Booking are up for Norwegian Cruise Line — including the Hawai'i-based ship, Pride of America, according to the Miami-based company.

Officials cited "an unprecedented year-to-date increase in booking volume" during its promotion in January and February. In addition, group business was up close to twofold.

Because of this demand, prices are set to increase fleetwide up to 7 percent as of April 2.

The company once based three ships in Hawai'i but cut back to one after the demand and price dropped.

HAWAIIAN AIR FLEW FEWER IN FEBRUARY

Hawaiian Airlines' passenger count fell by almost 15,000 in February.

The state's largest airline said it flew 626,590 people last month, a 2.3 percent decrease from February 2009's 641,067.

Hawaiian said its planes flew 82.3 percent full in February, which was 0.7 percentage points lower than the same month a year earlier.

ENTRIES SOUGHT FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS HONOR

The Hawai'i chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is accepting entries from Hawai'i's public relations, communications and marketing professionals for the annual Koa Anvil Awards competition.

The competition is open to both PRSA members and nonmembers. There is a discounted fee for entries submitted by April 16. The final deadline is April 30.

The awards recognize outstanding public relations programs, while encouraging improved public relations performance and techniques.

Winners will be recognized at the annual Koa Anvil Awards banquet July 22 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

For more information, go to www.prsahawaii.com.

ARMSTRONGS PLEDGE $100K TO UH SCHOOL

Bob and Kelly Armstrong through the Armstrong Foundation of Honolulu have pledged $100,000 to support the University of Hawai'i's School of Architecture.

The Armstrong Builders Fund for Excellence will be used to "promote excellence in architecture education for, but not limited to, scholarships, awards and fellowships for faculty and students, travel, publications, specialized equipment, and research," according to a news release from the University of Hawai'i Foundation.

Bob Armstrong graduated from UH-Mānoa with a bachelor's degree in 1973. In 1976 he founded Armstrong Builders, leader in Hawai'i's residential and commercial construction markets.