Hawaiian Airlines Embraces ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i with New Language Certification

February 11, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
14 min read

HONOLULU – He ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i anei ‘oe? (Are you a Hawaiian language speaker?)

Hawaiian Airlines today marked an important cultural milestone as Hawai‘i’s airline by establishing an ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) certification program for employees. Launched in time to celebrate ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i Month, the certification, which is available at no cost to any of Hawaiian’s 7,200-plus employees, broadens the carrier’s commitment to honor and perpetuate Hawai‘i’s rich culture throughout its operations.

“Adding ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i as a recognized language was a natural move for Hawaiian since the majority of our ‘ohana was either born or raised on our islands,” said Jim Lynde, senior vice president of human resources at Hawaiian Airlines. “We believe the Hawaiian language certification will inspire and empower even more team members to share ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i with our guests.”

Hawaiian Airlines In-Flight Name Tag with Flag

The airline developed the certification program in consultation with numerous Hawaiian language experts, including Dr. Larry Kimura, who is considered the grandfather of Hawaiian language revitalization, and Dr. Leilani Basham, a professor at the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu who is renowned for perpetuating Hawaiian culture in academia.

To be eligible, employees must be existing speakers and demonstrate advanced proficiency through an oral and reading exam. Those qualified are recognized with the Hae Hawai‘i (Hawai‘i’s state flag) imprinted on their nametag, placing ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i speakers alongside colleagues at the company who are fluent in a variety of languages, including French, Japanese, Korean and Samoan.

"It has been truly inspiring and gratifying to work on this certification process with Hawaiian Airlines staff and flight attendants to make the native language of Hawaiʻi an integral part of our daily lives within our community,” said Basham. “Through programs like this, Hawaiian Airlines demonstrates true respect for Hawaiʻi’s native people and practices by truly listening to, creating space for, and empowering the voices of the people."

In April 2018, Hawaiian tested ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i on four flights between Honolulu and Hilo at the start of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival. ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i flights are an extension of the airline’s commitment to honor and share our Islands’ unique culture with guests visiting Hawai‘i. L to R: Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants Kainoa McGill, Kamyl Burrows and Punahele Kealanahele-Querubin.

The program was spearheaded by team members within Hawaiian’s In-Flight Services department, which currently has 13 certified speakers. As more ‘ōlelo speakers are certified, they will help Hawaiian advance the language’s use throughout its operations, workplace and during interactions with guests.

“This is an incredible moment for our ‘ohana and an opportunity for employees to share Hawai‘i’s mother tongue wide and far,” said Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, director of community relations at Hawaiian Airlines. “Language is a powerful tool, and we are proud to help keep the history and essence of these beautiful islands alive through ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.”

The ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i certification joins a host of cultural initiatives at Hawaiian, such as offering complimentary, introductory Hawaiian language and hula lessons to employees, giving its aircraft Hawaiian names, and celebrating new routes and special events with Hawaiian blessings. Last week, the airline unveiled a Hawaiian Culture Resource Center at its Honolulu headquarters where employees and visitors may explore Hawai‘i’s culture, language, geography and history via Native Hawaiian books, artwork, lauhala (woven leaf) mats and baskets, and instruments being showcased through March.

The new Cultural Resource Center at Hawaiian Airlines' Honolulu-based headquarters

Throughout its 90 years of service as Hawai‘i's airline, Hawaiian has been dedicated to sharing authentic and immersive experiences with its guests, from its Mea Ho‘okipa (I am host) warm hospitality to its series of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i flights. Last year, Hawaiian operated seven flights where crewmembers incorporated Hawaiian language into their standard boarding and in-flight announcements: four flights between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Hilo International Airport, and two flights between HNL and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. In December, Hawaiian operated its first international Hawaiian language flight from Haneda International Airport (HND) in Japan to Kona International Airport (KOA) to celebrate the route’s second anniversary.

“He pō‘aiapili hou nā huaka‘i mokulele ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, kahi e ola hou aku ai ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i,” flight attendant Punahele Kealanahele Querubin said during the HND-KOA Hawaiian language flight, which translates to “‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i flights are another opportunity for our Hawaiian language to thrive.”

In October, Hawaiian Airlines earned the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Legacy Award, a prestigious accolade honoring local organizations that are revitalizing ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. Upon accepting the award at the Global Tourism Summit in Honolulu, Nakanelua-Richards said, “We believe it is through our language that aloha becomes more than a greeting; it becomes a story about our present, our past and our future.”

