Business Briefs

Passenger traffic on Hawaiian Airlines rises

Hawaiian Airlines’ passenger traffic edged up 1 percent in October, but the state’s largest carrier filled fewer of its seats as it added more flights.

The number of travelers rose to 707,203 last month from 700,369 in the year-earlier period, but Hawaiian’s load factor, or percentage of seats filled, fell to 84.8 percent from 87.3 percent. Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, jumped 19.9 percent to 1.01 billion from 845.7 million a year ago. Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, increased 16.5 percent to 860.1 million from 738.2 million.

Isle lodging organization changes its name

The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association has changed its name from the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, modified its logo and color, and revamped its website, www.hawaiilodging.org.

"The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association more accurately reflects the membership of our organization," President and CEO Mufi Hannemann said. "At the time we were founded in 1947, the association consisted of 16 hotels. Today we have a diverse membership of nearly 600 hotels, condominiums, time shares, travel and transportation firms, suppliers and related businesses and individuals representing local, national and international companies."

In addition, the organization said Friday it has named former Aloha Airlines flight attendant Karen L.S. Nakaoka as director of member relations and operations.

Nakaoka was flew with Aloha for 22 years. She was an officer with the master executive council of the Association of Flight Attendants-Hawaii chapter, the labor union for flight attendants. Most recently she served as a substance abuse counselor at Hina Mauka and receptionist for the Governor’s Office. She will receive her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu in May.

AT&T completes Wi-Fi at convention center

AT&T said it has finished installing a wireless broadband system at the Hawai’i Convention Center in time for next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

The system consists of several strategically placed antennas that distribute wireless network coverage throughout the facility, the company said Friday. Known as a distributed antennae system, the technology provides enhanced wireless coverage to customers indoor or outdoor where geography or crowds might otherwise prevent an "optimal wireless experience," AT&T said.

The permanent installation is part of AT&T’s continuing investment in its Hawaii business, the company said.

Outrigger to manage another Wyndham site

Outrigger Enterprises Group said Friday it will oversee on-site management of the Wyndham Royal Garden Resort. Steve Winter has been named resort manager of the property as it joins the Outrigger Resort Club by Wyndham, which also includes Wyndham Waikiki Beach Walk, Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort, Wyndham Mauna Loa Village and Wyndham Royal Sea Cliff.

Wyndham Vacation Ownership is the world’s largest vacation ownership company.

Wyndham Royal Garden Resort recently extensively renovated its 140 rooms and now offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units, as well as upgraded resort amenities, including a swimming pool, sauna and fitness center.

Big Isle grants for healthy living available

Hawaii Island Beacon Community, an islandwide, federally funded, collaborative project, has released $300,000 to be awarded to the community as Healthy Eating and Active Living grants ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 per project. The project is administered through the College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo as part of the national Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program.

The grants will support Hawaii County nonprofit and for-profit projects that promote positive changes for healthy eating, physical activity and stopping tobacco use. Applicants may sign up to download the request for proposals at www.hibeacon.org. The deadline to apply is Dec. 2.

Bella Pietra manager buys Kona outlet

Bella Pietra has sold the Kona Bella Pietra location to Teva Beatty, a longtime Bella Pietra manager on Hawaii island. The sale of the natural stone material business at 73-4770 Kanalani St. in Kailua-Kona, which features a warehouse and showroom, includes all inventory and equipment. The new store will be called Bella Pietra Kona, keep the same hours and retain its three employees.

Layla Dedrick, owner and CEO of Bella Pietra, said the move allows her and husband Andrew to devote more energy to the company’s continued growth on Oahu.

The Dedricks own Bella Pietra’s outlet at 701 N. Nimitz Highway, which marks its 10th anniversary this year. In January 2010, Bella Pietra launched a sister company, Geobunga, a landscaping shop in Salt Lake at 4299 Lawehana St.

ON THE MOVE

RevoluSun has announced James McCay as its Hawaii-based renewable energy developer. He will be responsible for working with commercial customers. McCay was previously a customer service representative at Inter-Island Solar Supply.

Hoku Solar, a subsidiary of Hoku Corp., has hired the following employees:

» Lester Corpuz as project manager. He has more than five years of construction management and design build experience and was previously a senior project manager at Osmose Utilities Services.

» David Trifonovitch as a solar sales associate. He has more than 20 years of sales experience, including as sales manager for ESPN Honolulu and director of sales for Rendezvous Tours.