Mokulele Airlines' N496SA

Mokulele Airlines is taking delivery of N496SA (msn 208B5943) today. This all-dark blue C208B Grand Caravan is making its delivery flight from MCE to HNL as FDY8021.

This C208B was delivered to Southern Air Express last month.

Three Airlines Vie For The LNY EAS Contract

With the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to serve LNY up again, three airlines are vying for the Federal Aviation Administration award. Incumbent Mokulele Airlines, along with Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air have submitted bids to the FAA for the EAS. Mokulele won the previous two-year contract in 2024, and is poised to try to renew it.

Pacific Air Charters has three P2012s based at HNL, with more on order.

Cape Air, based at HYA [Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis, MA] has a fleet of 64 Cessna C402s and 30 P2012s (with 70 on order). Cape Air also has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report.

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).

Mokulele Airlines' N485SA

Mokulele Airlines has taken delivery of N485SA (msn 208B5924) last evening. This C208B Grand Caravan EX made its delivery flight from WJF to HNL, with stops at MCE, as FDY8051. It was ferried to KOA later in the day as FDY8051.

Mokulele Airlines Upgrades Terminal H

In an Instagram post this morning, Mokulele Airlines has upgraded the passenger check-in and waiting at HNL's Terminal H.

18 April 2026 UPDATE

Mokulele Airlines announced via Instagram, that they will add two more C208Bs this summer, one will be named "Huaka‘i" and the other named "Laulima". The registrations have yet to be revealed.

21 April 2026 UPDATE

Parent compan, Surfair posted on Instagram this morning that N485SA (msn 208B5924) and N490SA (msn 208B5925) will be delivering to Mokulele very soon.

Mokuele Airlines' N839MA Hard Landing At MKK

Mokulele Airlines' N839MA (msn 208B2392) suffered a flat tire on a hard landing at MKK this afternoon. Flying as FDY39, this C208B Grand Caravan landed hard on MKKʻs Runway 5. Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and Hawaiian music singer Raiatea Helm was aboard the flight, and posted the result on her Instagram post.

After a tire change and inspection, N839MA continued onto OGG this evening.

Surf Air Orders BETA Electric Aircraft

Mokulele Airlines' parent company, Surf Air, is partnering with BETA Technologies, with a firm order of 25 all-electric ALIA CTOL aircraft, with an option of 75 more. Surf Air plans to designate some of the 25 to Mokulele Airlines for inter-island cargo flights. Surf Air also plans to build an MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) facility in Hawai‘i, but did not disclose that location.

Further information in this Surf Air press release.

Mokulele Airlines And Japan Airlines Interline Agreement

Mokulele Airlines announced on an Instagram post today, that they will enter into an interline agreement with Japan Airlines, that will allow passenger feeds to/from MKK, JHM, and LNY.

Surf Air To Invest In Mokulele Airlines And eIPP

Surf Air, Mokulele Airlines' parent company, announced that they are investing US$22.4 million in the Hawai‘i's commuter airline. This investment will allow Mokulele to expand flight frequencies, and add more C208B Grand Caravans to its fleet. It will also allow Surf Air to prep for their new Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) deployments in the future.

On a related note, Surf Air is also partnering with HDOT and BETA Technologies to tender RFPs for its proposed Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Program (eIPP), where electric-powered aircraft would be the base of Mokulele's future fleet.

Further information in this Surf Air press release on the Mokulele Airlines investment, and the press release regarding the eIPP project.

Southern Airways Express' N539SA

Southern Airways Express is ferrying N539SA (msn 208B5822) from IPL to HNL, via MCE. This C208B Grand Caravan is making its ferry flight as FDY8031. It will join the Mokulele Airlines operation.

N539SA's History:

Nov 2024: Delivered to Southern Airways Express to operate for Surf Air.

Dec 2024: Inducted into service on Southern's northeast operations.

Aug 2025: Transferred to Southern's mid-south operations.

Sep 2025: Transferred to Southern's Southern California / Arizona operations.

Southern Airways Express' N932SP

Southern Airways Express has transferred N932SP (msn 208B5177) from its regional Texas operation to Mokulele Airlines. This C208B Grand Caravan made its ferry flight from MEM to HNL, with stops as TXK, LBB, LRU, IPL, and MCE. Its last leg flew as FDY8072 last night, and seen above having its seats about to be installed.

Mokulele Airlines' N522SA

Southern Airways has allocated N522SA (msn 208B5819) to Mokulele Airlines, and had it ferried from MCE to HNL as FDY8055. This all-midnight blue Grand Caravan EX was formerly with Southern Airways' upper east coast operations based out of IAD. N522SA was delivered to Southern Airways in November 2024.

HDOT To Tender Inter-Island Charter Service

In response to the recent maintenance stand-down and suspension of service by Mokulele Airlines, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has issued a tender for inter-island charter service for the five smaller Hawai‘i airports: MKK, LUP, JHM, HNM, and MUE. Mokulele Airlines is the sole passenger air carrier to serve these five airports.