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i was banned in Hawai‘i’s classrooms in 1896, three years after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In the 1970’s, a group of passionate college students, including Dr. Kimura, and the last fluent Hawaiian-speaking elders came together to bring back the language. Their persistent efforts at the Hawai‘i State Legislature eventually led to the creation of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement. Since then, Hawaiian language has joined English as the state’s designated official languages, and is studied and spoken by students in schools and universities statewide as it regains its place in everyday business and life in Hawai‘i.

HONOLULU – He ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i anei ‘oe?

Ua hō‘oia‘i‘o ‘ia nō ke ola o ka ‘ike a keu ho‘i ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i e ko ka Hui Mokulele ‘o Hawaiian ma kona ‘imi ‘ana e ho‘ōla hou aku i ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, he ‘ōlelo kūhelu ia o ka ‘āina nei ‘o Hawai‘i. ‘Oiai ‘o ka mahina kēia e ho‘olaule‘a ai i ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, ua kūpono nō ka ho‘olaule‘a like ‘ana i ko Hawaiian hō‘ike kūhelu ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi e ho‘okū‘ike ana i nā limahana i wali ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i iā lākou. He pōmaika‘i a he kuleana nō ia.

“Ua kūpono ko kākou ho‘okū‘ike ‘ana aku i ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, he ‘ōlelo kūhelu ia ‘oiai ‘o ka hapa nui o nā limahana ma Hawaiian, he kupa a i ‘ole paha he kama‘āina lākou o ka ‘āina nei,” wahi a Jim Lynd, ka Hope Pelekikena o HR ma Hawaiian. “Nui ko mākou mana‘olana e hāpai a paipai hou aku i ke ola o ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i i waena o ko mākou ‘ohana, nā limahana a me nā ‘ōhua ho‘i.”

Ua ho‘okahua ‘ia kēia hō‘ike kūhelu nei me ke kōkua a kāko‘o mai nā loea ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi e laʻa hoʻi me Larry Kimura a me Leilani Basham, he polopeka ho‘i ma ke Kulanui o Hawai‘i ma Mānoa e ‘imi ana i ka ho‘ōla hou ‘ana aku i ka ‘ike a mo‘omeheu Hawai‘i ma ke ao ho‘onaʻauao.

He hō‘ike waha a heluhelu kēia no ka po‘e i wali ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i iā lākou. Aia nō a puka kekahi ma ia hō‘ike aku, e pine ʻia ka hae Hawai‘i ma kāna pine inoa e like ho‘i me nā limahana i wali ma ka ‘ōlelo Palani, Kepanī, Kōlea a Kāmoa.

“Nui ko‘u pōmaika‘i i ka hiki ke hana pū me nā lālā o ka Hui Mokulele ‘o Hawaiian a ‘ike i ka manana hou ‘ana aku o ko kākou ‘ōlelo makuahine ma ke kaiaulu ma o kēia polokalamu nei,” wahi a Basham. “He hō‘ike kēia i ko Hawaiian kuleana i ko Hawai‘i ma o ka ‘imi ‘ana i nā ala e ‘ike ‘ia ai kona mo‘omeheu a e lohe ‘ia ai kona po‘e.”

Ua ho‘omaka ‘ia kēia polokalamu e nā limahana o ke ke‘ena kau mokulele ma Hawaiian. A i kēia, he ‘umikūmākolu o lākou i puka mai ka polokalamu aku. A ma ka piʻi ʻana aʻe o nā heluna kānaka e komo a puka ana ma kēia polokalamu e ʻike ʻia ai ke ola o ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma kekahi pōʻaiapili hou aku o ka nohona.

“He lanakila kēia no ko mākou ‘ohana a no ko kākou ‘ōlelo makuahine,” wahi a Debbie Nākānelua-Richards, ke Po‘o o Ke Ke‘ena Pilina Kanaka ma Hawaiian. “He mana ko ka ‘ōlelo a he kuleana ko mākou ma ka ho‘omana hou ‘ana aku i ko kākou ‘āina ma o ka ‘ōlelo.”

