Hawaiian Air tops again in punctuality
Hawaiian Airlines remained the nation’s most punctual airline with 93.9 percent of its flights arriving on time in June.
The state’s largest carrier beat out 14 other carriers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released Thursday. The national average was 80.7 percent.
In other categories, Hawaiian ranked second in fewest canceled flights with eight out of 6,470 flights, or 0.1 percent; fifth for consumer complaints with five out of 827,319 passengers, or 0.6 percent; and eighth for mishandled baggage reports with 2,378 out of 788,652 passengers, or 3.02 percent.
In a category measured on a quarterly basis, Hawaiian was third in fewest oversales, or passengers involuntarily denied boarding, in the second quarter with 11 out of 2.3 million passengers, or 0.05 percent.
Kona Airport solar system dedicated
The state Department of Transportation has dedicated a 112-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system at Kona International Airport that will power the airport’s wastewater treatment plant.
The project was developed by SolarCity, which will own the system and sell the power back to the DOT at a fixed rate under a long-term contract. The DOT will pay SolarCity 16.8 cents a kilowatt-hour for the electricity, a rate that is well below what the DOT had been paying Hawaii Electric Light Co. The facility was dedicated Tuesday.
The installation is one of eight solar projects being developed by SolarCity at state DOT facilities. The DOT is installing PV systems at 15 locations around the state, totaling 3.4 megawatts of generating capacity.
The projects are expected to produce enough power to supply the needs of 630 households, according to a news release from SolarCity and the DOT.
Isle auto dealers offer adopt-a-pet events
Hawaii animal shelters will benefit from two adopt-a-pet events staged by the Hawaii automobile industry.
The Hawaiian Humane Society and Mike McKenna’s Windward Ford will team up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Kailua dealership, where dogs, cats and other small pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, will be available for adoption. The one-day-only adoption fee will be $10. The first 50 attendees will receive gift packages, and everyone can enter to win a trip to Las Vegas. The dealership also will encourage residents to join its team for the upcoming PetWalk in October. The dealership serves as a drop-off location for the society’s Pet Food Bank, and donations will be welcomed during the event as well.
On Aug. 25 four Hawaii Subaru dealerships — on Oahu, Maui and in Kailua-Kona and Hilo — also will stage adopt-a-pet events from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festivities to benefit the Oahu SPCA, SPCA Maui and Hawaii Island Humane Society will offer dogs and kittens for adoption, and a Subaru Love a Pet Goodie Bag for each pet adopted.
The organizations are asking for donations of pet care supplies including food and treats, cat litter, blankets, sheets and towels, and cleaning items including dish soap, bleach, paper towels and trash bags.
Servco Subaru at 3361 Waialae Ave. will offer free shave ice courtesy of Kona Ice Aloha for those who adopt a pet or donate supplies. People who make a $2 donation also may get a shave ice serving.
Leader of American Air pilots union quits
DALLAS » The president of the pilots union at American Airlines resigned Thursday after pilots rejected a concessionary contract offer that he supported. David Bates said that the union’s board asked him to step down, and he agreed.
Bates supported ratification of a company offer to give pilots pay raises and a 13.5 percent stake in the company after it emerges from bankruptcy protection. He portrayed it as the best deal possible under difficult circumstances. But 61 percent of pilots voted to reject the offer, which contained outsourcing provisions that they opposed.
American said that a federal bankruptcy judge will rule Wednesday on the airline’s request to impose terms of an April offer that included smaller pay raises and no stock in the new company for pilots.
Rate on 30-year mortgage inches up to 3.59%
WASHINGTON » Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose for the second straight week, staying slightly above historic lows.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the rate on the 30-year loan increased to 3.59 percent, up from 3.55 percent last week. The average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage, a popular refinancing option, rose to 2.84 percent. That’s up from 2.83 percent last week and a record low of 2.80 percent the previous week.
Cheap mortgages have helped drive a modest housing recovery this year. Home sales are higher than last year, although they are still below healthy levels.
U.S. home prices are also rising. Prices for all homes, including distressed properties, jumped 2.5 percent in June from the same month in 2011, according to a report issued Tuesday by data analytics firm CoreLogic.
Wendy’s upgrade is paying off
NEW YORK » The Wendy’s Co.’s push to transform itself as a higher-end hamburger chain is showing early signs of taking hold.
The Dublin, Ohio-based fast food company says a key sales figure rose 3.2 percent in the second quarter, helped by renovated restaurants, new menu items such the Spicy Guacamole Chicken Club sandwich and a new TV ad campaign.
Sales at restaurants open at least 15 months is a key gauge because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.
Wendy’s said the boost was driven by increased spending per visit, which is in line with its long-term goal of enticing customers to pay more for higher-quality food. But executives noted in a conference call with investors that the company still has a long road ahead. The turnaround efforts also come at a time when competition is intensifying and the economy remains weak.
To cast itself as a more premium fast-food chain, Wendy’s is investing heavily to give its restaurants a fresher look. By the end of 2015, half of its company-owned locations will be remodeled with an airy new style that features leather chairs, flat-screen TVs and metallic highlights.
Wendy’s said it lost money last quarter because of costs to refinance its debt and charges related to the consolidation of its restaurant support business. Wendy’s loss was $5.5 million, or a penny a share, compared with a profit of $11.3 million, or 3 cents a share, a year ago.
ON THE MOVE
Hawaiian Building Maintenance has promoted Jarrett Walters to vice president of operations from executive director of building services. He was previously district manager for Mobile Instrument Service and Repair. 
Anthology Marketing Group has promoted the following:
» Stella Bernardo to vice president of Anthology Digital. She will continue her role as director of interactive marketing. Bernardo has 15 years of experience in sales and marketing, operations, online media and news media.
» Katy Cai to account executive at Laird Christianson, the advertising division of Anthology Marketing Group. She is a former summer intern at Anthology.
AdStreamz has named Rick Nakama account associate. He is currently a Realtor for East Oahu Realty and previously created and managed social media programs for Meg’s Drive In and West Zero.
Finance Factors has hired Jean Savoy as a business development manager. She has more than 20 years of experience with originating wholesale and retail residential loans in Hawaii.
