SIngapore Airlines' 9V-MBY

Singapore Airlines is taking delivery of 9V-MBY (c/n 44268, l/n 9703) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to SIN, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as SIA8890.

Hawaiian Airlines Unveils oneWorld Logo Jet

In a ceremony at their hangar, Hawaiian Airlines unveiled its entrance to the oneWorld alliance. N375HA "Humu" (msn 1606) was ferried to SIN for repainting earlier this month, and will wear the oneWorld wordmark on the forward fuselage, along with "Aloha a puni ka honua" ("Aloha all around the world"). N375HA is expected back in a couple of weeks.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines news release.

Western Global Airlines' N781SN

Western Global Airlines' N781SN (c/n 48781, l/n 625) is making the first MD-11F flight into HNL since the FAA grounding following the crash of UPS2976, in November 2025. N781SN is making a fuel stop at HNL from LCK [Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, OH], then continuing onto DRW as WGN8189. N781SN was the first Western Global MD-11F to re-enter service following inspections and repairs to the wing pylons.

02 July 2026 UPDATE

N781SN is returning from DRW this morning, and will depart for YUM [Yuma International Airport, Yuma, AZ], as WGN189.

Aloha ‘Oe Asiana Airlines

Today marks the final day of operations for Asiana Airlines service between ICN and HNL. HL7732 (c/n 29174, l/n 481), the Star Alliance-liveried 777-28EER, is making today's final service as AAR232/231.  From 01 July, Korean Air will take over Asiana's five-times-per-week service as KAL8054/8053, with 787-9 DreamLiners flying the service.

This move is anticipation of the Asiana brand being retired as part of the acquisition by Korean Air, which total integration is scheduled to be completed this December.

01 July 2026 UPDATE

Korean Air's 787-9 DreamLiner HL7207 (c/n 34816, l/n 728) is making the first replacement flight as KAL8053/8054.

Royal Air Maroc's CN-RHB

Royal Air Maroc's 787-9 DreamLiner, CN-RHB (c/n 64981, l/n 1116), is making a stop at HNL from LAX tonight, as RAM3120. This 787 is wearing their new livery and decals for the Moroccan Football Federation, and the flight originated from RBA [Sale Airport, Rabat, Morocco].

64981's History:
___ 2021: Not taken up by WestJet Airlines as C-FLWH.

Dec 2024: Acquired by Royal Air Maroc as CN-RHB.

Jan 2026: Moroccan Football Federation decals applied.

28 June 2026 UPDATE

CN-RHB departed for CMN  early this morning as RAM3843.

Hainan Airlines' B-228Y

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-228Y (c/n 66769, l/n 9706) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as CHH2281. This is the airlines' third 737-8 delivery this month.

USS Theodore Roosevelt Ship Visit

We were invited to the first series of ship visits that included the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), here is our YouTube video.

RIMPAC 2026

The 2026 edition of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) international military maritime exercise begins today. This is the 30th iteration of RIMPAC, runs through 31 July 2026, will have participants from 31 countries. The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is the US Navy aircraft carrier assigned to the exercise.

Luftwaffe's 54+26

A Luftwaffe A400M Atlas, 54+26 (msn 086), from Luftransportgeschwader 62, is making a stop at KOA from ETNW [Wunstorf Air Base, Lower-Saxony, Germany], as GAF101.

Northrop Grumman's N140SC

Northrop Grumman's L-1011 TriStar 100, N140SC "Stargazer" (msn 193E-1067) is making a stop at KOA from MHV this afternoon. It's bound for KWA to launch a Pegasus rocket that is mounted under the belly.

Stargazer has been at HNL twice before en route to KWA in the past.

24 June 2026 UPDATE

N140SC departed for KWA this morning.

03 July 2026 UPDATE

N140SC transited from KWA to KOA today.

04 July 2026 UPDATE

N140SC returned to MHV this morning.

9,000,000 Views!

Wow! The HNL RareBirds™ has broken the 9,000,000 views mark early this morning. Mahalo to all of our contributors, subscribers, and readers! You are very much appreciated! We gained a 1,000,000 views in 23 days!

Aloha Air Cargo's N442KH

Aloha Air Cargo is taking delivery of N442KH (c/n 28888, l/n 2990) today. This 737-490F is making its delivery flight from MZJ to HNL, with a fuel stop at OAK, as AAH9442. It's being leased from Automatic LLC.

28888'S History:

Feb 1998: Delivered to Alaska Airlines as N793AS (f/n 793).

Dec 2017: Acquired by Flair Airlines as C-FLRS (f/n 406).

Aug 2020: Acquired Automatic LLC, registered as N288AU, and ferried to SJO for freighter conversion.

Dec 2020: Leased to Poste Air Cargo as EI-GUA.

Dec 2024: Withdrawn from service, and stored at FCO.

Jun 2025: Returned to lessor, and ferried to MZJ for storage.

Jly 2025: Re-registered as N888AU.

Beta Technology's N401NZ

Beta Technology's CX300 Alia demonstrator, N401NZ (msn BTC31C-004), is in Hawai‘i. This electric-powered aircraft arrived at ITO yesterday, and flew to KOA. N401NZ flew to OGG then HNL today. It has Mokulele AIrlines titles on the port side, and Surfair titles on the starboard side. It will spend a couple of months with Mokulele performing inter-island test flights.

Photos of N401NZ at OGG in this post by Instagram user ogg_kahului_maui.

N401NZ has also spent time in New Zealand, as a demonstrator for Air New Zealand (October 2025 - March 2026); and in Japan for Yamato Transport, and other companies (April-May 2026).

