Pacific Aviation Museum hits 1 million visitors
Cake, confetti and congratulations greeted the 1 millionth visitor at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.
Ivan and Marie Valencia from Modesto, Calif., and their two sons, Hiram, 9, and Christopher, 5, received a lifetime family membership to the museum as well as gift bags filled with books, aviation gear and aircraft memorabilia.
They were congratulated Thursday by Kenneth DeHoff, museum executive director; retired Adm. Ronald Hays, chairman of the museum’s board; board President Clint Churchill; state Rep. Mark Takai; and museum staff.
The museum opened its doors on Dec. 6, 2006.
Convention Center management bids sought
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has issued a request for proposals for management of the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
HTA will welcome submissions from organizations with proven experience in convention, exhibition or other major public assembly management, which includes collaborative work in sales and marketing for the meetings, convention and incentive, or MCI, business.
The new contract will succeed the current agreement that ends Dec. 31.
HTA in July will award the new five-year contract that will run from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2018.
Pennsylvania-based SMG is presently the Convention Center management firm.
Hawaiian boosts American Samoa service
Hawaiian Airlines is expanding service to American Samoa for the summer to accommodate increased demand for travel between Honolulu and Pago Pago.
The carrier said the addition of a third flight per week between the two cities will start June 19. The seasonal third flight will operate on Wednesdays through Aug. 21.
In addition, Hawaiian said its Thursday flight between Honolulu and Pago Pago will operate on Fridays from June 21 through Aug. 16, which will give Pago Pago service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the summer season.
For the summer period, Hawaiian Flight 1465 will depart from Honolulu on Wednesdays at 4:40 p.m. and arrive in Pago Pago at 9:20 p.m. The return Flight 1466 will leave Pago Pago on Wednesdays at 11:20 p.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 5:40 a.m. the following morning. Hawaiian’s Flight 465/466 round trip, currently operated on Mondays and Thursdays, will operate Mondays and Fridays at the same times as Flight 1465/1466 for the summer season.
Toyota to pay $16M settlement in California
LOS ANGELES » A $16 million settlement over the safety recall of Toyota vehicles that were at risk for unintended acceleration and braking issues was announced Friday by Orange County prosecutors and Toyota Motor Corp.
The suit was one of a flood of cases brought against the automaker after more than 14 million vehicles were recalled in 2009 and 2010, many of them still waiting to be heard or settled.
In the suit, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas claimed deceptive business practices, alleging Toyota concealed safety issues related to its floor mats and "sticky" gas pedal issues. The suit sought $2,500 per violation under California’s consumer protection laws.
Under the settlement, Toyota continues to deny all the claims made by the suit.
"Having addressed floor mat and ‘sticky pedal’ issues with effective and durable solutions, we are gratified that Toyota vehicles are once again widely recognized as among the safest and most reliable on the road," Christopher P Reynolds, an attorney and vice president for Toyota, said in a statement.
Boeing makes final test for 787 battery fix
Boeing put its 787 battery fix through a "final" flight test on Friday and will soon submit the data to regulators, who the aircraft maker hopes will sign off on the new battery system and allow the 787 back in the air.
The 787 Dreamliner has been grounded since mid-January because of smoldering batteries that, in one case, caused a serious fire on the tarmac in Boston. Boeing’s fix includes more heat insulation and a battery box designed so that any meltdown of the lithium-ion battery will vent hot gases outside of the plane.
Friday’s flight took off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. It returned one hour and 49 minutes later.
"The crew reported that the certification demonstration plan was straightforward and the flight was uneventful," Boeing said in a statement. The flight was to "demonstrate that the new battery system performs as intended during normal and non-normal flight conditions."
The FAA needs to approve the test results and certify the battery system before airlines can fly 787s again. But the root cause of the battery problems remains unknown.
ON THE MOVE
Hagadone has announced that Dawn Hirayama has been promoted to director of operations/sales from sales operations/mailing director. She has spent more than 10 years in local media, including positions at the Honolulu Advertiser and Hawaii News Now (KHNL).
Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced that Ashley Chandler has joined the firm as a Realtor associate for its training program “New Agent Training Office” West. She was previously an office assistant at the Department of Health.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa has announced Yoshimi Anderson as the new director at Na Ho‘ola Spa. Her experience in the spa industry includes working at the Palace Hotel Co. in Tokyo, Armini/spa senior manager with L’Oreal and the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo as well as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Washington, D.C., Whistler, British Columbia, and Las Vegas.
