China Eastern Airlines canceled four Shanghai to Honolulu flights in October, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said today.

Flights for Oct. 14,18, 21 and 26 have been canceled. China Eastern will resume flights to Honolulu on Oct. 28, HTA said.

China Eastern began regular service to Hawaii in August, the first regularly scheduled service between China and Hawaii.

The new service was projected to bring about 82,000 Chinese visitors to Hawaii this year, an increase of 24 percent, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

"Following strong bookings to Hawaii during China’s long "National Day" holiday period, China Eastern Airlines suspended four flights on its Shanghai to Honolulu route," said Mike McCartney, HTA president and CEO in a news release. "All flights ongoing from Oct. 28, 2011 remain scheduled as planned, operating twice weekly at approximately 75 percent load factor. Demand from China to visit the Hawaiian Islands remains high. However, obtaining visas to travel to the U.S. continues to be an obstacle."