On Nov. 11, we blew the candles for our 89^th birthday and officially began our 90^th year of service as Hawai‘i’s airline. The next day, we kept the celebration going by kicking off a yearlong, company-matched employee fundraising drive as a way to give back to our hometown communities –  the strong and steady tailwind behind our growth since we introduced commercial air transportation to Hawai‘i in 1929.

April Imai, manager of travel products at Hawaiian Airlines, proudly holds a company-designed T-shirt personalized with her home zip code for Hilo. All employees who donated to one or more of the four charities received their own shirt to represent their hometown.

We didn’t expect to throw another party so soon! However, with an overwhelming response from every department across our 7,200-strong employee ‘ohana, we surpassed our pledge goal before the new year.

L to R: Nainoa Thompson of Polynesian Voyaging Society, Norm Baker of Aloha United Way, Peter Ingram of Hawaiian Airlines, Kawika Burgess of Hawaiian Islands Land Trust and Amy Marvin of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

So earlier today, hundreds of employees gathered at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to present more than $187,000 in combined funds to Aloha United Way, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, and the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust. That includes some $97,000 donated by our employees, along with $90,000 added by Hawaiian.

Representatives for the designated nonprofits joined Hawaiian Airlines employees to celebrate the completion of the fundraising campaign.

"The thank you goes to the whole family of Hawaiian, whose care has helped us get to where we need to go and to do our job: voyage," shared Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, during his mahalo remarks. "I don't take it lightly when we say this is Hawai‘i's airline. We sail for Hawai‘i, but [Hawaiian Airlines] flies for Hawai‘i."

The selected charities align with Hawaiian’s four giving pillars: education, health and human services, environment and culture, and are recognized stewards in their fields.

“Our employees represent no less than 100 of Hawai‘i’s 106 zip codes, and exceeding our pledge goal within just a few weeks symbolizes how grateful we all feel for the support we have enjoyed from our friends, families, neighbors, and the entire Hawai‘i community whom we’ve been privileged to serve for so many memorable years,” said Ann Botticelli, senior vice president for corporate communication and public affairs.

Check out the photos from today's celebration (hover of the image and click the arrow to view more):

We couldn’t think of a better way to close the year than to make history with ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, the mother tongue of the Hawaiian Islands. On Dec. 21, in conjunction with the second anniversary of our service between Haneda Airport (HND) and Kona International Airport (KOA), our flight and guest services crew hosted the first international Hawaiian language flight.

All guests on flight HA852 from HND to KOA became a part of Hawaiian Airlines’ history and experienced ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i from six flight attendants fluent in the Hawaiian language.

Flight attendant John Aiwohi helps a guest order her drink in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.

The special anniversary flight came as part of our airlines’ dedication to incorporating the once almost-extinct language into our workplace.

Prior to take-off, we welcomed guests with an oli (Hawaiian chant) at the gate, an essential part of celebrating a milestone in Hawaiian culture, while Japan Country Director Takaya Shishido offered special remarks on the anniversary flight.  

John Borden, manager for in-flight operations at Hawaiian Airlines, gives a guest a kukui nut lei.

“What an honor it is to celebrate the second year of service between HND and KOA by bringing ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i aboard our aircraft. As Hawaii’s hometown carrier, it is our responsibility to share the stories and culture of the Islands,” shared Shishido. “Today, we live up to that duty and welcome you, our guests, to learn ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i from fluent-speaking members within our own Hawaiian Airlines family.”

The full ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i kit that was distributed to all guests on HA852.

Our crew conducted all boarding and in-flight announcements in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, followed by Japanese and English translations. Each guest was greeted with kukui nut lei before departing HND and fresh flower lei upon deplaning at KOA. They also received a travel-size language book, a “how-to” guide for ordering drinks in Hawaiian, and a commemorative certificate of participation.

Guests received a cheat sheet on how to order their drinks in Hawaiian language.

“[These ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i flights] are another opportunity for our Hawaiian language to thrive,” shared Punahele Kealanahele Querubin, a flight attendant on HA852. “When I visit Japan and let people know that I am from Hawai‘i, they get so excited because they're very interested in things Hawaiian. I really appreciate their respect for our culture.”

