Hawaiian Airlines yesterday greeted arriving passengers with 9,000 flower lei as part of the carrier's 80th anniversary festivities.

The carrier's airport stations statewide were decorated to recognize the historic occasion. In Honolulu, passengers were serenaded with live Hawaiian music in addition to being presented with orchid lei.

The festivities capped a yearlong series of anniversary events that included a $150,000 cash and in-kind donation to Bishop Museum. The donation includes the transporting of museum curators and educators to schools and communities on the Neighbor Islands through 2011 in support of its Holoholo Science educational outreach program.

In addition, Hawaiian partnered with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii during summer and fall on a series of projects to help restore native Hawaiian habitats on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island.

PRIZES THIS WEEKEND AT WINDWARD MALL

Windward Mall will hold a grand reopening of its newly renovated Pa'ina Ko'olau Food Court Saturday and Sunday with live music and prize giveaways.

This weekend's festivities follow a soft opening on Nov. 1. The food court had been closed for 10 months during the renovation.

The lineup at the food court includes Blazin' Steaks, Bull Kogi, Chinatown Express, Cookie Corner, Hot Dog on a Stick, Maruki Tei, Papa John's, Subway and Yogen Fruz. Additionally, Cinnabon will return to the mall in a center court location next to the food court.

HONOLULU FALLS IN CITIES' ECONOMIC RANKS

Honolulu has fallen in an economic ranking of best performing cities, coming in at 100 out of 200 metropolitan areas examined by the Milken Institute.

The report shows Honolulu ranked poorly in terms of high-tech GDP growth and job growth during the past year. In 2008, the city had ranked 94th and was 40th in 2007.