Hawaiian Airlines ranks first in punctuality

Hawaiian Airlines remained on top in July as the nation’s most punctual carrier.

The state’s largest airline had 88.6 percent of its domestic flights arrive on time, according to a report issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The national average for the 13 reporting carriers was 78.1 percent. A flight is counted as "on time" if it arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival.

Hawaiian also ranked second in fewest flight cancellations for the month with 0.2 percent, representing 11 cancellations out of 6,955 flights.

Maui tour listed among top 5 in U.S.

Trilogy Excursions in Lahaina, Maui, was ranked No. 5 on the TripAdvisor.com list of the country’s top 10 tours.

The list was compiled based on the quality and quantity of reviews and opinions logged by users of the travel site during the past year.

Over time, site users have posted 3,294 reviews about Trilogy’s tours with a rating of five, the highest possible. Reviews cited the sun, surf and information about Hawaii’s history enjoyed on the company’s tours, including a "Discover Lanai" option that includes swimming and snorkeling in the Hulopo’e Marine Preserve, as well as a pineapple plantation tour.

The TripAdvisor list released Thursday ranks tours, as opposed to landmark attractions.

The travel portal’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for Landmarks list released earlier this year ranked the USS Arizona Memorial No. 5 in the country. The tour list is topped by Wild Horse Adventure Tours in Corolla, N.C.; No. 2, Real New York Tours in New York City; third-ranked Platypus Wine Tours in Napa, Calif.; and No. 4, Pink Jeep Tours Sedona, in Arizona.

Mondelez to focus more on healthy snacks

NEW YORK » Mondelez, the company behind the Oreo and Cadbury brands, says that it plans to have 50 percent of its portfolio contain healthful snacks within the next five years.

Healthful snacks currently comprise more than a third of its total revenue, according to Mark Clouse, executive vice president and chief growth officer.

Food companies such as Kellogg, General Mills and others are shifting from food perceived by some consumers as too processed to options considered healthier.

Clouse said Thursday that Mondelez International Inc. is looking to simplify ingredients and nutritional information for its products as it develops new goods to meet consumer demand for healthier items.

China OKs foreigners in currency market

BEIJING » China plans to allow foreign central banks into its interbank currency market, the country’s No. 2 leader said Thursday, in a new move to expand use of the tightly controlled Chinese yuan.

Speaking at a business conference, Premier Li Keqiang gave no time frame for the change or details of what foreign institutions would be allowed to do. The move follows Beijing’s decision in March to allow some foreign investors into the market in which its state-owned banks trade bonds.

ON THE MOVE

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel has announced the following new appointments:

» Alfred Ramos as chef de cuisine of Coast Grille. He joined the hotel in 1994 as a steward and has also served at Kukio Beach and Golf Club, Luke’s Place, Waikoloa Beach Marriott, Cafe Pesto and Roy’s Waikoloa.

» Theresa Benedicto as restaurant manager of Beach Bar. She was previously food and beverage coordinator at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii. Her experience includes working at Indochine Asian Lounge in Tacoma, Wash.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

HONOLULU HARBOR