Guests who flew on our commemorative HND to KOA flight were welcomed on the Island of Hawaii with fresh lei, live entertainment and a warm aloha from our ‘ohana.

Flight HA852 was the seventh and final ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i flight of 2018 that our in-flight team has successfully organized. In April 2018, three of our flight attendants took guests flying between Hilo and Honolulu by surprise when they conducted their in-flight announcements entirely in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i during the Merrie Monarch Festival.

The crew leading the ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i flights between Hilo and Honolulu.

That same month, our in-flight ‘ohana shared Hawaiian culture with guests traveling between HNL and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, making history once again with the first native language flight between Hawai‘i and the U.S. Mainland.

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau (Happy Birthday), Hawaiian Airlines! On Nov. 11, our ‘ohana celebrated our 89th birthday as Hawaii’s airline.

In the almost nine decades that we’ve proudly served the islands, we’ve evolved through time. Among the most notable and visible changes were the 17 iterations of uniforms worn by our front-line teams. They reflect iconic trends and fashion movements throughout history – with a Hawaiian zest.

Our in-flight getups, for example, have ranged from simple grey uniforms with a range of military-inspired caps in the days of World War II and the retro “Tam” design that embodies 1970’s flare, to today’s vibrant, Island-inspired uniforms created by renowned local designer Sig Zane.

Take a look at some of our favorite uniforms throughout our deep-rooted history in the Hawaiian Islands:

1943:

The first Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant serviced our 24-seat DC-3 aircraft in a grey getup. Later on, we added a few more fashionable features, including a military-inspired hat and a black stripe on the jacket sleeve.

1949:

In 1949, a flight attendant shows off a prestigious award from the National Safety Council and sports the updated grey suit with the new military cap and the black stripe on the cuff.

 1958:

In the 1950s, flight attendants had the option to skip the military cap and adorn their hair with fresh flowers.

1963: 

In the 1960s, we changed the color of our uniform to blue. Flight attendants also began sporting a new beret-style hat and metal wings.

1966:

When we launched our new DC-9 Royal Fan Jet into service, we tagged on a brand-new line of high-fashion uniforms designed by Fashions by Hino, one of Hawaii's leading dress manufacturers at the time.

1969:

"Flower Power" uniforms featured a new A-line dress in a retro print. The uniform also included two different sleeve options, sleeveless or short split sleeves, fresh plumeria hairpieces, and a yellow leather purse. Several notable designers participated in the creation of this uniform, including Tiger Fabrics of New York, David Evins of the renowned Evins Shoe Company of New York, and Park Lane.

1971:

Leading the way in airline fashion, Hawaiian Airlines launched a new two-piece outfit designed in partnership with Richard Tam of San Francisco. The accessories included low-heeled pumps, lace boots and sandals, which were all white. Scarves were used as headgear or sash belt or an ascot tie. There was also a golden pendant worn on a chain around the neck – a stylized fish as a symbol of strength and good luck.

1974:

Designed by Malia International, the floral-print outfit was worn as a long dress, a short dress, or a two-piece with an optional jacket for all outfits. Fresh flowers and white shoes finished off the uniform.

1975:

Another uniform designed by Malia International, featuring a jumpsuit, a long dress, jacket, and solid or print scarf.

1979:

The 1979 uniform rocked a print with brilliant hibiscus red and bright orchid colors that was created for our 50th anniversary. Flight attendants were able to make 20 different outfits from a wardrobe of six garments.

1985:

More men began joining Hawaiian Airlines' in-flight team. We launched these uniforms as part of our 60th anniversary, featuring a more contemporary and professional look to represent the growth of our company.

1992:

Introducing our 1990's uniform, which was inspired by the traditional Hawaiian quilt. The intricate design included indigenous Hawaiian plants and flowers and Pualani on the center of the chest.

2001:

We welcomed the millennium with a uniform adorned with a Hawaiian-inspired print, including the iconic ‘Iwa bird.

2009:

At the start of our 80th anniversary, we launched a new line of uniforms with prints created by local designer Emma Howard. Its signature "Makahiki," print featured several Native Hawaiian-inspired elements like fish, petroglyphs and indigenous birds. The most noticeable change in the new uniforms? The color palette. Azure – representing the color of Hawaii’s ocean and sky – and grey are now the dominant colors, with our company's traditional purple appearing as an accent color.

