zealand underpins our decision to offer Kiwis unmatched value on their Hawaii vacation,” Russell Williss, Hawaiian Airlines country director for New Zealand, said Sunday.

Under the expanded schedule starting March 21, flights will depart Auckland at 11:55 p.m. five times weekly, Wednesday through Sunday, arriving in Honolulu at 9:45 a.m. on the same day. Flights from Honolulu to Auckland will depart at 2:05 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, arriving at 10 p.m. the next day.

Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 aircraft offers three seating options on the flight, including lie-flat seating in business class, as well as extra comfort premium economy and the main cabin.

Beth Chapman has surgery for throat cancer

Beth Chapman of the reality TV show “Dog the Bounty Hunter” underwent emergency surgery over the weekend to remove a cancerous tumor from her throat, her husband said Sunday.

On Saturday, Chapman had surgery at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles to remove the tumor, which the surgeon described as the “size of a plum,” her husband, Duane “Dog” Chapman, said in a statement. The surgery took about 13 hours.

“Her doctor said we won round one,” he said. “We will know more later this week. Mahalo to everyone for their prayers.”

Chapman, who lives in Portlock, is battling stage 2 throat cancer.

In a letter she wrote to friends that was shared last week, Chapman said she discovered she had cancer after a routine checkup following “months of a nagging cough.”

“I have what is referred to as a T2 Tumor in my throat that is blocking my breathing,” she wrote. “My doctors are suggesting immediate treatment and surgery before the disease progresses.

“To be certain, I’ve stared down the devil more than once in my life but I’ve never faced a real life or death decision. My life has never been easy, and I surely don’t expect it to start now. Still, I’ve never been a victim and I won’t let cancer beat me. I realize the road I am about to travel will be rocky, full of unexpected twists and turns. But I know one thing for sure. A bend in the road is not the end of the road.”

HAWAII ISLAND

Fire at Blane’s Drive Inn put out by passers-by

Good Samaritans kicked in the door of a burning fast-food restaurant in Hilo early Sunday and put out the blaze just as fire crews arrived.

The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. at Blane’s Drive Inn, 150 Wiwoole St., the Hawaii Fire Department said.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke near the fast-food counter, but the flames were already out, the department said. Passers-by had broken in and put out the fire with an extinguisher.

Fire officials said the cause is of “suspicious origin” and under investigation by arson inspectors and police.

The damage estimate was $14,400 to the building, in a light industrial section of town, but another $625,000 worth of property was spared, officials said.

MAUI

County to hold open house for West Maui plan Sept. 30

The Maui County Planning Department will hold an open house as part of the update of the West Maui plan. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 30 at the West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa St., Lahaina.

The public is invited to provide feedback on housing options, redevelopment opportunities, walking and biking improvements, and other topics. Attendees can also learn about the community planning process, view maps and information, and meet the project team.

The public may attend at any time during the three-hour session. There will also be a number of “stations” for providing comments and speaking individually with Planning Department staff.

The West Maui Community Plan guides future growth in that area and is the first of Maui’s six community plans to be updated since the County Council adopted the Maui Island Plan in 2012. The existing West Maui Community Plan was adopted in 1996. The update process involves community meetings and workshops followed by the formation of a Community Plan Advisory Committee, which will review a draft updated plan.

The Maui Planning Commission will then review the draft plan and provide recommendations to the County Council, which ultimately would adopt the plan.