Hawaii Pacific FCU debuts ‘new’ main branch

Hawaii Pacific Federal Credit Union has unveiled its newly renovated main branch, in the Ala Moana Building, and has extended the operating hours of the main and Pearlridge branches.

The main branch now operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, while the Pearlridge branch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The main branch was remodeled by Honolulu-based interior designer Anbe, Aruga & Ishizu, Architects Inc. and construction was completed by J. Kadowaki Inc.

Interisland bag fee going up 70% to $17

Hawaiian Airlines is increasing its checked-baggage fee 70 percent for the first piece of luggage on interisland flights to $17 from $10, effective Sept. 1.

All other baggage fees for travel on Hawaiian remain unchanged, the airline said Tuesday after announcing it lost $50 million in the second quarter, its first loss in three years.

Passengers exempt from the change are those who are members of Hawaiian’s Premier, Pualani Gold and Pualani Platinum clubs; corporate members who book their tickets through Hawaiian’s corporate portal; customers traveling in first class; active U.S. military personnel traveling on military or government fares; those with car seats, infant carriers or strollers when customers are traveling with a child; and those with wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes and other personal assistive devices.

Glenn Taniguchi, Hawaiian’s senior vice president of marketing and sales, said the change will be the first that Hawaiian has instituted for interisland service since September 2009.

"We have changed other fees in step with the rest of the airline industry but have held the line on interisland baggage fees for the past two years," he said. "Unfortunately, increasing costs of operation make this adjustment unavoidable. Our fees for interisland service remain lower than anywhere else in our system."

Air carriers brace for Europe emissions fees

Starting Jan. 1, the European Union will require all carriers entering or leaving its airports to either reduce their emissions or pay a charge — whether the airline is United, Air France or Lufthansa.

The move is setting off political fireworks and could mean higher fares for Americans flying across the Atlantic. although uncertainty persists about how much higher the fares will be.

Nancy Young, vice president for environmental affairs at the Air Transport Association, the largest airline industry group in the United States, said the European plan violates international law.

Kia, motorbike to be featured at lunch bunch

A hybrid Kia Optima and Hawaiian Chariot Wheelchair Motorbike will comprise Kars at the Kurb at the next Auto Lunch Bunch monthly gathering at noon Tuesday at the Waikiki Yacht Club.

The Kia features a noise-making safety device to alert the driver that the electric motor is on, while the special motorbike was created in Hawaii by Dan Ward.

Speaker Mike Kitchens will update attendees on Kalaeloa Raceway Park, and the featured "Top Gear" video depicts a Ferrari in California racing with an airliner from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Reservations can be made via billmaloney15@ aol.com or to Ed Kemper at 225-2965. The $14.25 cash-only cost includes meal, drink and tip.

McKenna pet donations top $25,000

Auto dealer Mike McKenna’s Adopt-a-Pet donations have topped $25,000 so far with $2,600 being donated last Sunday to the Hawaiian Humane Society. The dealership donates $50 for every new or used vehicle sold.

McKenna hosts Adopt-a-Pet events at the Kailua dealership every two months when the Humane Society brings pets to the dealership. Last Sunday, five dogs and seven cats received new homes.

ConocoPhillips second-quarter profit drops

NEW YORK » ConocoPhillips’ decision to shrink the company by selling off billions in assets starting two years ago contributed to an 18 percent drop in profits during the second quarter this year, though the results still beat expectations.

The Houston oil and natural gas company on Wednesday reported earnings of $3.4 billion, or $2.41 a share, for the April-June period.

That compares with $4.2 billion, or $2.77 a share, for the same part of 2010 when Conoco reported $2.9 billion in asset sales.

Revenue increased 34 percent to $67 billion.

Analysts expected earnings of $2.20 per share on revenue of $57.9 billion, according to FactSet.

Tighter checking rules supported, Pew finds

NEW YORK » Even those in the U.S. who complain about excessive government regulation say they’re in favor of rules that would require banks to clearly disclose the fees they attach to checking accounts, a new survey shows.

A survey from The Pew Charitable Trusts due to be released today found that nearly three-quarters of Americans with checking accounts back rules that would make banks do a better job of disclosing the terms of their accounts. The study found a favorable view of stricter rules among 81 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of independents and 62 percent of tea party supporters.

Notably, even those who say they believe there is already too much or the right amount of government regulation supported requiring banks to do a better job about revealing fees and charges.

Half of Netflix users watch via game console

NEW YORK » A new Nielsen survey finds that in the battle between screens, Netflix users are opting for TVs and Hulu users are siding with computers.

Video game consoles have a lot to do with the discrepancy: Half of all Netflix users connect to its streaming service through their Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Xbox consoles, according to the survey.

The study, conducted in 12,000 online interviews in March, researched viewing habits among the two popular streaming services.

The Nielsen Co. found that 89 percent of Hulu users stream video on their computers. But only 42 percent of Netflix users watch directly on their computers.

Nearly three-quarters of Hulu users primarily watch TV shows.

Netflix is more movie-driven, with just 11 percent focusing their viewing on TV shows. Slightly more than half of Netflix users watch mainly movies.

The findings highlight the strong appeal of TV sets for streaming digital video, connected through myriad Internet-enabled devices.

Other methods of connecting include Blu-Ray players, TVs with Internet access and Roku boxes.

Appetite for such video continues to soar. In May, more than 15 billion videos were streamed, an all-time high, according to Nielsen.

On the Move

» The Pacific Whale Foundation has announced the addition of Tapani Vuori as regional manager and retail buyer. He will be responsible for overseeing the nonprofit organization’s retail operations, including Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Stores in Lahaina and Maalaea and the company’s website, www.pacificwhale.org.

» Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing has hired Debra B. Marple as chief financial officer. She has 25 years of experience with law firms in Hawaii and on the mainland and is a licensed CPA in Virginia.

» Design Partners Inc. has promoted Jack Ching to associate. He joined the firm in 2001 and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional and registered architect.