Maui Invitational 2024 Team Charters

Some of the  eight-team Maui Invitational college basketball tournament may possibly arriving by team charter flights, while other teams will travel via commercial flights. The tournament runs from 25-27 November in Lāhaina, Maui.

The eight schools are: Auburn Tigers, Colorado Buffaloes, Dayton Flyers, Iowa State Cyclones, Memphis Tigers, Michigan Sate Spartans, North Carolina Tar Heels, and the UConn Huskies.

The Tar Heels flew to HNL via Omni Air International, and may return to RDU from OGG.

22 Nov 2024:

Michigan State: SCX8417 [LAN-OAK-OGG] aboard N804SY, return flight has the same flight code.

Hawaiian Airlinesʻ N494HA Moana 2 Special Livery

Hawaiian Airlinesʻ 717-2BL, N494HA "Koaʻe Kea" (c/n 55182, l/n 5138, f/n 494), is now wearing the Moana 2 decals. It had the decals applied over the past few days, and has returned to service this morning.

N476HA "Elepaio" (c/n 55118, l/n 5053, f/n 476) was slated to receive the decal treatment, but was switched out.

North Carolina Tar Heels Team Charter

The tenth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team is chartering an Omni Air International 767-224ER for their game on Friday against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors. N234AX (c/n 30436, l/n 833) is bringing the Tar Heels here from RDU as OAE2220. They will stay in Hawai‘i, as they are participating in  the Maui Invitational tournament in Lāhaina, Maui, beginning on the 25th.

21 November 2024 UPDATE

N234AX returned to its base at AFW as OAE2220 after dropping off the Tar Heels.

Air Force 2 To KOA

99-0004 (c/n 29028, l/n 829), flying as Air Force 2, is taking VP Kamala Harris and husband from ADW to KOA, via LAX today. This C-32A (757-2G4) is assigned to the 1st Airlift Squadron, 89th Airlift Wing.

With the VP's vacation on Hawai‘i Island, the FAA has put a TFR in place during the visit until Monday, 25 November.

Above is a photo of 99-0004 on final for Runway 4R, taken in November 2022.

Eastern Airlines' N771KW

Eastern Airlines' 777-212ER, N771KW (c/n 28530, l/n 390), is making a stop at HNL from MCI as EAL9832.  It will continue onto GUM as EAL9833 tomorrow.

28530's History:

Mar 2002: Delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SQI, under lease from Pembroke.

Apr 2017: Leased to FlyGlobal as 9M-FGA.

Nov 2017: Subleased to Nesma Airlines for one month.

May 2020: Purchased by Eastern Airlines as N771KW.

Nov 2022: Inducted into service.

May 2024: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for two months.

21 November 2024 UPDATE

N771KW is arriving from ANC tonight as EAL9835, and will continue onto MCI tomorrow as EAL9836.

N737ST

Boeing's N737ST (c/n 66147, l/n 7833) is back at KOA as BOE401. The former Ural Airlines 737-8 arrived today from BFI. It's not known how long it will stay at KOA.

N737ST was at KOA for over a week this past July.

Pacific Air Charters To Refocus On Commuter Flights

Ch-Aviation.com reports that Pacific Air Charters will change its commuter flights focus to LUP, as it prepares to launch its P2012 operations. The air charter company will expand to other airports in 2025, but has deferred deliveries of more P2012s.

Altavair Reports On Delays of Hawaiian Airlines' A330-343Fs

CH-Aviation.com reports that labor shortage by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) is causing delays in the conversion and deliveries of the last four A330-343Fs due to Altavair, to lease to Hawaiian Airlines for its Amazon Prime Air. Two of the A330-343s are at DRS, one at PVG, and one at CAN, awaiting conversion. Hawaiian was scheduled to receive all ten freighters by the end of this year.

US Air Force's 06-0500

A US Air Force C-37B assigned to the 99th Airlift Squadron / 89th Airlift Wing, 06-0500 (msn 5152), is making a stop at HNL as SAM314 from OSN. Instead of parking at HIK, this C-37B is parking at Castle & Cooke Aviation. It's one of the rare times that USAF VIP transports will park outside HIK. On 17 November, this military version of the G550, stopped through HIK from CONUS, its way to OSN.

19 November 2024 UPDATE

SAM314 departed for CONUS this morning.

Coulson Aviation's N131CG

Coulson Aviation's N131CG (msn 382-4901) is making a stop at ITO, as it ferries to Australia for their summer fire season. This C-130H, flying from SMX as CUL131, will also make a stop at PPG.

382-4901's History:

Oct 1981: Delivered to the US Navy as 161495, as an EC-130Q.

___ 1983: Assigned to VQ-3.

Mar 1987: Assigned to VQ-4.

Dec 1991: Converted to a C-130H, with the removal the EW equipment.

___ 1993: Given to NASA as N427NA, and based at Wallops Island, WA.

Oct 2004: Donated to the Kenosha Military Museum for display.

Aug 2012: Acquired by Wells Fargo NA Trustee, and registered as N130FF.

Aug 2013: Leased to Coulson Aviation, and converted to a fire fighting aircraft.

Jan 2018: Sold to the Delaware Trust Co Trustee, and the lease transferred.

___ 2020: Painted in the current livery.

Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors Team Charter

The Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors football team is chartering a Hawaiian Airlines A321-271N for their road game against the Utah State Aggies on Saturday. N209HA "Ili‘ahi" (msn 8186, f/n 209) is flying the Rainbow Warriors to SLC as HAL764, and will reposition to OAK as HAL9765 after dropping off the team. Another A321N will pick up the team on Saturday following the game.

17 November 2024 UPDATE

The Rainbow Warriors are returning home aboard N204HA "ʻŌhia Lehua" (msn 7959, f/n 204) as HAL767 following their 55-10 blowout loss to the Aggies.

American Airlines' A321N Departure Anomaly

An American Airlines A321-251N, N418AN (msn 9550, f/n 418), failed to make the immediate right turn upon departure from Runway 8L last night. Operating as AAL298 to LAX, the A321N maintained runway heading until over Mānoa, then they made the right turn out toward Oʻahu's south shoreline, cutting across East Honolulu. The closest the A321N got to the Koʻolau Mountains was near Mānoa, but was well above the peaks. The flight continued onto LAX, and landed safely less than five hours later.

Normally, all departures from Runway 8L require a right turn of at least a heading of 140º, as soon as practical to avoid overflying metro Honolulu. For late night flights, narrow-body red-eyes to the west coast are allowed to depart from Runway 8L, since the traffic is light.

US Air Force's 64-14831

A US Air Force WC-135R Constant Phoenix, 64-14831 (c/n 18771, l/n 723), is making a stop at HNL as ATOM31. This former KC-135R, assigned to the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron / 55th Wing, is one of three modified to detect atmospheric anomalies associated with nuclear explosions.

Prior to the modifications, 64-14831 was last assigned to the 197th Air Refueling Squadron / 161st Air Refueling Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard.

Veteran's Day

The HNL RareBirds™ team expresses our deep gratitude to the men and women of the United States armed forces who have served, or are serving our country. Mahalo for your service to protect our country and our freedoms.

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau Hawaiian Airlines

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau! Hawaiian Airlines celebrates its 95th anniversary today. The above logo decal will be affixed near the L1 door of each aircraft.

Silk Way West Airlines' 4K-SW800

Silk Way West Airlines' 747-4R7F, 4K-SW800 (c/n 2729, l/n 1189), is making a brief fuel stop at HNL this morning. It's flying from YYC as AZG9382, and will continue onto WTB [Wellcamp Airport, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia].