Hawaiian Says G'Day To BNE

Hawaiian Airlines commenced service between HNL and BNE this morning, with their special pre-boarding festivities, that featured the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders, food samplers by Chef Chai, speeches by CFO Peter Ingram, and Hawai‘i Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, and an ‘oli and blessing by Kahu Richard Kamanu.  As customary with all their new destination launches, each passenger also received a lei prior to boarding.

N588HA "‘Iwa" (c/n 33466, l/n 890), a 767-3CBER, was the aircraft selected for the "Aloha Brisbane" flight. "‘Iwa", had a decal applied to its nose section that commemorates the "Southern Cross" Trans-Pacific flight by Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith in June 1928 in a Fokker VII/3. "‘Iwa" also wears the Oakland Raiders decal, that denotes the airline's partnership with the NFL franchise, as the official airline of the Raiders, and provides flights to their road game cities. Sister-ship N589HA "Moli" also wears the "Southern Cross" decal.

more photos to follow ...

Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for the invitation to this event!

Hawaiian Inaugurates CTS Service

Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated thrice-weekly service between HNL and CTS (New Chitose International Airport, Hokkaido, Japan) this morning. Before passengers boarded HAL441, Hawaiian hosted pre-boarding festivities that included: food from Chef Chai, the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders, singer and kumu hula Robert Cazimero performing a song; the Hanayagi Dance School; an ‘oli by Keone Martin; a prayer and blessing by Kahu Richard Kamanu; and lei given to each boarding passenger. N587HA "Pakalakala" was the 767-33AER that flew HAL441.

The traditional maile lei tied before the entrance to Gate 34, along with the commemorative "Aloha Sapporo" banner.

 The Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders hula dancers with "Pakalakala" in the background.

 The cabin crew of HAL441 poses for a group shot before attending to their pre-flight duties.

Hawaiian Airlines CFO Peter Ingram unties the maile lei shortly after Kahu Richard Kamanu performed the prayer and Hawaiian blessing.

Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for the invitation to this event!

Hawaiian Launches JFK-HNL Service

Early this morning, at 0416HST, Hawaiian Airlines flight 51 departed JFK for HNL, inaugurating the return leg to HNL from "The Big Apple". HAL51, scheduled to arrive at 1500HST, landed 45 minutes early, as it caught a tailwind. The media pool just made it to the gate, as N386HA pulls into HNL's Gate 34 (above).

Over 250 passengers filled N386HA "Heiheionākeiki", to make Hawaiianʻs first JFK-HNL flight. The return leg, HAL51 left JFK to a water-cannon salute, and the passengers received lei as they boarded, and as they de-planed at HNLʻs Gate 34.

The Hawaiian Air Serenaders performed Hawaiian music and hula for the arriving passengers.

A couple who were on HAL51, pose for photos with the commemorative banner in the background.

Hawaiian Airlines is sponsoring a week-long series of events in New York City that will feature a number of Hawaiian music artists.

Hawaiian Launches HNL-JFK Service

This afternoon, Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated service between HNL and JFK as HAL50. The airline's newest A330-243, N386HA "Heiheionākeiki" (msn 1302), carried 173 passengers to the "Big Apple". N386HA, one of the airlineʻs newest A330-243, is seen above, being pushed out of HNL's Gate 34.

The pre-boarding festivities included Hawaiian music and hula by the Hawaiian Air Serenaders, a New York-themed performance by local jazz singer Jimmy Borges, and a Hawaiian blessing. Each passenger also received a lei right before boarding.

Hawaiian Airʻs commemorative New York banner and a tied maile lei draped across the entryway to Gate 34.

Local jazz singer Jimmy Borges crooned a few New York-themed songs, including "Come Fly With Me" and "New York, New York".

Hawaiian Airʻs General Counsel Hoyt Zia unties the maile lei with Kahu Richard Kamanu, who performed the blessing, watching on.

Hawaiian Launches Fukuoka Service

Hawaiian Airlines kicked off its service between Honolulu and Fukuoka, Japan (FUK/RJFF) this morning as HAL453. As with its previous Asia routes, the airline held pre-boarding festivities that included hula, a Japanese dance, a Hawaiian blessing, and an impromptu performance by local entertainer and kumu hula Robert Cazimero (who was on the flight).

N583HA "‘A" (c/n 25531, l/n 423) was the 767-3G5ER selected to make the inaugural flight to FUK, and is pictured above pushing out of Gate 34.

