Twelve weeks after Aloha Airlines' sudden closure, nearly half of its 1,900 former employees have found new jobs — a positive reflection of Hawai'i's job market, state officials say.

While hundreds of laid-off workers are still struggling with unemployment, many have found jobs sooner than expected, said James Hardway of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

"Over 800 people have found their way back to the job market. The average unemployment in Hawai'i is 14 weeks. So, that does mean a good percentage is beating the state average," Hardway said. "This is a really positive sign."

Still, some labor experts worry about the hundreds of workers who are continuing to file for unemployment with no jobs in sight.

Tupu Tiave, former Aloha Airlines finance clerk, considers herself one of the lucky ones. She was hired by the Honolulu Liquor Commission on May 1, just one day after she was let go from Aloha.

"I've just been blessed too many times this year," said Tiave, who is recovering from breast cancer. "Things are just falling into my plate."

Tiave has had to adjust her sleep schedule for her new job as a night dispatcher, often working from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. She also has undergone training courses to learn new computer skills.

While parting from former co-workers and settling into a new job has been challenging, Tiave embraces the recent change in her career as a learning opportunity. "Whenever one door closes, I know another will open up even wider," she said.

For the many who have not found work and still need assistance with bills and other necessities, Helping Hands Hawai'i, in cooperation with The Advertiser, KGMB and First Hawaiian Bank, set up the Neighbors in Need fund. So far, $149,921.91 has been raised to help some of the former Aloha Airlines employees, along with people who lost jobs following shutdowns of ATA airline, Moloka'i Ranch and Weyerhauser.

Hawai'i Pacific University professor of economics and finance Leroy Laney is optimistic about the job prospects of those who have been laid off.

"I think it's encouraging that these people have found jobs so quickly," said Laney, who points out that job searches can take six months or more in relatively weaker economies.

Of the 1,790 workers who immediately filed for unemployment after Aloha Airlines on March 31 shut down its passenger operations, 827 have stopped filing for unemployment as of last Monday. An additional 80 to 100 people stop filing for unemployment every week, Hardway said.

While the state does not record the reasons people stop filing for unemployment, Hardway and Laney say they have most likely found new jobs.

"It would be only logical to assume that they've found jobs," Laney said. "Otherwise, why wouldn't they want to continue getting unemployment benefits?"

Even those who move away to look for work can continue to file for unemployment in Hawai'i, Hardway said.

At the same time, others note that some displaced workers may have simply given up on the job search, which can be a long and painful process.

"There is a possibility they've just gone off the grid," said University of Hawai'i labor economist Lawrence Boyd.

In addition, even if all 827 of those who have stopped filing for unemployment have gotten jobs, "that's not a sign of a healthy labor market," Boyd said. "In a very vibrant market, the average unemployment period could be just 30 days," he said.

Earlier this month, Gov. Linda Lingle announced an extension of 13 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits for Hawai'i residents. The extended benefits, which will be in place through March, are on top of the 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits now available to those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Employment experts agree that those who have yet to find jobs should not be discouraged. Laney and Boyd predict that the job search will take a little longer for those who are relatively high-skilled or who held positions specific to the airline industry.

"Naturally, if you had a highly specialized job, it's going to make it more difficult to find something than if you were looking for an entry-level job," Laney said.

There is some good news for those who are looking for new positions.

ING Direct, a Delaware-based virtual bank company, is opening a cafe in Waikiki in early October. The company is looking to hire 25 people to work as sales associates or in its call center, and has approached Helping Hands Hawai'i to help recruit former Aloha workers.

"Those employees have exceptional skills. Aloha Airlines was known for its customer service, and that's the type of people we want in our cafe," said Cleota Brown, head of ING Direct Hawai'i. "They are people-oriented, and they understand the local culture."

As more and more displaced workers find new jobs, however, many still find it difficult to shake the general sense of uncertainty they feel about the declining economy.

Darlani Koki, who was a finance clerk for Aloha Airlines, has a new job as a customer service representative with the Board of Water Supply. While Koki is thankful for her job, she is concerned about what will happen when her one-year contract expires.

"My job here is only temporary. I still need to look for something permanent," said Koki, who is actively looking for state and federal job openings.

Koki has kept in touch with her former co-workers, many of whom are still unemployed, she said.

"I've been listening to a lot of stories about people adjusting, and they're having a difficult time," she said.

Tiave said most of her former co-workers are still collecting unemployment. Despite her own success with finding a new job, "sometimes all I can do is listen to them cry, and cry along with them," she said.

Both women say they believe job opportunities will open up for their former co-workers in the coming months. "I think sometimes we just have to not be too picky," Koki said. "At a time like this, we can't be choosy."

Koki, true to her words, is willing to be flexible with wages and work hours.

"My main concern is getting medical coverage for my family," said Koki, whose husband is self-employed. The couple has two children, ages 7 and 14.