Unionized Hawaiian Airlines pilots have ratified a tentative contract agreement, the Air Line Pilots Association announced yesterday.

Some 90 percent of the HAL pilots eligible to vote cast ballots, with 83 percent of the group voting in favor.

The 68-month agreement will give pilots pay increases of between 4 percent and 6 percent immediately, and total increases of between 15 percent and 22 percent over the term of the contract.

The agreement also increases the company contribution to the pilots' retirement plans, provides airline management more flexibility in pilot training and scheduling, and allows Hawaiian to acquire or code share with a turboprop feeder airline, provided the feeder carrier does not compete with Hawaiian's existing interisland turbojet operation.

HAWAI'I HAS HIGHEST GAS PRICES IN NATION

A steady increase in gas prices over the past week has pushed Hawai'i ahead of Alaska as the state with the highest gasoline prices, according to AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch.

Hawai'i's average gas price climbed to $3.39 a gallon, up 6 cents from last week. Alaska dropped to No. 2 with an average price of $3.38 per gallon.

Alaska's prices had been ahead of Hawai'i's for much of the past year. The average gas price in Alaska was $3.39 a month ago, versus $3.34 for Hawai'i. A year ago, a gallon of regular cost $2.51 in Alaska, compared with $2.32 in Hawai'i.

DCCA EXTENDS FEE CUTS THROUGH 2010

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is extending its fee cuts for securities and franchise filing fees and for trade name, trademark and service mark filings.

The fee cuts will result in an estimated total savings of more than $1.7 million for businesses, according to the DCCA.

The filing fees are discounted by 50 percent from the statutory fees for applications and renewals for securities dealers and their salespeople, investment advisers and their representatives. The fees will automatically readjust to the old rates on Jan. 1, 2011.