The maile lei and the "Aloha, Fukuoka!" banner at the entry to Gate 34.

Robert Cazimero (grey suit) sang two songs with the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders.

Two dancers from the Hanayagi Dance School, performing a Japanese cultural dance.

Kahu Richard Kamanu blesses the entryway to Gate 34 with a maile lei, Hawaiian rock salt and water, from a koa bowl.

HAL454 is the return flight that arrives tomorrow morning.

The Terazono family poses with the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders hula dancers and the "Welcome to Honolulu!" banner after clearing customs and immigration from the inaugural HAL454. Each passenger received a lei as well.

Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for the invitation to this event!

Hawaiian Launches KIX Service

Omedetoo Gozaimasu! (Congratulations!)

Hawaiian Airlines launched service to KIX, its second Japanese destination today as HAL449. N590HA "Koa‘e ‘ula" (c/n 33476, l/n 894) was the 767-3CBER selected for the inaugural flight, seen above being pushed out of Gate 34. To celebrate the new service, the airline held pre-boarding festivities at HNL's Gate 34, that included remarks by Hawaiian Air CFO Peter Ingram and Hawai‘i Tourism Authority CEO Mike McCartney; and each passenger received a lei prior to boarding.

Hawaiian music and hula performances by the Hawaiian Air Serenaders.

Two members from the Hanayagi Dancing School performed a Japanese dance called "Yappari Osaka".

Kahu Richard Kamanu offered a Hawaiian blessing before any passenger or crew boarded "Koa‘e ‘ula"

The flight and cabin crew of HAL449 pose with CFO Peter Ingram under the commemorative banner.

"Doko Ga TV" host and executive producer Pali Ka‘aihue receives a lei before boarding the flight.

Hawaiian Air's press release.

Hawaiian Launches ICN Service

Choo ka (Congratulations)!

Hawaiian Airlines launched service between ICN and HNL with the inaugural flight leaving HNL today. N592HA, "Hunakai", a 767-3CBER (c/n 33468) made the flight with over 100 people on-board. Included were Kahu Danny Akaka Jr, KHON reporter Marisa Yamane, and HA's Blaine Miyasato and Peter Ingram.

In the top photo, "Hunakai" is towed to Gate 34 while a Korean Air 747-4B5 taxies on Taxiway A to Runway 8R as KAL52 to ICN.

KHON's Marisa Yamane interviews Hawaiian Air's CFO Peter Ingram before the festivities. She and her camerman boarded the flight to do reports in Seoul.

Hawaiian music and hula were performed by the Hawaiian Air Serenaders to begin the festivities. Speeches were made by Hawaiian Air CFO Peter Ingram and Lt. Gov Brian Schatz.

A traditional Korean dance, "The Flower & The Honey Bee", performed by the Chum-Sa-Rang Dance Troupe.

Kahu Danny Akaka Jr performed a Hawaiian blessing before the flight crews, cabin crews, and passengers boarded HAL459.

Each passenger received a lei right before boarding "Hunakai".

Hawaiian Air, go mab seum ni da!

Hawaiian's First Flight From HND Arrives

Yokosoo! (Welcome!)

Hawaiian Air celebrated its first flight that arrived from HND today. All of the passengers on HAL458 arrived to a gate-side lei greeting, and a hula performance outside the International Arrivals Tour Group Exit.  N589HA, "Moli", made the return trip with some that were on HAL457 on Wednesday, as well as Japanese tour groups.

Hawaiian Launches HND Service

Omedetoo gozaimasu (congratulations)!

Hawaiian Air inaugurates service to Haneda International Airport (Tokyo, Japan) today!  HAL457 is the outbound leg to HND, with HAL456 the return. 767-33AER, N589HA, "Moli", had the honors to make Hawaiian's first flight to Japan.  Among the passengers were Hawai‘i News Now videographer/reporter Oscar Valenzuela, and the cast and crew from OC16's "Doko Ga TV".

There were multiple hula performances by the Hawaiian Air Serenaders.

A traditional Japanese dance performed by members of the Soto Mission in Nu‘uanu.

KHON's Brianne Randle interviews Hawaiian Air CEO Mark Dunkerley, who was aboard the flight with his wife Marillia.

Each passenger received an orchid lei prior to boarding.

Ittarashai!

Ganbatte kudasai!

Hawaiian Air, arigato gozaimashita!