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The Show Must Go On: Keeping Our Merrie Monarch Celebrations Alive

As Hawaiʻi rebounds from one of the most tumultuous times in its modern history, island communities are also recovering through a revival of long-time traditions once thought unwavering. Last year, the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, a prestigious cultural event showcasing the world's best hula dancers and hālau (groups), was forced to cancel what would have been its 57th consecutive year of competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The news left the community devastated. 

The cancellation of the festival, held annually in Hilo on the Island of Hawai‘i since 1971, was heartbreaking for Hawaiian Airlines, which has supported the event for over three decades.

Before the pandemic, Hawaiian Airlines and NMG Network collaborated to create the documentary Ka Huaka'i – The Journey to Merrie Monarch. The film tracked the journeys of three Hawaiian Airlines employees — Lono Padilla, Tauarii Nahalea-Marama, and Kamalani Ho Wehrsig — to the 2019 competition in real-time.

"One would never imagine that there would be anything that could change, that is course until we experienced a year like 2020,” said Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, director of community and cultural relations at Hawaiian Airlines. “The cancellation of Merrie Monarch was a defining indicator that the pandemic was beginning to reach into the foundation of how we honor, celebrate and share the unique traditions of Hawai’i’s culture."

Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, it was more important than ever for Hawaiian Airlines to continue its support and invest in the future of Merrie Monarch, explained Nakanelua-Richards, a renowned hula dancer. “Even though the festival was canceled last year, and we were in a difficult time ourselves, we still provided support to help the festival maintain its footing for 2021,” she said.

"The show must go on!" was the rallying cry by organizers as the festival returned this past weekend amid the state’s successful vaccination rates and ongoing relaxation of restrictions. While the 58th festival streamed live on television and online for three days, viewers could not spot familiar faces in the audience of a typically packed stadium in Hilo. The festival was closed to the public and hosted in a constrained format without its famous parade, pride-inducing hula exhibition, and bustling arts and craft fair. Instead, merchants were encouraged to sell their products on Pop-Up Mākeke, an online marketplace launched last year, with support from Hawaiian Airlines, to help native Hawaiian business owners who relied on the festival's traffic.

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Hawaiian Airlines' Merrie Monarch 2019 float, created for the festival's Royal Court

 

Nakanelua-Richards explained that the airline’s annual celebrations in Hilo were also significantly reduced. 

“Merrie Monarch Festival is typically a busy time for Hawaiian Airlines, from taking care of traveling hālau at the airport to gathering employee volunteers to help build our annual parade float for the festival’s Royal Court,” Nakanelua-Richards said. “It’s usually real hands-on-deck operation that takes months of planning.”

Merrie Monarch is a special time for Hawaiian Airlines employees, who last celebrated together in Hilo during the 2019 competition.

However, Hawaiian Airlines continued its support of the 2021 festival as a sponsor and further assisted with baggage waivers, discounts, prizes, and complimentary cargo services, including transporting 100 pounds of fabric ukulele cases.

Despite not being able to celebrate alongside the Hilo community, our ʻohana followed the competition closely from their homes, cheering on participants making their debut on this year’s stage – a high honor for a hula dancer. For others, it is a time to reflect on their love of dancing and memories with the Merrie Monarch Festival. 

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Hawaiian Airlines' employee volunteers walking in the Merrie Monarch 2019 parade in Hilo town

 

Nakanelua-Richards is one of our many employees who have graced the festival’s prestigious stage, appearing in 1975 and 1986. “Having been on that stage with my hālau has lent me a different perspective,” she said. “It is a privilege for Hawaiian to support the festival in these ways and is truly an opportunity for us to come together, as an ‘ohana, to be a part of a special event that is so committed to the perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture."

Kauʻula Kamahele, a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant who won the festival’s prestigious title of Miss Aloha Hula in 1981, said her love of dancing extends into her job with her fellow crewmembers.

Kauʻula Kamahele, during a 2019 interview at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport about her love for the Merrie Monarch Festival.

“When you think about it, the airplane is like being on a stage: you put your best smile, put your flowers on and you’re ready to go,” she said. “I’m ready to give [our guests] the best, most pleasurable flight that I can, but it takes a good team to do this, so I consider them [my coworkers] my hui [team). 

“When we are on an airplane together, we work together; that’s how it was from my hālau times. I knew that, especially from all of the competitions that I did, you need to rely on your hula sisters, so all of that [those lessons] I carry with me [into the aircraft] today.

Hawaiian Airlines and Mana Up Elevate Hawaiʻi Entrepreneurs with New Meet the Makers Virtual Series

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® and business accelerator Mana Up are launching a Meet the Makers virtual event series this month to celebrate nine up-and-coming Hawai‘i entrepreneurs and offer viewers special products and promotions.

