Keep an eye on fuel prices — and airfares

Rising jet fuel prices have prompted at least a few big carriers — American Airlines and Delta Airlines — to issue a warning that if costs remain high, travelers will eventually be forking over more money for a new normal in ticket prices and related fees. Also, pinched profits may prompt cutbacks on the number of seats for sale, which will gradually push airfares higher.

Hawaii’s tourism industry has projected that this year we’ll see an additional 600,000 new seats on flights headed to the islands. Time will tell whether fuel prices will keep some of those seats — and would-be visitors — grounded.

Sadly, a favorite bakery calls it quits

Nearly 20 years ago, when Saint-Germain Bakery acquired Dee Lite Bakery, it folded Dee Lite’s light-as-a-feather coconut and dobash cakes into its display case lineup of Japanese-French breads and pastries. Dee Lite, of course, is famous for its guava chiffon cake and its popular rainbow cake — a mix of guava, passion fruit and lime layers.

Sadly, Saint-Germain is now prepping to close its four retail bakery locations — Beretania, Dillingham, Kahala and Waipahu — by the end of August. For the sake of satisfying the local sweet tooth, here’s hoping that desserts inspired by these cake favorites will be available at various other shops in Honolulu for decades to come.