He ho‘okahi wale nō la‘ana kēia o nā polokalamu like ʻole ma Hawaiian e ‘imi ana i ka ho‘ōla hou ‘ana aku i ka ‘ike a ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. ‘O nā papa hula a ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, ‘o nā inoa mokulele, a ‘o nā ho‘olaule‘a a ‘aha ho‘ola‘a kekahi o nā hana ‘ē a‘e e hana ‘ia nei. I ka pule nei i hāmama ai nā ʻīpuka e komo ai ka poʻe no loko a no waho o ke kikowaena o Hawaiian ma Honolulu i kahi lumi e aʻo i ka moʻomeheu, mōʻaukala, ka ʻāina a me ka ʻōlelo o Hawaiʻi ma o nā puke a noʻeau Hawaiʻi a i ka malama ʻo Malaki.

Ma ka holo ‘ana o nā makahiki he kanaiwa o ko Hawaiian lele a kū ‘elele ‘ana no Hawai‘i, ua kūpa‘a ko Hawaiian ma ke ‘ano nohona Hawai‘i ma o ka ho‘okipa kūpono ‘ana aku i nā kama‘āina a malihini e kau pū ana ma ka mokulele, keu ho‘i ma nā huaka‘i ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. I ka makahiki aku nei, ua mālama ‘ia he ‘ehiku huaka‘i ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i e ka Hui Mokulele ‘o Hawaiian, kahi i mālama ‘ia ai nā ho‘olaha kau mokulele a pau ma ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. Ma o nā huaka‘i ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i he ‘ehiku, ua mālama ‘ia he ‘ehā ma waena o nā Kahua Mokulele Kau‘āina ‘o Daniel K. Inouye me Hilo, a ‘elua ma waena o nā Kahua Mokulele Kau‘āina ‘o Daniel K. Inouye me McCarran i Las Vegas (kahi i ho‘ohanohano ‘ia ai ‘o Kauka Larry Kimura no kāna hana alakaʻi aukahi ho‘ōla ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i). A laila ma Kekemapa, ua mālama ‘ia ka huaka‘i ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i kau‘āina mua loa mai ke Kahua Mokulele kau‘āina ‘o Haneda ma Iāpana a hiki loa aku i ke Kahua Mokulele kau‘āina ‘o Kona i mea e ho‘olaule‘a ai i ka pihana makahiki ‘elua o ua ala hele nei.

“He pō‘aiapili hou nā huaka‘i mokulele ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, kahi e ola hou aku ai ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i,” wahi a Punahele Kealanahele Querubin, he kuene mokulele ma ia huaka‘i ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i ho‘okahi nei.

Ua lei ‘o Hawaiian i ka lei o ka lanakila ma ka Global Tourism Summit ma ‘Okakopa kekahi ‘oiai ua ho‘ohanohano like ‘ia me kekahi mau ‘oihana ‘ē a‘e e ko ke Ke‘ena Ho‘okipa Malihini no ka manana hou ‘ana aku i ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i i waena o ka lehulehu ma ka wahi hana, he mau ‘elele o ke aukahi ho‘ōla ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. “Ma o ka ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i kākou e ka‘analike aku ai i ka mo‘olelo a mō‘aukala ho‘i o Hawai‘i me ke aloha,” wahi a Nākānelua-Richards iā ia i ho‘ohanohano ‘ia ma ua ‘aha nei ʻo ka Global Tourism Summit.

Ua hoʻokāhuli ʻia ke Aupuni Mōʻī o Hawaiʻi i ka makahiki 1893 a hoʻopāpā loa ʻia ka ʻōlelo ma nā kula he ‘ekolu makahiki ma hope mai. Ma nā kanahiku i hoʻomaka ai e hoʻola hou ʻia ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, ka wā i wela hoʻi ai ka hao i waena o nā mānaleo hope a me nā haumāna kula nui e ʻiʻini ana e hoʻololi i ke kahua, e laʻa hoʻi me ʻanakala Larry Kimura. ʻO ka hua i puka mai loko aku o kēia paio ʻana ma ka ‘aha‘ōlelo, ʻo ia hoʻi ka hoʻokumu ʻia ʻo ke aukahi ho‘ōla ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. I kēia lā, ua ola ko kākou ʻōlelo i ke aukahi hoʻōla ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma nā polokalamu hoʻonui ʻike no nā pēpē a i nā haumāna ma ke kulanui e ʻimi ana i ke kekelē kauka, a ke manana hou aku nei nō ma nā ʻoihana a i waena o ka lehulehu ākea kekahi.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 14 years (2004-2017) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 90th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (12) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 250 daily flights system-wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

Major snowstorm impacting Sea-Tac Airport

February 8, 2019
Company
Alaska Airlines
3 min read

UPDATE: 2:08 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2019
The verdict is in: It’s the snowiest month at Sea-Tac Airport in 50 years. Over the past week and a half, the National Weather Service reports an overall snowfall total of more than 20 inches at Sea-Tac.

