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.