Meet the Makers will present an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at unique, locally made products, starting July 28 with Big Island Coffee Roasters. Brandon von Damitz and Kelleigh Stewart, owners of the award-winning coffee farm and roastery in Puna on Hawai‘i Island, will take viewers on a tour of their operations while providing insight into the best ways to enjoy Hawaii coffee.

 

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Brandon von Damitz and Kelleigh Stewart of Big Island Coffee Roasters will kick off the Meet the Makers event series on July 28.

Meet the Makers will air live on Hawaiian and Mana Up’s Facebook pages with businesses featured each month through January. Viewers can bring the virtual experience to life and feel like they’re alongside the “makers” by purchasing a curated gift set filled with products from each featured business prior to the event series. Gift sets are available for purchase at www.houseofmanaup.com/meet-the-makers. Cardmembers can use their Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®  to earn two additional bonus miles per $1 spent on all purchases*.

“Hawaii’s entrepreneurs are creating incredible products, and through them we can share the sights, sounds, tastes and culture of the islands with people all over the world,” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. “Now more than ever, as our community works to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, we are committed to supporting local businesses, with great partners like Mana Up.”

Mana Up, a Hawai‘i-based accelerator program, and Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiʻi’s hometown carrier for more than 91 years, launched their partnership in 2017 to help local businesses scale to global markets. Hawaiian Airlines guests can experience the products and stories of Mana Up’s cohorts through special inflight entertainment videos, onboard snacks and its award-winning dining program.
 

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“Together with Hawaiian Airlines and the Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard, we look forward to taking people on adventures that offer an insider’s peek at Hawai‘i’s most fascinating entrepreneurs,” says Meli James, cofounder of Mana Up. “Not only will we explore our islands’ culture, flavors and much more during these never-before-seen experiences, you can also purchase a specially curated gift set that showcases the products featured at the event, taking your experience to the next level. Hawaiian Airlines is the perfect partner to help bring this concept to life and share it with their audience locally and around the world.”

To view the calendar of the Meet the Makers and register for events, visit www.houseofmanaup.com/meet-the-makers. The series will culminate on Nov. 4 with Mana Up’s annual Showcase event.

*Partner bonus miles earned through this offer are in addition to standard miles earned using your Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®. No miles are awarded on cash back transactions. Please allow 4-6 weeks for miles to post to your HawaiianMiles account. HawaiianMiles standard terms and conditions apply. Additional restrictions may apply, see partner for details. Barclays Bank Delaware is not affiliated with Mana Up or the merchants participating in the Meet the Makers series or the HawaiianMiles Marketplace.

The Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware (Barclays) pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard, World Mastercard, and World Elite Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

 

About Mana Up

Mana Up is a Hawai‘i-based economic development initiative building the state’s next generation of consumer brands expanding to markets globally, with the goal to expand economic opportunity and high potential jobs in Hawai‘i through products that represent the community and our unique island culture. Mana Up hosts an annual six-month accelerator program to help product businesses scale by uncovering opportunities for growth and tackling production challenges that typically come with fast-growing revenue such as sourcing, manufacturing, and shipping. The company’s mission is to expand economic opportunity and high potential jobs in Hawai‘i through products that represent the community and our unique island culture.

Mana Up is supported by Kamehameha Schools, DFS Hawai‘i, Castle & Cooke Hawai’i, Hawaiian Airlines, American Savings Bank, Ulupono Initiative, Dole, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation, Innovate Hawai‘i, UHA Health Insurance, Pineapple Tweed, Shopify, The Kahala Hotel & Resort, and Foodland.

For more information about the accelerator program, visit www.manauphawaii.com, and to shop House of Mana Up, visit https://houseofmanaup.com.

About Barclays US Consumer Bank

Barclays US Consumer Bank is a leading co-branded credit card issuer and financial services partner in the United States that creates highly customized programs to drive customer loyalty and engagement for some of the country's most successful travel, entertainment, retail and affinity institutions. The bank offers co-branded credit cards, small business credit cards, installment loans, POS Finance, online savings accounts, and CDs. For more information, please visit www.BarclaysUS.com.

 

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) 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 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 130 flights within the Hawaiian Islands, daily nonstop flights between Hawai‘i and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as once-weekly service connecting Honolulu and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is operating an adjusted flight schedule between Hawai‘i and Japan and Korea, and has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa.

The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire.

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.

Vaccinated travelers no longer need negative COVID test to fly to Hawaii

Hawaii is open and ready for you when you are! We’re here to help prep for paradise. 

1. Create a travel profile. 

Before you go, you’ll need to create a Safe Travels profile on the State of Hawaii’s website [it’s mandatory for residents and visitors]. There, you can add other travelers under 18 years old.  

2. Skip lines with our Pre-Clear program. 

Alaska Airlines guests are now able to pre-clear at the departure gate, and bypass airport screening upon arrival in Hawaii.  