All that wintry weather has created plenty of challenges, including for our operations. The snow has finally let up, but it’s going to take some time to get things flowing normally. To help do that, we’ve pre-canceled additional flights in and out of Sea-Tac for today – which decreases the number of aircraft landing and departing – to ease congestion, and give us some breathing room.

If your flight has been impacted, you’ll receive an email notification from us. To help our guests adjust their travel plans, we also extended our flexible travel policy for those who are impacted by the winter storms and need to change their flights in and out of Seattle.

When our guests have a frustrating travel experience, so do we. We always want you to have a great flight. If your travel day hit a roadblock recently, we apologize and promise our employees are working hard to get you where you need to go – safely.

We know that information is power, and as a guest, it’s easy to feel in the dark in these situations. Here’s a look at several of the key issues we faced:

- Snow, snow, snow. Another 6 inches bombarded Sea-Tac starting mid-afternoon yesterday. At times, there were near whiteout conditions.
- There was so much snow falling at certain points, it impacted our operations. There were moments when deicing procedures had to be stopped, or planes had to be deiced multiple times because of the intensity of the snow. Crews needed more time and fewer planes to work on to make sure the procedures were done safely.
- The intense snowfall slowed the departure process from pushback, taxi time and deicing times. That meant planes were parked at the gates longer, leaving other aircraft (and passengers) on the tarmac waiting much longer than usual.
- During the snowstorms, the FAA has periodically activated ground stops to prevent arriving aircraft from landing. That happened again Monday for several hours. That’s in additional to ground delay programs at Sea-Tac, which slows down operations at the airport by putting more spacing between planes arriving and departing.
- These extreme weather events just don’t impact the movement of our planes, but also our people. It’s important that our flight crews don’t exceed their FAA-regulated duty period – that’s the allowable length of a safe workday for pilots and flight attendants. If the crew exceeds that duty period, flights are delayed or even canceled.
- In the days ahead, we’ll also need time to reposition our flight crews and aircraft as we get our operations back to normal, especially since Seattle is our primary hub. That could also require further delays and cancellations.

February 6, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

HONOLULU, Feb. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) ("Hawaiian"), today announced its system-wide traffic statistics for the month ended January 31, 2019.

Hawaiian welcomed more than 958,000 guests in January 2019, a decrease of 1.5 percent over the same period last year. Total traffic (revenue passenger miles) increased 4.8 percent on an increase of 4.6 percent in capacity (available seat miles). Load factor increased 0.2 points to 84.3 percent.

The table below summarizes January statistics compared to the prior-year period.

SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS¹

JANUARY	2019	2018	% CHANGE
PAX	958,548	972,672	(1.5%)
RPMs (000)	1,434,019	1,368,300	4.8%
ASMs (000)	1,700,850	1,626,056	4.6%
LF	84.3%	84.1%	0.2 pts


PAX	Passengers transported
RPM	Revenue Passenger Mile; one paying passenger transported one mile
ASM	Available Seat Mile; one seat transported one mile
LF	Load Factor; percentage of seating capacity filled


¹	Includes the operations of contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements.

About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 14 years (2004-2017) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 90th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (12) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 250 daily flights system-wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-airlines-reports-january-2019-traffic-statistics-300790671.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Sip on This: New Drinks Rolling on Our Beverage Cart

February 5, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

Flying on Hawaiian Airlines isn’t just any old A-to-B plane ride. It’s a genuine treat, an extension of your island getaway, and where you can have your Mai Tai and drink it too.

Starting this month, our guests can indulge in an enhanced beverage menu, featuring a new coffee roasted on O‘ahu, a seasonal beer brewed on Maui, and a refreshed lineup of island-inspired cocktails to satisfy your Hawai‘i craving.

Next time you fly on Hawaiian Airlines, be sure to ask your flight attendant about our new beverages … and enjoy!

COFFEE

Lion Coffee is now served onboard Hawaiian Airlines, caffeinating all aircraft cabins in addition to our airport lounges statewide.

