Mokulele Airlines purchases 2 more aircraft

Kona-based Mokulele Airlines has expanded its fleet with the purchase of two new nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft. The additional planes will enable Mokulele to boost service between Hono­lulu and Molokai, and the Kahu­lui and Hana airports on Maui. The Caravans, which will be delivered later this month and in April, will give Mokulele seven aircraft in its fleet.

“We’ll be hiring and basing more pilots out of Hono­lulu and hiring more customer service agents there, too,” CEO Ron Hansen said.
Hansen said passenger loads have doubled since parent company Trans­Pac Aviation Inc. purchased Mokulele in November 2011.

“We’re currently offering about 80 flights per day, and the new aircraft will make it possible for us to offer more than 100 flights per day between Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island,” Hansen said.

Emerging Leaders training course offered

The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened the recruitment phase for the e200 Emerging Leaders initiative. This free executive-level training course provides small-business owners who demonstrate potential for growth with the resources, skills and the network to help them drive their business to the next level of success and sustainability.

To be eligible to participate, a small business must be at least 3 years old, have achieved annual revenue of $300,000 and have at least one employee. Only one person, the key decision-maker of the small business, attends the classes and mentoring groups.

In Hawaii the initiative for entrepreneurs in underserved markets will target small businesses owned and operated by Native Hawaiians.

The nine-month training includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time per participant and provides the opportunity for small-business owners to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders and financial communities. Classes are set to begin in April, and class size is limited.

The deadline for applications is Monday.

For more information, contact the Hawaii District Office at 541-2990.

Japan’s economy grew in 2012’s last quarter

TOKYO » Japan’s economy did better than first thought in the last quarter of 2012, eking out a slight expansion instead of shrinking, in a boost for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s policies for ending two decades of deflationary stagnation.

The government Friday upgraded its annualized growth figure for the fourth quarter to 0.2 percent, suggesting the world’s No. 3 economy is emerging from recession.

The change raises growth for full-year 2012 to 2 percent from the originally recorded 1.9 percent. Growth was flat in October-December from the previous quarter.

Preliminary data had reported a 0.4 percent contraction from a year earlier and a 0.1 percent contraction from the previous quarter.

The revision reflected corporate spending and private consumption that was higher than originally reported.

Federal workers owe $3.5B in back taxes

WASHINGTON » The number of federal workers and retirees who owed delinquent income taxes jumped by nearly 12 percent in 2011, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.

Nearly 312,000 federal workers and retirees owed more than $3.5 billion in back taxes as of Sept. 30, 2011, the agency said. The year before, about 279,000 workers and retirees owed $3.4 billion.

Overall, the 9.8 million workers included in the data had a delinquency rate of 3.2 percent. That’s better than the general public. The IRS says the delinquency rate for the general public was 8.2 percent.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development had the highest delinquency rate, at 4.4 percent. The Treasury Department, which includes the IRS, had the lowest, at 1.1 percent.

Among independent agencies with more than 1,000 workers, the Government Printing Office had the highest delinquency rate, at 7.6 percent. The National Credit Union Administration had the lowest, at 1 percent.

House employees had a higher delinquency rate than workers for the Senate, but not by much. House workers had a delinquency rate of 3.7 percent, while Senate workers had a delinquency rate of 3.3 percent. Federal court employees had a delinquency rate of 2.7 percent.

The IRS says most residents who owe back income taxes file returns but cannot pay the full amount at tax time. Others have their tax bills increased through audits and cannot pay the higher bill.

Whole Foods to carry GMO labeling

NEW YORK » Whole Foods says all products in its North American stores that contain genetically modified ingredients will be labeled as such by 2018.

The company says it’s the first national grocery chain to set such a deadline for labeling foods that contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. A spokes­woman for the supermarket operator said organic foods will not have to carry the labels since they do not contain genetically modified ingredients by definition.

Although Whole Foods is known as an organic grocer, it also sells a wide array of nonorganic products.

The use of GMOs has been a growing issue in recent years, with health advocates pushing for mandatory labeling even though the federal government and many scientists say the ingredients are safe.

The science behind genetically modified organisms is not new. Biotech scientists say that genetic manipulation is a way to reduce disease and enrich plants, raising productivity and increasing the global food supply. According to the National Academies of Sciences, genetically modified corn, cotton and soybeans account for more than four-fifths of those crops grown in the U.S.

On the Move

Bennet Group Strategic Communications has promoted the following employees:

>> Crystal Yamasaki to director from senior account manager. She has been with the company for six years and has extensive experience in consumer marketing, nonprofits and overseas accounts, including International Market Place, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Ward Centers and Special Olympics Hawaii.

>> Nicky Leong to account executive from assistant account executive. She represents clients across multiple sectors, including travel and tourism industries and retail and nonprofit industries.   

Y. Hata & Co. has announced Ted Aughe as the new general manager for the company’s Hilo branch. He was previously an account manager with the company servicing the Hilo area.

USS Missouri Memorial Association has recognized the following outstanding volunteers: Bernie Perriera, outstanding volunteer of the year, was given the USS Missouri Memorial Association Award; James Weinenger, outstanding military person, was awarded the USS Missouri Memorial Association Legacy Award; Emi Ige, outstanding senior volunteer, was awarded the Truman Centennial Award; Jeff Eck, volunteer who can “do it all,” was given the Big Guns Award; Marcos and Mason Zavala, outstanding military support; and Senior Chief Ian Moore, outstanding military support.