Hawaiian passenger traffic increases

Hawaiian Airlines carried more passengers last month and filled a higher percentage of its seats than it did a year ago.

The carrier said yesterday that it carried 720,386 passengers in December, up 2.8 percent from 700,967 a year ago. Its load factor, or percentage of seats filled, rose 0.9 percentage points to 84.5 percent from 83.6 percent. Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, jumped 19.5 percent to 820.1 million from 686.2 million. Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, increased 18.3 percent to 971.1 million from 820.9 million.

For the year, Hawaiian’s passenger traffic rose 1 percent to 8.4 million from 8.3 million, and its load factor grew 1.7 percentage points to 85.5 percent from 83.9 percent. Revenue passenger miles increased 6.4 percent to 8.7 million from 8.2 million, while available seat miles rose 4.5 percent to 10.2 million from 9.7 million.

Go! Mokulele air traffic declines

Go! Mokulele transported fewer passengers in December than the year-earlier period but filled more of its seats.

The interisland carrier of Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. said yesterday it had 58,012 passengers last month, down 3.1 percent from 59,857 in December 2009. Its load factor rose 1.88 percentage points to 67.43 percent from 65.55 percent. Revenue passenger miles fell 6.9 percent to 7.6 million from 8.2 million, while available seat miles declined 9.5 percent to 11.3 million from 12.5 percent.

For the year, go! Mokulele’s passenger traffic dropped 7.6 percent to 672,892 from 727,961 in 2009, but its load factor inched up 0.23 percent to 67.15 percent from 66.92 percent. Revenue passenger miles fell 14.6 percent to 87.9 million from 103 million, while available seat miles dropped 14.9 percent to 130.9 million from 153.9 million.

6 Kauai luxury homes fetch $5.6M

California-based investment firm Kennedy Wilson reported auctioning six model homes in a troubled Kauai luxury home subdivision for almost $1 million apiece.

The company said it was pleased with the results from the Dec. 28 auction attended by 100 interested parties including online bidders. The homes at the Wainani at Kiahuna subdivision sold for a collective $5.6 million. Kennedy Wilson acquired the homes at an October foreclosure auction along with 63 undeveloped lots for $12 million.

Wainani was planned in 2006 by local development firm Maryl Group in partnership with an affiliate of insurance giant American International Group, or AIG, which intended to sell 70 homes around Kiahuna Golf Club for about $2 million each. But only one home sold, for $1.65 million, in mid-2008 before the project went into foreclosure.

McDonald’s grand opening slated

A Chinese lion dance, blessing, food sampling and prize giveaways are planned for the grand-opening festivities at McDonald’s of Kapolei West from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow. Restaurant chain mascot Ronald McDonald will stage a show for children from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The event, at 4600 Kapolei Parkway, is open to the public.

30-year mortgage rates dip to 4.71%

NEW YORK » Rates on fixed mortgages dipped for the second straight week as Treasury yields fell.

Freddie Mac said yesterday the average rate on the 30-year mortgage dropped to 4.71 percent this week from 4.77 percent the previous week. It hit a 40-year low of 4.17 percent in November. The average rate on the 15-year loan slipped to 4.08 percent from 4.13 percent. It reached 3.57 percent in November, the lowest level on records starting in 1991.

The average rate on one-year adjustable-rate home loans fell to 3.23 percent from 3.24 percent.

ON THE MOVE

Robert J. Martin has joined Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing as an associate. He was previously an associate at Godbey Griffiths, and clerked for Chief Judge James S. Burns of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Bank of Hawaii has announced the following promotions:

» Stephen K. Rodgers to executive vice president from senior vice president in the investment services group.

» Carol M. Lau to senior vice president and manager from vice president and manager in the business loan approval and portfolio management department.

» Mitchell K. Nomura to senior vice president and wholesale credit administrator from vice president and wholesale credit administrator in the wholesale credit department.

First Hawaiian Bank has promoted Gina Woo Anonuevo to executive vice president and general auditor from senior vice president and general auditor. She has 19 years of tax and audit experience and was previously a bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in San Francisco.