We worked closely with the Honolulu-based roaster in brewing the perfect cup. The result: a smooth, full-body taste with every sip. The blend was created exclusively for our guests: a flawless mix of Arabica beans and a dark French roast that can be brewed into a deliciously rich cup at all altitudes.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Did you know that water requires a lower temperature to boil at high altitudes? This can affect the quality of brew and mute the taste of the coffee. Our Lion Coffee blend was created specifically with that chemistry in mind so our guests can enjoy its rich flavors while in the air or on the ground.]

“We consider many product attributes when looking for the best coffee to serve our guests, specifically the quality of the roast and the overall sensory experience,” said Renee Awana, managing director of product development at Hawaiian Airlines. “Lion Coffee, a trusted Hawai‘i brand, checked all of those boxes and is the perfect complement to our existing menu of island-inspired beverages and cuisine.”

Flying to Honolulu? Learn the story behind your coffee by touring Lion Coffee’s roasting facility and cafe, about a 10-minute drive from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. You can also get 10 percent off your purchase when you mention Hawaiian Airlines at the cafe throughout the month of February. Learn more here.

COCKTAILS

When you treat yourself to a trip on Hawaiian Airlines, you get the full holiday package: authentic hospitality, cultural experiences, locally inspired food, great people, comfortable seats, and, to top it off, a dreamy tropical cocktail.

We worked with On The Rocks (OTR) Premium Cocktails to offer new and enticing beverage options served complimentary in the Business/First Class cabin on our international, U.S. Mainland and Neighbor Island flights and available for purchase for main cabin guests on all domestic flights.

Check out our new menu of cocktails, including two entirely new drinks and a reinvigorated Mai Tai:

Moloka‘i Mule

Flavor Notes: Ginger, lime and passionfruit.
Base Liquor: OTR’s exclusive Cruzan blend of their five-year Diamond Light, five-year Diamond Dark and five-to-12-year Single Barrel rums.
Inspired By: The ever-famous Moscow Mule that is as satisfying as it is refreshing.
Why We Love It: Ginger is our favorite way to add a sweet and spicy taste to our drinks, while fully embodying Hawai‘i’s Asian-infused culture. Untie those shoelaces and throw on your slippers (flip-flops), because this drink will take you straight to island time with every sip.

Tropical Landing

Flavor Notes: A tangy flavor mixed with guava, lemon, violet and coconut.
Base Liquor: Larios Gin, a popular, citrus-forward blend from Spain.
Inspired By: The tropical rush you experience when our aircraft descends from above the clouds, revealing the Hawaiian Islands from your cabin window.
Why We Love It: This drink is the perfect tango of sweet and sour with just the right touch of coconut.

Mai Tai (available March 1)

Flavor Notes: Orgeat syrup, orange, pineapple and coconut.
Base Liquor: OTR’s exclusive Cruzan Rum blend of their Diamond Light, Diamond Dark and Single Barrel batches.
Inspired By: The days of O‘ahu’s illustrious tiki era, when Hawai‘i’s biggest names like Don the Beachcomber and Duke Kahanamoku were Waikīkī highlights.
Why We Love It: The Mai Tai has been a staple on our beverage cart, but this recipe was revamped with a brand-new rum that’ll make your taste buds sing like Don Ho.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Guests 21 years of age or older on all domestic flights (excluding our red-eye flights) are also offered a complimentary Koloa Rum Punch. If you’re looking for a different taste of Hawai‘i, we offer local spirits like OCEAN Organic Vodka and Koloa Lite Rum. For a full list of our alcoholic beverages, check out our in-flight menus.]

BEERS

For a limited time only, guests can kick back and relax with Maui Brewing Company’s new Pau Hana Pilsner. The seasonal drink joins the brewer’s Bikini Blonde, a local favorite and a popular onboard choice.

Here’s a taste of the new beer:

Flavor Notes: European Pilsner malt that offers sweetness balanced by a spicy hop profile from the Floral Saaz hops.
Color: Bright golden in color and pours with a creamy white head.
Why We Love It: Maui Brewing Company is a true master at its craft that is sure to please any beer lover looking for a classic brew.

Next time you're on Maui, take a tour of the Maui Brewing Company brewery (located in Kihei via their Tasting Room) for an up-close look at their brewhouse and the story behind one of Hawai‘i's most popular beers. Learn more here.

To learn more about our in-flight services, including our complimentary meals and beverages, click here.

Travel Alert: Flexible travel policy in place for Sea-Tac guests as snow storm wallops region

February 4, 2019
Company
Alaska Airlines
2 min read

UPDATE: 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2019

As of 4 p.m. Pacific time, today’s wintry weather is a factor in nearly all the 154 Alaska flights that have been canceled to and from Seattle, impacting the travel plans of more than 13,600 passengers.

