HONOLULU -- Members of the Hawaii Tourism Authority were asked to authorize some of its $5 million emergency fund to help get people back to the mainland.

"What we want to do is use those monies to try to acquire additional airline seats," HTA spokesman Rex Johnson said.

About 8,000 of the 9,500 people stranded are on Oahu and Maui.

All airlines, including charters and the military, have been contacted and told of the need to get people back to the mainland.

Hawaiian Airlines said it is making seats available Monday and Wednesday of next week, and United Airlines said it is able to help on some Kona and Maui runs.

What HTA said it really wants are charters for hire so they can move out 250 people per flight.

"We asked Hawaiian what it would cost to get (an) airplane out of here into west coast and back, and (the) cost was about $156,000," Johnson said.

That would work out to about $312 per seat, and HTA said it does not know yet how much they would be able to cover.

Three Aloha Airlines planes capable of flying to the mainland sit dormant on the tarmac, and HTA said it is going to inquire about using the planes, but they said there could be legal issues.

Hawaii is in the tail end of spring break, so it's tough to find airline seats, but American Airlines said it will have several hundred seats available next week.

Some people said they are finding their own way home.

The Hawaii Visitors Bureau's Web site, GoHawaii.com has a list of airlines available seats, hotels and special rates, as well as all of the contact points.

"It is updated on the fly. The minute we get a change to the situation, it is updated," HVB spokesman John Monahan said.

While the board gave its authorization Friday, another problem that exists is locals trying to get home.

Local travel agency Non-Stop Travel said it relied heavily on ATA to get its customers to and from Las Vegas.

At its South King Street offices on Friday, operators were busy helping customers who purchased tickets or tour packages get back home.

"They're surprised more than upset or angry," Non-Stop Travel President Danny Ching said.

Ching said he's never seen two airlines close this quickly in his 24 years as a travel agent.

Because ATA shut down without warning, Ching said his company will have to pay to bring about 50 of its customers who are stranded in Las Vegas home.

He said he is in talks with other air carriers to replace ATA.