Some international travelers arriving at Honolulu International Airport will get a nostalgic greeting today with free entertainment and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts to help mark Statehood Day.

In honor of Hawai'i's 50 years as a state, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Co. will greet international visitors to O'ahu as they arrive at the airport.

From about 10:20 to 11:30 this morning, arriving passengers will hear live entertainment as well as receive limited-edition Statehood Deluxe Whole Milk Chocolates made with Hawaiian whole macadamia nuts to commemorate five decades of statehood.

About 5,000 passengers arriving on flights from Japan, South Korea and Australia are expected to get the special greeting.

PARENT OF GO! REACHES DEBT AGREEMENT

Mesa Airgroup Inc., the parent of go! airlines, said today it reached an agreement with a major holder of its senior convertible notes due in 2024 to exchange $14.3 million of the notes for 13.6 million shares of the company's common stock.

The exchange is expected to close on or before Monday.

Once the deal is complete, $3.1 million of the notes will remain outstanding. Earlier this year, the company retired $83.7 million of the notes. Mesa shares rose 3 cents, or 13 percent, to close at 26.5 cents.

HORIZON LINES WINS AWARD FOR SERVICE

Horizon Lines Inc., the second-largest shipper of goods to Hawai'i, has earned a 2009 Quest for Quality Award in the ocean-carrier category from Logistics Management magazine.

The Quest for Quality Award recognizes leading logistics and transportation providers for service excellence and customer satisfaction based on "performance, value, information technology, customer service, equipment and operations," according to a news release from Horizon.