To qualify for your Hawaii Pre-Clear wristband, your Safe Travels profile must be updated with the following info: 

  • Proof of negative COVID-19 test result or one of the following vaccination records in PDF format. 
    • A CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card 
    • VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System) printout OR 
    • DOD DD Form 2766C 
  • Completed travel health questionnaire 
  • Signed online attestation 

3. Not vaxxed? Book a COVID test. 

If you’re not vaccinated, you’ll need to book an appointment with one of our trusted COVID-19 testing partners—or quarantine for 10 days. 

Upload your test results or one of the following PDFs to your Safe Travels profile. 

  • A CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card 
  • VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System) printout OR 
  • DOD DD Form 2766C 

If your COVID-19 test results are still pending or are not uploaded to your Safe Travels profile when your Hawaii-bound flight departs, you will be required to self-quarantine on arrival in Hawaii for 10 days or the length of your stay, whichever is shorter. 

4. Confirm you’re good to fly. 

Take Hawaii’s travel health questionnaire before you fly (available 24 hours before your flight). Pro-tip: We recommend bringing hard copies of your vaccination record or test results and lodging confirmation with you to the airport. 

Please know: If your vaccination records are not validated by Safe Travels prior to departure, we will need to see an original CDC COVID-19 vaccination card to qualify for Pre-Clear. VAMS, DD 276CC, or copies of the vaccination card will require manual clearance on arrival in Hawaii. 

Visit hawaiicovid19/travel for frequently asked questions about the Safe Travels program. 

5. Malama when you get there. 

Malama, means “to nurture” or “care for,” and is all about preserving the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and taking care of all those who live there. As tourism starts to recover, the islands encourage travelers to be open-minded and respectful of Hawaii’s beauty and leave with a better understanding of what it means to care for the earth, each other and ourselves. Learn more. 

BOOK YOUR TRIP TO HAWAII

Hawaiian Airlines 2021 Corporate Kuleana Report: Persevering Through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Emerging Stronger

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today released its 2021 Corporate Kuleana Report, which outlines the carrier’s progress on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives during the most challenging period in its 92-year history as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are rising from this crisis not only with renewed optimism but as a better, more sustainable airline for our guests, our employees and the planet,” Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram wrote in the report’s welcome message. “As we progress through 2021, I am incredibly proud of our team’s accomplishments in the face of extreme adversity and encouraged for our future.”

Addressing climate change remains one of Hawaiian’s key ESG priorities. The airline has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through ongoing fleet investments, more efficient flying, carbon offsets, and industry advocacy for air traffic control reform and sustainable aviation fuel development and proliferation. Starting this year, Hawaiian has pledged to offset emissions from international flights above 2019 levels, in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Hawai‘i’s hometown airline also defined steps it is taking to foster diversity and inclusion, calling it a “key driver of our success.” Evidence-based processes to minimize bias in hiring and promotional practices across Hawaiian have contributed to team diversity, with approximately 78% of its active workforce identifying as diverse based on ethnicity and 44% based on gender.

“We can always do better, and we are re-examining our practices to ensure Hawaiian Airlines remains a diverse, inclusive, equitable and desirable place to work, and where every team member is respected, valued and supported,” Ingram said.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330

 

The report chronicles how Hawaiian – Hawai‘i’s only locally based major carrier and one of its largest employers – endured the devastating impacts of the pandemic by preserving financial resources, supporting employees and communities statewide, and safely providing essential transportation.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, Hawaiian became the first U.S. airline to establish a network of dedicated drive-through testing sites near its key gateway airports once the state of Hawai‘i began exempting travelers from quarantine with proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

“We enhanced disinfection throughout our operations and adopted an in-flight face covering policy as an added layer of protection in our cabins, which were already extremely safe by virtue of their built-in airflow and filtration systems,” the report noted.

In addition to maintaining vital transportation for passengers and cargo to, from and within the islands throughout the pandemic, Hawaiian employees participated in numerous philanthropic efforts, which took on renewed importance in 2020. Among the highlights:

  • More than 1,500 Hawaiian Airlines volunteers donated approximately 6,500 hours to cultural and environmental conservation initiatives, and to care for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable community members. The airline also partnered with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education in a summerlong Kōkua our Schools project to refresh seven public campuses before educators welcomed students back in the fall semester.
  • The airline supported Hawai‘i’s medical workers, including doctors, nurses, assistants and volunteers who took over 600 complimentary neighbor island flights in April and May 2020 to conduct COVID-19 testing and deliver care.
  • Hawaiian donated $472,000 worth of catering goods – ranging from new hand towels and condiments to soft drinks and packaged foods – to nonprofits in Hawai‘i and throughout the carrier’s U.S. mainland network, as well as hundreds of thousands of soft goods and inflight items to local humanitarian organizations and schools, such as Main Cabin blankets, pillowcases and amenity kits, and First Class slippers, mattress pads and pillowcases.

