N202HA's Blessing

Hawaiian Airlines held a blessing ceremony for N202HA "Maile" this morning on HNL's south ramp. A red carpet was laid out on the tarmac up to the stairs truck.  Prior to the blessing, remarks to the media were made by Hawaiian Airlines President & CEO Mark Dunkerley, Airbus' Director of Sales Rebecca Lane, and Pratt & Whitney's Customer Fleet Director (Americas Region) Andrew Dolecki. 

After the remarks were made, the three joined Hawaiian Airlines Vice-President of Community Relations Debbie Nakanelua-Richards and Kahu Richard Kamanu from Kaumakapili Church at the top of the stairs, at the doorway of "Maile". To begin the blessing ceremony, Mrs. Nakanelua-Richards performed and ‘oli. Kahu Kamanu then led the group in prayer, and sprinkled a mix of Hawaiian salt and water around the doorway and into the cabin. A maile lei hung in the doorway, and to end the ceremony, Mark Dunkerley pulled on the lei to break the strand. The A321-271N fleet will be named after Hawaiian flowers and plants.

Employees from Hawaiian's corporate office came down to get their first look at "Maile", they had the opportunity to see the cabin interior.


Mark Dunkerley held a press conference in the cabin of their first A321neo to announce his retirement from Hawaiian Airlines that will take effect on 01 March 2018. Dunkerley will a 15-year run with the airline, that he took over before the airline entered bankruptcy in 2001, and led the airline to triple in size in its fleet, route networks, and employees.  He cited that his reason for leaving his position as President & CEO for family reasons, but will remain active in the local community, and will have more time to fly his personal aircraft, a Bunker Jungmann C.A.S.A 131. He selected Hawaiian Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer Peter Ingram to take the role of President & CEO.

photos to follow ...