Blog: www.kgmb9.com/howard

Video Headline:

The Hawaii Superferry oversight task force briefed Maui residents on Friday night, revealing interesting details about Superferry traffic and vehicle inspections. More than 100 plants were barred from transport for lack of agricultural certification, and more than 50 bugs were removed from vehicles, some of them found in the engine compartments. There were a handful of citations for prohibited seafood such as opihi. In May, Superferry carried about 22,000 passengers and 6,000 vehicles. Twice as many Superferry passengers are Oahuans than Mauians. But since Oahu's population is six or seven times greater, that means a larger percentage of Mauians are using the service. By the way, 30 times as many people fly between Oahu and Maui as take the ferry.

Other Business Headlines:

Matson Navigation says its newest fuel surcharge increase, second biggest ever, still won't catch it up on its soaring fuel bills. The July increase will put the Hawaii surcharge over 38%, and for the first time to Guam surcharge will be greater, over 39%. That's for PARTIAL recovery of soaring costs. So the real news about the hike is there will definitely be more to come!

Did you hear about Little Caesar's? The pizza chain confirms it plans 15 new stores in Hawaii over five years. Developer Tom Metzger is behind it -- he has past experience with Sizzlers and Wolfgang Puck restaurants. And new owners plan to reopen the Crouching Lion Inn in two weeks.

The infamous American Airlines 15-dollar charge for the first bag? It takes effect today. And dig this -- after US Airways said it would do the same thing and charge for soft drinks besides, its stock price ROSE.

Four thousand people are quitting Delta Air Lines. Delta offered a buyout and twice as many are taking it as expected. Since replacement personnel will be more junior and paid less, this will let Delta cut labor costs.

Continental Airlines says it is offering voluntary layoff deals to employees of its Micronesia hub on Guam. Continental is dropping Guam flights to Hong Kong and Bali, as well as flights linking Saipan with Manila.

The Spain-based theme park company that recently bought Sea Life Park has bought five amusement parks on the mainland. Parques Reunidos has acquired five parks in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

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