 

Hawaiian’s 2021 Corporate Kuleana Report includes metrics established by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). To read the report and learn more about Hawaiian’s ESG practices, please visit https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) 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 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 130 flights within the Hawaiian Islands, daily nonstop flights between Hawai‘i and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as once-weekly service connecting Honolulu and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is operating an adjusted flight schedule between Hawai‘i and Japan and South Korea, and has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa.

The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals at meal time for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin/First Class seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire.

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.

Hot tips for summer travel: pack light, mask up, we’re in it together!

After a year of staying home, many of us are eager to travel and make up for lost time. 

While we know we’re not all out of the woods from this pandemic, things continue to look brighter with every passing day and we have you covered every step of the way with our Next-Level Care—from booking and boarding to day-of travel and beyond. 

Here are just some of the ways we’re bringing you the best care and tips to feel those vacation vibes as soon as you get to the airport:

Enroll in a Trusted Traveler program

Hate security lines? Enroll in a trusted traveler program like TSA Pre✓®, Clear or Global Entry. Membership in these programs gives you access to dedicated TSA Pre✓® lanes at more than 200 airports nationwide.

Departing from Seattle? Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle are testing a new way to get you through the general screening security checkpoint faster called SEA Spot Saver.

Save time checking your bags & pack light

You’ll likely save time traveling this summer if you print your own bag tags at home and/or travel with just a carry-on. While we pride ourselves on our 20-min bag guarantee for all our guests and checked bag perks for our Mileage Plan members, most airports are experiencing higher travel volumes. 

To make your vacation even more fun, you can also bring most sports equipment with you for the cost of a checked bag.

More questions? Read our guidelines for carry-on baggage. Also, don’t pack your carry-on bag too full, as densely packed, cluttered bags take longer to scan and screen at the security checkpoint.

We believe it’s safe to fly — and experts agree.

Our commitment to Next-Level Care means we’ve implemented 100+ ways to maintain the highest standard of safety throughout your travels. 

Masks 

Masks are still federally required during travel. All employees and guests must wear a face mask or covering through the airport and on board. This requirement applies even if you are fully vaccinated.

Clean Air

Travelers wearing a mask have a .003% or NEAR-ZERO CHANCE of being exposed to the virus, even on a full aircraft (according to a Department of Defense study).

Touch free options

New technology has helped our guests print bag tags at the airport without touching countertops or check-in kiosks simply with the Alaska mobile app. Plus, travelers can store their preferred payment on their Mileage Plan account to buy food and drinks onboard to make the journey more convenient and touch-free. Not a Mileage Plan member yet? Sign up today!

Enjoy a world of possibilities.

As the newest member of the oneworld alliance, our Mileage Plan members can earn more miles on all 14 member airlines when you fly to as many as 1,000 global destinations in more than 170 countries and territories. More destinations are easing travel restrictions every day, and we know many of you can’t wait to travel abroad in the months ahead.

Learn more about oneworld, an alliance of the world’s leading airlines providing the highest level of service and convenience across more than 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Pre-order onboard meals.

More food and beverage options are now available on board! Snack on favorites like the Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter or try out new menu items via pre-order on most flights over two hours. For guests in First Class, delicious hot meals are back on coast-to-coast and Hawaiʻi flights, plus Boxed Water to quench any thirst. 

See a complete list of our Food & Beverage options on Alaska and Horizon flights.

Little ones flying solo? Prep them ahead of time.

If you have kids who will be flying by themselves this summer, visit alaskaair.com to book their flights and discover the different types of care we offer kids of all ages. 

To speed up the process, be sure to fill out the required forms before arriving at the airport. This will ensure the safety of your child. It’s also best to plan for extra time for check-in and to stay in the boarding area until the flight departs.

All we’re askin’ is for a little respect.

Remember that everyone is doing their best to make travel as safe, easy-going and accessible as possible. It’s important to be kind and respectful to those helping you get from point A to point B. 

So, please stick to travel guidelines and always practice being kind and considerate to the people around you. Because together, we can get through anything! 

Have a wonderful summer and safe travels!

BOOK NOW. MASK UP. LET’S GO.

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Historic heat wave impacting travel in Pacific Northwest & beyond

Heat continues to hit the West, especially the Northwest, with record shattering temperatures that are expected to continue for much of the week, says the National Weather Service. 

Our airport employees are experiencing the hottest temperature of all, where on the ramp it can be 20 degrees hotter. Today, our people could be facing upwards of 130 degree weather in Seattle and Portland. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic nears an end and our operations ramp up, our teams are working hard to support travelers’ return to air travel. However, the unprecedented heat along with staffing gaps in some of our frontline areas, are putting strains on our operation. 