Alaska Airlines' N985AK

Alaska Airlines' 2026 FIFA World Cup-liveried 737-9, N985AK (c/n 67423, l/n 8695, f/n 985), is making its first appearance in Hawai‘i today. It's flying from PDX to OGG as ASA739, then return to PDX as ASA1490. Alaska Airlines had the decals applied earlier this month as Seattle is one of the host cities at Lumen Field (renamed Seattle Stadium for the 2026 World Cup).

Hainan Airlines' B-228X

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-228X (c/n 66768, l/n 9702) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, with overnight stops at JRF and GUM, as CHH2285. This is Hainan's second delivery in six days.

Aloha Air Cargo's N303KH Being Parted Out

Aloha Air Cargo's N303KH "Kukunaokalā" (c/n 25606, l/n 3123, f/n 303) is in the process of being parted out, and will eventually be scrapped. In this photo on Planespotters.net taken this past March, this 737-319F is seen on stacked pallets.

All Nippon Airways' JA938A

All Nippon Airways is taking delivery of JA938A (c/n 66896, l/n 1293) today. This 787-9 DreamLiner is making its delivery flight from PAE to HND, with an overnight stop at HNL, as ANA9399. 

JA938A was built at CHS, and first flew on 16 April 2026. After testing, it was ferried to PAE as BOE736 on 29 May 2026.

United Airlines' N91007

United Airlines' 787-10, N91007 (c/n 40929, l/n 548, f/n 1007) that was painted in their America 250 special livery a couple of weeks ago, is making a stop at HNL today as UAL219 from ORD. It will return to ORD as UAL218, later this afternoon.

40929's History:

May 2017: Used by Boeing as a 787-10 testbed, registered as N548ZC.

May 2019: Delivered to United Airlines as N91007.

Jun 2026: Painted in the America 250 special livery.

New Boeing 737 Assembly Plant

In order to keep up with its order book backlog, Boeing began re-tooling its 747 assembly line at its Everett, WA facility. The manufacturer has now announced that 06 July 2026 will be date for the Everett "North Line" to open. It will focus on the 737-10, which is due to be certified by the end of this year. 

Further information in this Boeing Media news report.

Hainan Airlines' B-228W

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-228W (c/n 66767, l/n 9679) today. This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from BFI to HAK, with overnight stops at HNL and GUM, as CHH2282.

Hawaiian Airlines' N227HA "Moana" Special Livery

Hawaiian Airlines is having decals to promote Disney's live-action version of "Moana" applied to an A321-271N, N227HA "Olopua" (msn 9223, f/n 227). It's making its debut flight today to PDX as ASA840.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines news release.

"ReverseOps" has photos of "Olopua" departing for PDX on his Instagram post.

Leading Edge Air Services' RP-C6950

Leading Edger Air Services Corporation is taking delivery of their first Cessna C408 SkyCourier, RP-C6950 (msn 408-00__). It's making its delivery flight, flown by Flight Contract Services, from BEC to CRK, with stops at LVS, VGT, SMX, HNL, KWA, and GUM. It had its ferry tank installed at VGT (from May 29th), and is making its SMX-HNL segment today.

Photos of their acceptance of the C408 on Leading Edge's Facebook page.

08 June 2026 UPDATE

RP-C6950 departed for KWA shortly before midnight.

HNL's Runway 8R/26L Nightly Closure Extended

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports announced that the nightly closure of Runway 8R/26L will be extended to 14 June.

Further details in this HDOT-A news release.

N770XT

N770XT (msn 4879), an A320-232 owned by a Bank of Utah trustee, is ferrying from ASP to P08, with stops at CNS, TRW, and HNL. This A320's overnight stop at HNL is tonight. N770XT is scheduled to be parted out, then scrapped.

4879's History:

Oct 2011: Delivered to Tiger Airways as 9V-TAZ, under lease from Pembroke.

Jly 2013: Airline rebrands as Tigerair.

Jly 2017: Transferred to Scoot as 9V-TAZ "Ki Jiak Hong"

Aug 2020: Acquired by Itochu, and the lease was transferred.

Nov 2023: Leased to Jetstar Asia as 9V-JSX.

Aug 2025: Transferred to Jetstar Airways as VH-X3P, but it never entered service.

May 2026: Acquired by a Bank of Utah trustee.

HDOT-A To Temporarily Close ITO's Runway 8/26

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation - Airports will close ITO's Runway 8/26 and Taxiway A for night pavement work from 08-09 June, from 23:00 to 05:00. Runway 3/21 will remain open for night cargo flights.

Further information in this HDOT-A news release.

10 June 2026 UPDATE

HDOT rescheduled the work at ITO to tonight and tomorrow night, with the same closure times.

12 June 2026 UPDATE

Due to rain, the pavement work will be done tonight.

Southwest Airlines Launches ONT-HNL Service

Southwest Airlines commenced daily 737-8 service between ONT and HNL this morning. N8768Q (c/n 67518, l/n 8329, f/n 8768) made the inaugural flight as SWA4527, while N8785L (c/n 67755, l/n 8375, f/n 8785) made the HNL-ONT segment as SWA3342.

Photos of the pre-boarding event at ONT can be seen in this FlyONT Instagram post.

Virgin Australia's VH-8VD

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH-8VD "Fairhaven Beach" (c/n 67040, l/n 9587). This 737-8 is making its delivery flight from MLB (after in-flight entertainment system upgrades) to BNE, with stops at ONT and KOA, as VOZ9947. Its overnight stop at KOA is tonight. This is Virgin Australia's fourth delivery within the last four weeks.