2016 (Current Uniform): 

In 2016, we partnered with Hawaii-based designer Sig Zane to create our current uniforms. The Kū Mākou print comprises two main elements: 'ohe kapala (bamboo stamps encompassing intricate designs often used to create repetitive patterns in traditional kapa decoration), and the lehua blossom (a native Hawaiian plant with many culturally symbolic meanings that is often used as adornments in hula or other ceremonies). Colors incorporate the distinctive purple associated with Hawaiian Airlines as well as the Pacific blue of the previous uniforms.

Our passion for Hawai‘i is expressed in many shapes and forms, from the authentic Hawaiian hospitality we share with our guests, to the support we provide local artists in bringing their creative vision to life.

Our ‘ohana’s most recent celebration of the Islands took place in San Jose, where our second large-scale, commissioned mural made its debut in the Bay area. The 15-feet-tall by 22-feet-wide piece was completed by Cory Taum, a Native Hawaiian artist who has dedicated his career to the mo‘ōlelo (storytelling) of Pacific Islanders, and live-painted throughout the Northern California city’s annual POW! WOW! street festival held Oct. 17-28.

About the Mural

From afar, you’ll see canoes sailing, birds soaring, dream-like clouds floating and a collection of shapes that might look familiar.

Look closely and you’ll find a much greater story, one with traditional Hawaiian tattoo patterns that allude to shark teeth, octopus tentacles, wave crests, and native flora, and cultural elements like seabirds flying over the Pacific Ocean, voyaging canoes guided by stars, and a calm blanket of clouds frequently seen from the windows of our cabins.

Taum brings these rudiments together masterfully to accomplish two goals: emphasize the monumental role the Pacific Ocean has played in connecting cultures and the kuleana (responsibility) indigenous communities have in protecting it.

“The goal of sharing this concept of ‘One Ocean, One People’ is the idea that all of us in Oceania today, whether indigenous or otherwise, can truly assert that the sea is our single common heritage (everyone came here by the sea in some form or another),” explained Taum. “We all share a regional identity and therefore play a pivotal role in the protection and sustainable development of our oceans.”

Further drawing out the mural’s backstory, Taum shared a favorite quote of his by Tongan/Fijian writer and anthropologist Epeli Hau‘ofa: “There are no more suitable people on Earth to be guardians of the world’s largest ocean than those for whom it has been home for generations.”

Where You Can Find It

You can view Taum’s mural by visiting Camino Brewing, located at 718 S 1st Street in San Jose, Calif. Click here to open in Google Maps.

About Artist Cory Taum

Taum considers himself a lifelong student in the Oceanic art movement and has mastered its traditional and contemporary forms (ranging from large-scale public murals to traditional Hawaiian tattooing and carving). In his youth he made a name for himself creating graffiti that echoed the ancient styles and philosophies of his motherland, Hawai’i. 

Since then he has delved deeper into the forms of his ancestors and hopes to present them to the world through his surreal and iconic paintings that reflect the tales of his ancestors juxtaposed with his experience being born and raised in urban Honolulu.    

About Our POW! WOW! Murals

Earlier this year, we teamed up with POW! WOW! Hawai‘i to craft an ongoing series of storytelling murals focused on mālama (to care for) and kōkua (to help) throughout our international and domestic networks. These large murals, which often scale the sides of buildings in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, provide a canvas for artists to express their talents and engage communities in conversations around sustainability, culture and history.

The collaborative series kicked off with the live painting of a 25-feet-wide and 60-feet-tall mural by renowned street artist Kamea Hadar in Long Beach, Calif. In 2016, he and Tokyo-based husband and wife duo Kami and Sasu Hitotzuki also collaborated on the painting of a Hawaiian airport service vehicle.

Hadar also painted a similar service vehicle in support of the launch of 2014 POW! WOW! Hawaiʻi. In 2015, Hawaiian secured New Zealand artist duo BMD to paint images depicting some of the country’s landscapes and native animals on another service vehicle in celebration of the airline’s second anniversary of service between Auckland and Honolulu.