We are taking proactive steps to get ahead of these challenges and keep the safety of our people and operations at the forefront. Actions we are taking include:  

  • We are managing our schedule and communicating any changes with our guests. While we never want to let our guests down, only a small fraction of our flights have been pre-canceled and we are doing our best to re-accommodate those guests. We encourage guests to reach out to our Care teams via our online channels for faster service.   
    • If you need assistance we are here to help. However, our reservations team is currently experiencing high call volumes and long wait times so if the reason for your call is not urgent, we kindly ask you to try us at a later time or visit alaskaair.com where you can make changes to your travel and check your flight status.  
    • If you’ve been impacted by a baggage delay and have not yet filed a claim, please visit the nearest baggage office at your arrival station. You can find baggage station hours on alaskaair.com.
    • To fill staffing gaps, we are temporarily relocating staff from markets where there is less demand to those with more need.  
  • Heat is also currently impacting our operations in Burbank, Fresno, New Orleans, Ontario, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, Redmond, Sacramento, Seattle, Spokane, Texas and Tucson. For all travel advisores visit alaskaair.com
  • Traveling with pets? Due to extreme temperature forecasts June 21 – July 7, 2021, animals will not be accepted for travel in the baggage compartment to or from most of these airports. Pets traveling in the cabin with their owners will be accepted on all flights. For pets traveling via Alaska Air Cargo, please contact our cargo call center at 1-800-225-2752.
  • Finally, we are keeping our teams safe by delivering water and cool towels to employees, and offering “cool down vans” so ground operations employees can take a break with air conditioning. These extra steps may slow our operations, but keeping our teams safe and cool is our top priority.   

We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience. Stay cool!

*Our 24-hour cancellation policy applies to all fares, otherwise Saver fares purchased on or after May 1, 2021, may not be changed or canceled. For flights purchased through April 30, 2021, change and cancellation fees are waived for all fares, including Saver fares by our peace of mind waiver.

Is it safe to travel? Flight attendants share what to know about flying this year

Flying in Commemoration and Solidarity this Juneteenth

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Nānā ka maka, hana ka lima, or, observe with the eyes, work with the hands. When those wiser than us invite us into their waters, we must hold our paddles with patience and listen before trying to navigate the waʻa (canoe). At Hawaiian Airlines, we hold our paddles in observance of Juneteenth and turn to our greatest asset – our employees – to reflect on the day’s historical significance.

Juneteenth — a combination of June and 19 — is the nation’s second Independence Day, when African Americans still enslaved despite the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years prior and the end of the Civil War were liberated.

 

 

Of the many hands working to foster greater inclusivity at Hawaiian Airlines are our Network of Black Employees and Allies (NBEA) Employee Resource Group members. NBEA is the brainchild of our Black employees looking to encourage allyship and elevate the voices of their fellow Black colleagues within the company. Now, over a year since its formation, the group continues to build safe spaces for employees of all backgrounds to explore race, amplify Black voices and advocate for solutions to social challenges within and beyond the workplace.

Michael Harvey, senior manager of IT – common services, is proud to call himself a founding member and vice president of NBEA. Born and raised in Texas, Harvey’s connection to Juneteenth extends beyond a single day and roots deep into his genealogy. “To me, Juneteenth means celebration and remembering the generations that came before me. I can only imagine my ancestors receiving this news in Texas, years after slavery had ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. My family is from Central Texas, so I'm sure the news was even further delayed for them as it reached Galveston, Texas, first and then took some time to travel north,” he explained.

Harvey grew up commemorating Juneteenth with family while in Texas. Now based in Honolulu, he continues the celebration by taking a long weekend to honor the day alongside his wife and daughter and connect with family on the mainland. “Many reunions of Black families in Texas are planned around this time. The Hemphill Family Reunion, for example, started in 1973 and has been celebrated for decades. I attended since I was small, and it is still gathering generations and generations of aunties (pronounced AINT-TEEs) and uncles, cousins, etc.,” he added.

NBEA members are also using this time to reflect. Earlier this week, the group joined a virtual discussion to share what Juneteenth means to them.

Terry Hill, manager of SMS and safety programs and a founding member of NBEA, views today as an opportunity to learn a new perspective. “One of the things we can take away [from Juneteenth] is that our experiences as people, including generational experiences, should be shared so we can better understand one another,” he underscored during the discussion. “If we don’t try to understand another person or their cultural perspective, we can never move beyond our differences.”

Asiana Ponciano, strategic talent leader of employee voice and experience and NBEA member, believes today should also be a time to build allyship. “Juneteenth is about coming together, celebrating freedom and overcoming hardships as one ʻohana. I can’t say that my ancestry ties to this historic event. Still, I believe it’s important that I use the time to reflect because it is an important moment in our country’s past,” she added during the conversation. “It’s critical for us to recognize these pivotal moments in history and for allies to stand in solidarity with those who celebrate.”

 

 

When asked for his thoughts on how allies can commemorate Juneteenth and practice inclusivity daily, Harvey said the first step is understanding. “I believe understanding what Juneteenth is and each day recognizing that although slavery is in our past, generations continue to feel its impacts and suffer from racial discrimination. Allies should recognize and celebrate the holiday, but also try to imagine the joy and shock of our ancestors finding out that slavery ended years after it actually happened,” he explained.

