Dunkerley doing dandy at airline

During a recessionary time when many businesses have been contracting or playing it safe, Hawaiian Airlines has been flying high. It has expanded to at least eight new markets since November 2010; its third-quarter earnings were up almost 80 percent; and it has the best-in-the-nation on-time record.

So it seems only natural that its CEO, Mark Dunkerley, who joined the firm in 2003 and earned $1.6 million last year, has had his contract extended for three more years.

For Dunkerley, an enthusiastic pilot and one-time advanced aerobatic flying champion, leading Hawaiian Air back from bankruptcy has been soaring of a different sort.

Hawaii footballers having an impact

Not all the news is bad in the Hawaii football world — if you count players from here who are doing well elsewhere.

Former UH Warrior Chad Owens, for example, has been having a record-breaking season with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, and is being hailed as a future CFL Hall of Famer. (The Argos play in the league’s 100th Grey Cup championship game Sunday, against the Calgary Stampeders.)

Also, Punahou grad Manti Te’o is finishing up his stellar career as a linebacker for Notre Dame, college football’s No. 1 team. A Mormon, he won the hearts of the mostly Catholic student body, and is a finalist for several prestigious awards.

As well, Saint Louis grad Marcus Mariota has been playing spectacularly at quarterback for the No. 5-ranked Oregon Ducks, and is considered a possible Heisman Trophy winner.

So Hawaii football fans have something to cheer about, after all.