Makani Kai Air adds Molokai flights

Makani Kai Air is expanding Molokai service by offering three more daily round-trip flights between Honolulu and Molokai on Sundays and four more round trips on Fridays.

"We’re expanding the number of flights … in response to the number of passengers who were finding it difficult to get seats on those days," said Richard Schuman, president of Makani Kai Air. "Since we began our service to topside Molokai last June, we have been extremely happy with the number of Molokai residents who now call us their airline."

Makani Kai offers one-way tickets between Molokai and Honolulu for $50.

The small nine-seat commuter carrier, established by Schuman Aviation Co. in 2009, suffered the only fatal accident in company history in December when its single-engine Cessna Grand Caravan lost power and crashed in the ocean off the Kalaupapa Peninsula. State Health Director Loretta Fuddy died in the aftermath of the crash. The pilot and all eight passengers made it out of the plane into the ocean with their life preservers on, but the 65-year-old Fuddy died before Coast Guard and Maui County helicopters arrived about a half-hour after the crash.

801 South B opponents face a bigger fight

Residents who sued a state agency to prevent development of a condominium tower next to theirs in Kakaako will be going up against attorneys representing the condo developer in addition to state lawyers who say the project should proceed.

Downtown Capital LLC, the developer trying to build

801 South St. Building B at the corner of South Street and Kapiolani Boulevard, was recently allowed to intervene in the lawsuit filed in March.

Residents of Royal Capitol Plaza sued the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state agency that approved a development permit for 801 South B, alleging numerous reasons why 801 South B should not have received a permit.

In May, Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto halted construction after a preliminary hearing in which he found that HCDA didn’t follow state law protecting historic places and burials. The injunction remains in place until a more thorough hearing and ruling occur.

Downtown Capital filed a motion in July seeking to participate in the lawsuit because it said HCDA’s interests don’t fully align with its own. The developer said it didn’t seek to participate earlier because it believed there was no merit to the lawsuit. An attorney representing Royal Capital Plaza objected to the request, butSakamoto granted the intervention Aug. 26.

Hawaii Energy offering $50 AC rebate

Hawaii Energy is offering a $50 rebate to residents on Oahu, Hawaii island and Maui under a new air-conditioning recycling program called "Window AC Trade-Up."

To qualify for the rebate, residents must purchase an Energy Star window air conditioner and recycle their older working model with the organization.

Hawaii Energy will pick up and haul away the old air conditioners for free.

Applications for the "Window AC Trade-Up" are provided by participating retailers when residents buy Energy Star window AC with a minimum energy efficiency ratio of 10.8.

The rebates are available only while funding lasts.

California firm takes stake in solar project

SPI Solar, a photovoltaic solar developer, said Tuesday that it will acquire a 15 megawatt PV project under development in Hawaii. Roseville, Calif.-based SPI will acquire Hawaiian Power’s equity interests and debt related to a joint venture between the two companies to develop and operate PV projects in Hawaii.

The purchase price for the assets is $3.95 million, consisting of 3 million SPI Solar shares of common stock valued at $1.15 per share and $500,000 in cash.

The deal is expected to close in September.

ON THE MOVE

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii has appointed Gladys Quinto Marrone new chief executive officer and chief lobbyist. Her experience includes serving as the BIA government relations director as well as planner for Group 70 International, director of research and legal affairs for LURF of Hawaii, associate director of policy and planning for the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs, and research attorney for the Hawaii State Senate Majority Research Office.

Hawaiian Airlines has promoted Marc Sabate to director of support services procurement. He was a manager of category procurement for the company when he joined in 2012 and the following year was promoted to senior manager of customer professional services procurement.