Thanks again to all of our guests who worked with us on a not-so-great day for traveling at our main hub.

UPDATE: 2:05 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2019
As of 2 p.m. Pacific time, today’s wintry weather is a factor in nearly all the 133 Alaska flights that have been canceled to and from Seattle, impacting the travel plans of nearly 12,000 passengers.

We appreciate the patience of our guests during this difficult travel day. We’re doing everything we can to get all of our customers to their destinations.

ORIGINAL POST: 12:17 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2019
The beginning of February is giving us a big reminder that it’s still winter in the Pacific Northwest. A potent snow storm has slowed operations at Sea-Tac Airport for us and all other airlines today. We’ve canceled at least 80 flights and there are a significant number of delays.

A Ground Delay Program – instituted by Air Traffic Control – is also in effect at the airport, which slows the number of arriving flights and reduces congestion.

As of 10 a.m. Pacific time, the weather is a factor in nearly all 80 Alaska flights that have been canceled to and from Seattle, impacting the travel plans of more than 6,700 passengers.

January 30, 2019
Company
Alaska Airlines
2 min read

This trip was the first of many for our leaders at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air for the coming year. Called “Leader Immersion,” our managing directors and up will spend a week in the operation. It’s kind of an “Undercover Boss,” without the disguise, as one of our employees said.

The Great Land is beautiful, even in January. The low temperatures create a beautiful frost on the trees and there is something really wonderful and peaceful about the mornings here, (where it is currently staying dark until around 10 a.m.). I was in Anchorage, Alaska for a week in early January on the suggestion of one of our employees, who challenged me to job shadow – walking in our frontline employees’ shoes. It sounded like a good idea to me.

Anchorage

My week started with my flight from Seattle to Anchorage. The Seattle-based flight crew – Shannon Novito, Angela Bolton, Kris McCloskey and Kimberly Sagmoen (pictured above) – were awesome. I had a great time visiting with them, interacting with our guests onboard, and serving a beverage or two. I sat on the flight deck for the last 40 minutes of the flight and was impressed with the expert airmanship of Captain John Lien and First Officer Levi Breidenbach who navigated us into Anchorage amidst a low blanket of fog.
Read More

Alaska Airlines CEO on government shutdown

January 24, 2019
On The Record
Alaska Airlines
2 min read

Every day, folks get up and go to work. It’s something that’s easy to take for granted – until we realize that some people are going to work and not getting paid.

In the aviation industry, it takes a complex orchestra of airline, government and other employees to keep our system operational and to ensure flyers get to where they are going in a timely and safe manner. All of us at Alaska Airlines would like to take a moment to thank the federal government employees responsible for keeping aviation safe throughout the year – especially over the last 30 days.

The current government shutdown is having a serious impact on the aviation sector and those who support the industry, and we hope it ends soon. There are roughly 48,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and 15,000 air traffic controllers among the huge group of dedicated federal employees coming to work every day and not getting paid. They’re committed to the important mission of keeping aviation safe, yet these employees will miss their second paycheck this week. This is not right, and it’s not sustainable. We are calling on all of our leaders to return our system to normal and get these people paid.
Read More

Start of service delayed until March 4 at Paine Field: Here’s what you need to know

January 22, 2019
Destinations
Alaska Airlines
1 min read

We hope you can appreciate the adage “good things come to those who wait,” because we have an update to pass along about our planned flights at Paine Field.

Several key groups within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which conduct crucial certification and oversight work required for the start of commercial air service at Paine Field, are subject to furloughs because of the government shutdown. The FAA’s work on the environmental assessment continues. However, essential work groups within the FAA are furloughed and further delays are expected if the shutdown continues.

It’s a tough decision, but we believe the responsible action is to postpone the start of service at Paine Field. Originally set for Feb. 11, 2019, we’re now scheduling service to begin on March 4 – subject to receipt of all required government approvals.

If you bought a ticket for a Paine Field flight, your first question might be: what now?
Read More

Rich, full-body West Coast wines on board Alaska Airlines flights this winter

January 17, 2019
Guest Experience
Catherine Sherman
1 min read

There are a few famously great pairings in life: Mork and Mindy, ketchup and fries, movies and popcorn — and airplane flights and a beautiful glass of wine. This season, Alaska Airlines is introducing a new West Coast wine menu to complement their fresh-and-local seasonal cuisine.