Lifting one another, listening with intention, having challenging conversations, striving to become better allies – these are all ways the people of Hawaiian Airlines are paddling together to push our waʻa forward. To learn more about Juneteenth and how to be an ally, explore these additional resources recommended by our NBEA members:

Juneteenth is a celebration of hope: Watch what it means to our employees

Today we celebrate Juneteenth, a significant holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States. A recognition of history and a celebration of hope.  

In the wake of last year’s national protests for racial justice, understanding Juneteenth—and the legacy of slavery and its impacts on society today—is essential to staying on the right side of history.  

Our employees recently shared their thoughts about Juneteenth and how we continue to help create lasting and meaningful change by having thoughtful conversations and sharing our life experiences.  

Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday 

While Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery, the holiday has morphed into a celebration of achievement, community, family, hope and possibilities. Many celebrate Juneteenth with educational events, church services, parades, festivals and more. 

This year, there’s even more to celebrate as the United States Congress recently passed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. President Biden signed the bill into law on Thursday. 

Juneteenth being recognized by the government as a federal holiday is an important moment in our country’s history. We are evaluating how this designation as a federal holiday will impact our company holiday schedule. 

The history of Juneteenth  

June 19, 2021, marks the 156th year since Juneteenth’s inception, commemorating the day when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free.   

While the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, slavery continued in the south until June 19, 1865—two months after the Civil War ended—when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to declare that all slaves were free. 

Related:  

Hawaiian Airlines to Resume Tahiti Service

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced the resumption of its Tahiti service following the launch of a pre-travel testing program between Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia that allows for quarantine-free travel within the two archipelagos. Beginning Aug. 7, Hawaiian will reinstate once-weekly nonstop flying between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Tahiti’s Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT), utilizing its 278-seat Airbus A330 aircraft.
 
Hawaiian has served as the leading carrier for Hawaiʻi-Tahiti air travel since its inaugural service in June 1987. The airline suspended its PPT service flights in March 2020 due to the pandemic. The carrier’s resumption of flights is made possible by the new pre-travel testing program established by Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige and French Polynesia President Édouard Fritch — a result of low COVID-19 cases within the two destinations.
 
“We look forward to reconnecting our islands, but most importantly, reconnecting family members who have not seen each other for over a year,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines. “We appreciate the tremendous work by the governments of French Polynesia and Hawaiʻi to open up travel between our regions.”
 
Both Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia will implement strict travel requirements for resident and visitor safety. Those traveling inbound from PPT to HNL must complete and upload a negative test result from the Institut Louis Malardé, a state-approved testing partner, to the state of Hawaiʻi’s Safe Travels program. Guests traveling outbound to PPT from HNL will need to provide proof of vaccination and have fulfilled the government of Tahiti's COVID-19 entry requirements prior to travel. Those not compliant will be subject to a 10-day quarantine.
 
“Many of Hawaiʻi’s residents have family in Tahiti, and welcoming our guests from French Polynesia to Hawaiʻi is an important step in maintaining the close relationship between our two regions,” said Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige.
 
Hawaiian Airlines flight HA481 will depart HNL at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 and arrive at PPT at 9:30 p.m. Flight HA482 will depart PPT at 11:30 p.m. the same evening and arrive into HNL at 5:15 a.m. the following day. 
 
Hawaiian’s “Keeping you safe” enhanced cleaning includes frequent disinfecting of lobby areas, kiosks, and ticket counters, electrostatic aircraft cabin spraying, plexiglass barriers at staffed airport counters, and sanitizer wipe distribution to all guests. The carrier requires all guests to complete a health acknowledgement form during the check-in process indicating they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and will comply with the company’s updated mask policy for the entirety of their journey.
 
To view Hawaiian’s full schedule and ticket prices, visit HawaiianAirlines.com. 

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) 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 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop flights within the islands, between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (16) than any other airline, as well as service connecting the islands with Japan, South Korea and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa.

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.

Alaska Airlines takes Pride to the skies with Delight Flights & first-ever LGBTQ+ inspired plane

When Alaska guest Deb Glazer stepped onboard Alaska’s ‘Fly with Pride’ plane from Portland to San Francisco yesterday, a burst of vitality and rainbows met her gaze, and the sound of foldable clacking fans filled the air.  

It had been over a year since she flew on a plane. While sitting with her book in her lap, wide-eyed and smiling, she looked around in awe of the energy on the plane. She said she’s never seen anything quite like it before and would love to see other companies adopt similar “surprise & delight” moments.  

“It’s amazing how Alaska found a way to create something so bright and joyful after such a dark time this past year,” Glazer said. “What a special way to be ushered back in to travel. I am delighted.”   

