Honeywell's N757HW

Honeywell International's 757-225, N757HW (c/n 22194, l/n 5), is stopping off at HNL from PHX, on its way to Asia. 

It taxied to Taxiway F, for its overnight parking spot. It will depart tomorrow morning for GUM, then KUL. 

HNL RareBirds YouTube Channel

HNL RareBirds has created its own YouTube Channel, separating from the Blue Wave Pix YouTube Channel. The airliner videos posted on the latter's channel will be moved over to the RareBirds channel.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1486

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1486 (c/n 63063, l/n 6979) today. This 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9004, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-1275

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX 8, B-1275 (c/n 61440, l/n 6953), today. It's wearing special markings for the Guomei Liquor Group on the forward and aft sections below the window line, along with an image of Confucius on the aft portion of the fuselage. B-1275 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1275, and will overnight at HNL.

go!'s N655BR

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to June 2006, and the launch of Mesa Airlines' go!, that would be the third entrant in the inter-island against Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. N655BR (msn 7457, f/n 655) was one of three CRJ-200ERs to wear the original go! livery, and is seen above, on the Elliott Street ramp, a few days before the airline commenced operations.

7457 was originally delivered to Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA), operated by United Express, in December 2000. Independence Air [DH/IDE] acquired N655BR in June 2004, and flew until the airline's shutdown in January 2006. Five months later, Mesa Airlines acquired N655BR, and assigned it to its go! subsidiary. In June 2009, this CRJ-200ER was sold to Mexicana as XA-EMI for its Mexicana Link subsidiary. After Mexicana shutdown in 2011, Air Wisconsin acquired it as N471ZW (f/n 471) for US Airways Express. When American Airlines acquired US Airways, this CRJ-200ER became part of the American Eagle fleet, with the fleet number Z71. In late 2017, Air Wisconsin assigned N471ZW to United Express (f/n 471), where it continues to fly.

Hawaiian Airlines Launches Service To Long Beach

Today, Hawaiian Airlines launched daily A321-271N service between Daugherty Field, Long Beach, CA [LGB] and HNL as HAL70/69. N204HA "‘Ōhia Lehua" is making the inaugural flight, that depart from Gate 59. Hawaiian held pre-boarding festivities with remarks by President and CEO Peter Ingram. N204HA is seen above departing from Runway 8R for LGB.


Our California partner, Michael Carter, also had coverage on his Aero Pacific Flightlines website.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Mokulele Airlines Holds Terminal 3 Blessing

Mokulele Airlines held a blessing ceremony and festivities for today's passengers at their new facilities at HNL's Terminal 3. Passengers were treated to remarks by Mokulele President Robert McKinney, a prayer and blessing by New Hope Legacy's Senior Pastor Makana Delovio, and entertainment by Anuhea Jenkins (accompanied by Jason Sensation).

Mokulele brought in N847MA from KOA, which was recently painted in the airline's new livery in the teal variation.

The airline, using North Ramp Hardstand 1C, can handle four Caravans at any time (Gates H1-H4), and can expand up to six if need be. They will also launch service between HNL and LUP (Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i) tomorrow, as they received the FAA's EAS contract. Mokulele also has the EAS contract to provide passenger service to HNM (Hāna, Maui).

New HNL Terminal And Gate Designations

Beginning tomorrow, 01 June 2018, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation's Airports Division has given the terminals with alphabetical designations, the gates with alpha-numeric designations, and the baggage claim numeric designations at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport. Please refer to the above illustration for the changes.

AirAsia X To Go Daily For Three Months

Airways Magazine reports that AirAsia X plans to go daily on its KUL-KIX-HNL A330-300 service from 18 August to 27 October.

Air New Zealand's ZK-OKD Diversion

Air New Zealand's 777-219ER, ZK-OKD (c/n 29401, l/n 550), flying as ANZ23 [YVR-AKL], made a diversion to HNL early this morning. The flight arrived around 0140HST, after its weather radar was knocked from turbulence. Repairs were made, and the flight to AKL resumed, but returned as the issue re-appeared. It's scheduled to continue onto AKL as ANZ6077 on Friday.

HDOT Breaks Ground On Mauka Extension

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) held a ground breaking and blessing ceremony for the new Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal (to be known as Terminal 1) at the Daniel K Inouye International Airport today. When completed (estimated to be by the end of 2020), it will be able to handle six of Hawaiian Airlines' A330-243s or 787-9s wide-bodies, or eleven 717-200s or A321-271Ns narrow-bodies.

Demolition of the Commuter Terminal and parking lot will begin on Friday, June 1st.

Further information in this HDOT press release.

News coverage by KHON.

Shanghai Airlines' B-2498

Shanghai Airlines is ferrying B-2498 (c/n 27684, l/n 849) from PVG to MZJ, via SPN and HNL. This 767-36D is making its retirement flight as CSH9765.

B-2498 was delivered to Shanghai Airlines in August 2001, and withdrawn from service in March 2018.

Mokulele Airlines Opens Terminal 3

Mokulele Airlines opens operations at the new Terminal 3 today. The inter-island airline moved its operations across the airport to the Diamond Head (east) end, as the Commuter Terminal was closed to make way for the Mauka Extension of the Inter-Island Terminal.

Fiji Airways' DQ-FJW Diversion

Fiji Airways' flight FJI811, from LAX to NAN, made a diversion to HNL after a fight broke on board between an Australian national and two passengers. Flight attendants restrained him, and the flight crew made the decision to divert, where the assailant was taken into custody by the FBI. Fiji Airways'  A330-343, DQ-FJW (msn 1692), was the airliner involved.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now article.

Centurion Air Cargo's N987AR

A new visitor on the Kona ramp today, is Centurion Air Cargo's [WE/CWC] MD-11F, N987AR (c/n 48427, l/n 471) on a flight from MIA (via LAX). It's flying for Sky Lease Cargo [GG/KYE] as KYE4855.

Lanmei Airlines' XU-963

Lanmei Airlines [LQ/MRK] (Kampuchea) is taking delivery of XU-963 (msn 3463) today. This A319-132 is delivering from TAP [Tapachula, México] to PHN [Ponchentong International Airport, Phnom Penh, Kampuchea], via HNL, GUM, and CAN as MRK3463.

Air China's B-1221

Air China is taking delivery of B-1221 (c/n 60984, l/n 6915) this morning. This 737 MAX 8 is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA48, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-1288

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of their first 737 MAX 8, this morning. B-1288 (c/n 42956, l/n 6942) is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8199, and will overnight at HNL.

According to this Boeing Mediaroom press release, B-1288 is also Xiamen Air's 200th 737 delivered to the airline.

NASA's N992NA

NASA's Gulfstream III, N992NA (msn 309), arrived at HNL today. It's mission will be to overfly the the volcanic activity on the east side of Hawai‘i Island. The G-III is equipped with NASA's UAVSAR (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) pod mounted on the underside.

FlightRadar24.com has the flight track over the Puna side of Hawai‘i Island.

Japan TransOcean Air's JA08RK

Japan TransOcean Air is taking delivery of JA08RK (c/n 61481, l/n 6948) this afternoon. This 737-8Q3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as JTA9851, and will overnight at HNL.