Winter wine menu

First class: Chamisal Vineyards 2016 Stainless Chardonnay, Ranch 32 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
Main cabin: Broken Earth 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Canoe Ridge Exploration Chardonnay

This selection will continue to rotate, introducing new and interesting wines from the West Coast, where more than 90 percent of U.S. wine production occurs. Alaska Airlines has the most nonstop flights from the West Coast and is committed to partnering with noteworthy local winemakers. Read More

Hawaiian Holdings Announces 2018 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Conference Call

January 15, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

HONOLULU, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), plans to report its fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. An investor conference call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The call will be open to all interested investors through a live audio webcast accessible in the Investor Relations section of Hawaiian's website at HawaiianAirlines.com. For those who are not able to listen to the live webcast, the call will be archived for 90 days on Hawaiian's website.

Now in its 90^th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (12) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 250 daily flights system-wide.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-holdings-announces-2018-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-conference-call-300778909.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Ocean Safety Awareness Makes A Splash on In-Flight Entertainment

January 15, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
4 min read

POP QUIZ: What is the number one thing most Hawai‘i visitors forget while preparing for their island vacation?

If you guessed ocean safety, you’re right.

To help encourage our guests to become ocean smart before they arrive in Hawai‘i, we teamed up with Nā Kama Kai, an O‘ahu-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting keiki (children) with the kai (ocean). Throughout the year, guests traveling between Hawai‘i and our U.S. mainland and international destinations in our main cabin can learn essential ocean safety “do’s” and “don’ts” with the organization’s new Ocean Safety and Stewardship video.

The video was created under the passionate vision of Nā Kama Kai’s founder and CEO Duane DeSoto, with its easy-to-follow lessons distributed to public school fourth-graders statewide. A free Ocean Safety and Stewardship Awareness digital activity book is also available for download at NaKamaKai.Org/Ocean-Safety.

Keiki participants at one of Nā Kama Kai's free water safety clinics in East O‘ahu.

“Ocean safety education could potentially have a negative tone to visitors but knowing what to look for is absolutely critical and cannot be ignored,” shared DeSoto. “When we were developing this video, we wanted it to be entertaining and inclusive so that every member of the ‘ohana, especially our keiki, could learn the basics before jumping in the water.”

Nā Kama Kai volunteer and youth participants.

Throughout the film, DeSoto – a professional surfer born and raised in Mākaha (West O‘ahu), home to some of the best watermen and women in the world – and a group of Hawaii’s premier surfers and lifeguards share their expertise in reading the ocean.

Duane DeSoto was inducted into the Hawai‘i Waterman’s Hall of Fame in 2015. As founder and CEO of Nā Kama Kai, he teaches youth and visitors about ocean safety.

“While our coastlines are pristine, they can also be dangerous,” DeSoto continued. “It’s important to know that each beach has its own unique personality and temperaments that change with the season. Our hope is to help teach the basics, like getting out of rip-tides, swimming out of strong currents, avoiding dangerous shore breaks and understanding your personal limits.”

Nā Kama Kai keiki participant at a youth surfing competition in Mākaha.

“Nā Kama Kai does such fantastic work for our local ocean-going communities, and it seemed like a natural fit for them to teach our guests about ocean safety,” said Evan Nomura, product manager for in-flight entertainment at Hawaiian Airlines. “The video is fun to watch and teaches a lot of great lessons that we’re confident will benefit all guests before they reach our shores.”

Nā Kama Kai keiki participants at an ocean safety clinic in East O‘ahu.

DeSoto started Nā Kama Kai in 2008, leveraging the generations-old knowledge he received growing up in Mākaha. Today, the nonprofit empowers keiki by nurturing their relationship to the ocean so they may better appreciate and care for the natural environment and themselves.

Duane DeSoto

Our Hawaiian Airlines ‘ohana has supported Nā Kama Kai from the start and has been fortunate to experience the impact DeSoto and his team of incredible volunteers have made on thousands of Hawai‘i’s youth. Their free offerings include monthly Ocean Safety and Conservation Awareness Clinics, keiki surf contests and the Alaka‘i Mentorship Program, a skills-based program developed in partnership with the Polynesian Voyaging Society to steward local teens into ocean-related careers. Nā Kama Kai is also a partner of the City and County of Honolulu’s Junior Lifeguard Program.

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