Each month, we’re treating Alaska guests like Deb to a special Delight Flight to elevate, celebrate and spark joy in the skies, including free flights to anywhere Alaska flies, swag and more!  

This month, to commemorate Pride month, Alaska surprised not one—but four lucky flights on a newly decorated Pride-inspired plane supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The plane, the first of its kind in the United States, will fly throughout our network for the next year.  

The plane took part in a Pride “Parade in the Sky,” starting in Seattle, with stops in Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego on Tuesday—flying employees, community partners and special guests.

Four Alaska employees, Jeremy Naz, Chad Gabagat, Alice Tam and Kevin Larson, who also led Alaska’s LGBTQ+ business group, stand in front of the unveiled Pride plane on Tuesday. The special design features rainbow-colored aircraft decals and the words “Fly with Pride” adorned the side of the plane. 

JET THE PARTY STARTED  

The festivities began early Tuesday morning with employees, community partners and guests gathered in front of our new gleaming office building in Sea-Tac, phones pointed upward, to watch the Progress Pride flag rise and unfurl for the first time.  

We’ve raised the Pride flag with six rainbow stripes in years past, but the Progress Pride flag includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of color, along with the colors pink, light blue and white, which are used on the Transgender Pride Flag. Without those groups of people & their activism, we would not have Pride today. The flag will remain through the rest of June to commemorate Pride Month. 

Alaska COO Constance von Muehlen did the honors of hoisting the Progress Pride flag. Muehlen was one of 11 honorees recently recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) as outstanding LGBTQ+ business leaders, allies and advocates making a difference in advancing equality in the business world. 

“We literally cried hearing the COO speak this morning, as she recounted how being a lesbian has shaped her, made her more vulnerable, authentic, empathetic, stronger, a better human. And then when she gave a teary-eyed “I love you” shoutout to her wife - you know nothing could resonate with us more.💘 We feel so proud of & grateful for our identities and the life we’ve built together, living our truth! And we’re SO honored to have been a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Huge thank you to @AlaskaAir 🌈✈️! #IFlyAlaska #FlyWithPride," wrote Sam & Justine @wanderfulwives via Instagram.

FIRST DELIGHT FLIGHT: SEATTLE  

The first stop on our 30,000 ft-parade routes kicked off with a surprise in our hometown at gate C9, where we unveiled the Pride plane to 50+ employees, guests and community partners for the first time—all of whom were a huge inspiration in its design and hadn’t seen it until it came around the corner. The special Airbus A320 aircraft features airplane decals with iconic rainbow stripes & inclusive colors, winglets, and the words “Fly with Pride” adorned the side. 

On the flight from Seattle to Portland, guests were surprised with swag bags, large folding “clack” fans that filled the plane with clacking sounds when they shook and free roundtrip tickets to anywhere Alaska flies.  

SECOND DELIGHT FLIGHT: PORTLAND 

In Portland, the party continued with snacks, music and photos.  Next stop: San Francisco.  

“Alaska Airlines not only shows it but they own it,” said Chad Mewmaw, a customer service agent in Alaska’s Central Baggage division and MVP Gold 75K. 

 He recalled a quote from Maya Angelou while in his seat, she once said; ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’  

“What I felt when I saw this plane … it brought me to tears,” said Mewmaw. “It made me feel like Alaska sees me, they respect me, they hear me, they care about me and I belong here.” 

Chad Mewmaw (left) with three other Alaska employees celebrating Pride at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

THIRD DELIGHT FLIGHT: SAN FRANCISCO

In San Francisco, guests were greeted with iconic Pride flags waves and cheerful woos from our employees. Gate D8 was ready for their arrival with Delight Flight décor and a DJ, who created a vibe fit for vogue dancers—who of course, surprised gate-goers with striking poses and moves to Madonna’s ‘Vogue.’ Guests bold enough to strike a pose with them were given free roundtrip tickets to anywhere Alaska flies.  

FOURTH DELIGHT FLIGHT: SAN DIEGO

On the way down from San Francisco to San Diego, guests were treated to a fan clacking lesson—the art of opening a large fan to make a “clacking” noise—by employees and special guests like Ravi Roth, a content creator from New York and host of the @GayCationTravelShow. 

Ravi clacking the night away on our last Pride flight to San Diego. He wrote, “There are passengers on all these flights that didn’t know we were having a West Coast Pride Parade and they are literally all embracing our Pride in the skies. If only 14-year-old Ravi could see this.” via @Raviroundtheworld.
Ravi posted: "If I could tell my 14-year-old closeted self that one day, there was going to be an airline that had a PRIDE PARADE IN THE SKIES AND ALL ARE WELCOME I would have LEAPED out of the closet. @alaskaair has risen the bar henny! This plane is lasting all year long and THAT is how you Pride 365🌈✈️🙌  
I spent the day asking employees of Alaska Airlines what it means to Fly With Pride. There were tears filled with joy, laughter from teaching folks how to Clack THAT FAN, Vogue competitions, but most importantly a central force of passion behind being inclusive for everyone in the Queer community. To the scared kids afraid to come out please know that it will get easier especially with companies like @alaskaair paving the way."