Kamaka Air Charters filled the void with numerous flights to MKK during Mokulele's suspension. Pacific Air Charters has yet to begin scheduled service to the smaller airports, but has been flying charters.

Mokulele holds a government-subsidized Essential Air Service contract to these airports, and has drawn the ire of Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, whose Congressional district is where the five airports are located.

Further details in this CH-Aviation.com article.

Mokulele Airlines Suspends Operations

Mokulele Airlines suspended operations today due to a maintenance and inspection stand-down. No date was given as to when the airline will resume operations.

To assist with the some of the stranded Mokulele passengers, Kamaka Air Charter's N828DC stepped in to perform flights between HNL and MKK and LUP.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now report.

17 January 2025 UPDATE

Mokulele Airlines announced today that they will resume service on Sunday, 19 January. In a KHON2 News report today, there were questions as to why the airline operates only the Cessna Caravan, and not multiple types. What the report fails to mention is that Mokulele/Southern ferried off the Saab SF340Bs and two of the three Tecnam P2012 Travelers brought from Guam, late last year.

Mokulele Airlines Fleet Stand Down

KHON reports that Mokulele Airlines will perform a safety stand down from today to 20 August to for safety inspections on their Grand Caravan fleet. This will impact at least half of their flights, and they expect to resume full service on the 21st.

Mokulele Airlines' press release.

Mokulele To Increase MKK and LNY Service

Mokulele Airlines announced that they will increase service to MKK and LNY. They will add a third Saab SF340B to the two they have in service. They will also add three Tecnam P2012 Traveller nine-seat twin-turboprops (see following paragraph), as some of their Cessna C208B Grand Caravans go in for maintenance and repaint. The registration of the third SF340B has not been disclosed.

Further information in this KHON2 News report.

On a related note, Marianas Southern Airways is terminating its service in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) due to the government's cancellation of its contract with the airline. The three P2012s, N401CJ (049/US), N503SA (041/US), and N504SA (048/US), will be transferred to Mokulele, and used as reserve aircraft, as well as for private charters.

Further information in this Pacific Daily News article.

Southern Receives N334CJ

Southern Airways has taken delivery of its second Saab SF340B, N334CJ "The Phil Trenary" (msn 340B-334), this evening. Still flying under the previous owner's flight code, it made the trek from DUJ to HNL, via LNS, MEM,WCT, TOR, and RNT, as SBS9102.

Mokulele Joins Alaska's Mileage Plan

Beginning in 2023, Mokulele Airlines joins the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, which will allow passengers on both airlines access each others' route network.

Further information in this Alaska Airlines press release.

Hawaiian And Mokulele Interline Agreement

Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele Airlines (and parent Southern Airways Express) announced an interline agreement that will have passengers connect to each others route network.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Mokulele To Receive Two Saab 340Bs

Mokulele Airlines' parent company, Southern Airways Express, is bringing in a pair of Saab 340Bs to compliment their Cessna C208B fleet. They will be assigned to MKK and LNY flights, and cabins configured to accommodate 30 passengers, and be wearing the Southern livery.

The first SF340B is currently registered as N679PA (msn 340B-345), and will be re-registered as N95SA "The Phil LeFevre" . The second SF340B is currently registered as N334CJ (msn 340B-334), and will be re-registered as N79SA "The Phil Trenary.".

News coverage by KHON2.

340B-345's History:

Sep 1993: Delivered to Simmons Airlines as N345SB (f/n SDG), leased from AMR Leasing Corporation, operating for American Eagle.

Mar 1994: Leased to Wings West Airlines, to operate for American Eagle.

May 1998: Leased to American Eagle Airlines.

Oct 2005: Sold to Saab Aircraft Leasing, and leased to Pen Air as N345CV.

Feb 2006: Re-registered as N679PA (f/n 679).

Oct 2010: Sold to Turbo Lease, and lease transferred.

___ 2012: Painted the last Pen Air livery.

Oct 2017: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BGR.

Jan 2018: Ferried to SGF for storage.

Mar 2022: Ferried to DUJ for preparation and testing for Southern Airways Express.

340B-334's History:

Apr 1993: Delivered to Metroflight as N334AE (f/n SCY), leased from AMR Leasing Corporation, operating for American Eagle.

May 1993: Leased to Simmons Airlines, to operate for American Eagle.

Jun 1994: Leased to Wings West Airlines, to operate for American Eagle.

May 1998: Leased to American Eagle Airlines (f/n 334).

Oct 2002: Sold to Chicago Express Airlines as N312CE (f/n 312), to operate for ATA Connection.

May 2005: Sold to Colgan Air as N334CJ (f/n 334), to operate for Continental Connection.

Oct 2012: Operated by Colgan Air for United Express.

Dec 2013: Sold to Seaborne Airlines (f/n 334).

Feb 2022: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SGF.

Apr 2022: Ferried to CES5 [Centralia, ON] for preparation to Southern Airways Express.