The Maui News - Hawaiian Airlines announced last week it would increase interisland passenger fares to keep up with rocketing fuel costs. The lowest one-way fares, which were $49, have been increased to $54, and other fares are expected to increase by $5 to $20 per person. The fare increases were published shortly after Hawaiian announced it had reached a $52.4 million settlement in its lawsuit against Mesa Air Group for misuse of confidential and proprietary information obtained during Hawaiian’s Chapter 11 plan of reorganization in 2004. Despite the sizable settlement, Hawaiian said its fare increase is a response to the continuing increase in operating costs, especially jet fuel. “The sudden shutdown of airlines locally and nationally these past few weeks shows how critically important it is for Hawaiian to cover its costs,” said Hawaiian Airlines President Mark Dunkerly.