(we 💙 you too, Ravi!) 

CREATING A PLACE OF BELONGING 

Building on decades of supporting communities and causes our guests and employees care about, all of us at Alaska continually look for and cherish meaningful partnerships with LGBTQ+ focused organizations that support our diverse workforce and help us better understand the needs of those who work and fly with us.   

Owin Pierson, who lives in Hawaii and is an LGBTQ+, mental health & AAPI influencer, joined us on every leg of the near 12-hour journey. He says he was proud to represent the Queer, Asian community and hopes to inspire others to be themselves and help create a place of belonging like Alaska. 

“Can’t wait for more #queer representation to continue happening in spaces and with big names such as #AlaskaAirlines, I got emotional seeing the pride colors on the plane's wings,” wrote Pierson on his Instagram. “Pride month started as a riot and now we are taking to the skies, and we are here whether you love it, confused by it, don’t understand or don’t want to—I encourage you to just focus on this: does everyone in this world deserve happiness and safety? Do the kids of this world deserve a safe space to be free and be able to express themselves without ridicule or hate?”

He continued, “All I can say is, being Queer & being here with all the staff and fellow content creators has been so inspiring, uplifting and when I have a hard day, I will forever choose to put my energy in these moments and people.” 

We are committed to making Alaska a place where everyone feels respected and belongs and proudly celebrate the diversity of our employees and guests this Pride month and all year long. Learn more about how you can celebrate Pride this year with us and more about our goals to create belonging and a more inclusive workforce. 

Want to try your luck to be on our next Delight Flight? Book your next trip now at alaskaair.com. 

BOOK NOW. MASK UP. LET’S GO.

Captain flies his 108-year-old grandmother, a former ‘Rosie the Riveter’, to her new home

Sometimes our pilots have the pleasure of having a family member on their flights—a spouse, or maybe even their parents. It’s a special thing. But special doesn’t begin to describe how Capt. Alex Reburn felt a couple weeks ago when he was able to fly his 108-year-old grandmother, Loraine Showalter, from Sacramento to Seattle.

“Oma,” as she prefers to be called, hadn’t seen her grandson since the pandemic hit last year.

The flight was a long time coming for her. Living in a retirement home in California, she contracted COVID-19 and thankfully overcame the virus but spent months in isolation from her friends and family. This trip symbolized a new chapter for her and a fresh start, as it brought her closer to finding a new home in Lacey, Washington near family.

Grandma Oma, 108 years old
Captain Reburn with his mom and his Oma on the flight from Sacramento to Seattle.

When Reburn learned that his grandmother would be moving to Washington, he immediately reached out to Alaska’s Chief Pilot Scott Day to see if he could possibly pilot her flight—and he did!

It’s not often that your airline pilot picks you up at your front door of your house, escorts you through security, helps you into your seat and flies your airplane too. But, that’s what Reburn did for his Oma. She was in First Class, a special treat after not being on an airplane for eight years and enjoyed every leg of the way.

A black and white photo of Showalter when she was younger, standing beside her horse.

Reburn said that the flight attendants, who had overheard there was an 108-year-old guest onboard, couldn’t believe it and initially walked past her not realizing she was the special guest. “They didn’t believe she was that old,” Reburn said.

Showalter was born in 1912, when William H. Taft was president—the same year as the Titanic’s fateful voyage. Growing up in Oklahoma, she and her sister used to ride their horses to school.  She attended university to become a teacher, but the war effort took precedence, and she found herself working in the Douglas Aircraft assembly plant in Tulsa, which built the B-24 “Liberator” bomber aircraft.

She worked in the back office of the plant doing badging and background checks. But nonetheless she was part of the unique generation of “Rosie the Riveters”–women who stepped up to work in factories producing aircraft, munitions and supplies as the men went overseas to fight. She also met her husband at the plant (Reburn’s grandfather, or Opa.) They were married for 55 years.

Showalter’s seen 20 U.S. presidents, survived several epidemics, including Polio, the Spanish flu, Smallpox and COVID. And she’s amassed a treasure trove of stories, which she shares with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  

A Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft glistens in the sun as it makes a turn at high altitude in the clouds, which Showalter helped build during WWII.

“She was a very active grandparent, always willing to jump in and join what we were doing,” Reburn said. “Some of my fondest memories are of visiting her in the summers back in Tulsa.” When he became a pilot, Reburn used to bid for Tulsa overnights to see Oma. She’d proudly take him around in his uniform to meet her friends in town.  

And now, as a 20-year pilot, check airman and instructor, Reburn’s still shaking his head at the serendipity of it all.  “In my two decades in aviation I never would have imagined flying my 108-year-old grandmother,” Reburn said. “How do you top that?”

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