The Queen Mary 2, the world's longest cruise ship, will make a port call in Honolulu tomorrow on its around-the-world tour.

The 1,232-foot QM2 — the flagship of Cunard's cruise fleet — is scheduled to arrive at Pier 2 from Los Angeles at 6 a.m. and depart for American Samoa at 5 p.m., according to an itinerary published by the state Department of Transportation's Harbors Division. Other stops on the QM2's voyage include Australia, Thailand, India, Egypt, Greece, Italy and France.

The luxury liner was built in 2004 at a cost of $800 million. It holds 3,056 passengers and 1,253 crew members, with a top speed of 28 1/2 knots.

Accommodations range from a standard inside stateroom at 155 square feet to the Balmoral duplex suite at 2,249 square feet. The ship has 10 restaurants and round-the-clock room service.

PAPAYA HARVEST DOWN 1% IN 2008

Hawai'i's papaya harvest fell to 30.9 million pounds in 2008, a 1 percent decline from 2007, according to a report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

There were 2,410 acres of papaya trees growing in December, up 9 percent from September and 17 percent above December 2007. Harvested area totaled 1,465 acres in December, up 14 percent from September and 17 percent from December 2007.

Papaya growers received 38 cents a pound for fresh fruit in December, 1 cent less than in November and 1.7 cents less than in December 2007.

Cool, wet weather prevailed during most of December, spurring tree growth in drier areas, the NASS said. Other areas suffered soil erosion from heavy rains and flooding. As a result, crop progress was slowed and field maintenance was hampered.

MORE BUBBA'S BURGERS ON KAUA'I

A nearly 20-year-old burger restaurant business on Kaua'i is expanding to the retail complex at the developing 1,500-home luxury residential subdivision Kukui'ula on Kaua'i.

Bubba's Hawaii said it plans to open a store at the end of summer in the 75,000-square-foot Kukui'ula Village center at the 1,010-acre master-planned community near Po'ipu.

The 1,500-square-foot restaurant will be the third on Kaua'i for Bubba's, which was established in Kapa'a in 1990 and opened a second location three years later in Hanalei.

Bubba's joins several other tenants that have leased space at the retail project, including Merriman's Cafe, Rustic by chef Jean-Marie Josselin, Tommy Bahama, Quiksilver, Maui Divers, Lappert's Hawaii, Kela's Glass Gallery, Taro Fields, Palm Palm and Tortilla Republic Grill & Margarita Lounge.

AVERAGE PRICE OF GAS UP THIS WEEK

The average price of a gallon of gasoline statewide rose 3 cents this week, AAA Hawaii reported yesterday.

A gallon of regular averaged $2.39, up from $2.36 the previous week, the AAA said in its Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch.

In Honolulu, the average price was $2.32 a gallon, up 4 cents from last week. The Honolulu average was up 8 cents from a month ago, but down $1.03 from a year ago.

In Hilo, the average price was $2.47 a gallon, down 1 cent from a week ago. It was 5 cents higher than a month ago, but down 94 cents from a year ago.

The average price in Wailuku of $2.52 a gallon was up 4 cents from last week. It was up 5 cents from a month ago, but $1.33 lower than last year.