Jetsettersblog

Hawaiian Airlines, the pioneering carrier of the Pacific and one of the nation’s longest-serving carriers, celebrated its 80th anniversary of continuous service for Hawaii.

Hawaiian’s airport stations statewide were decorated to recognize the historic occasion, and arriving passengers at Honolulu International Airport were greeted with fresh flower lei and serenaded with live Hawaiian music.
Hawaiian’s 80th anniversary year has been devoted to giving back to the community.

In May, the company presented a $150,000 cash and in-kind donation to the Bishop Museum that includes the transporting of museum curators and educators to schools and communities on the Neighbor Islands through 2011 in support of its Holoholo Science educational outreach program.

During summer and fall, Hawaiian partnered with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii on a series of projects to help restore native Hawaiian habitats on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

In addition, Hawaiian is promoting the message of environmental conservation through its in-flight video and other communication channels, and has provided a $10,000 gift in support of the conservancy’s programs.

Other 80th anniversary year highlights for Hawaiian included the restoration and returning to Hawaii of the company’s original airplane, a 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, and introducing new employee uniforms with a contemporary print design linked to Hawaii’s culture and history.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, Hawaiian hosted its 80th anniversary employee celebration at Bishop Museum, a day-long festival attended by more than 4,000 employees and family members featuring games and activities, free food and a concert by Raiatea Helm, The Makaha Sons, and Cecilio & Kapono.

On Nov. 11, 1929, Inter-Island Airways (the company changed its name to Hawaiian Airlines in 1941) launched Hawaii’s first-ever scheduled inter-island air service using two Sikorsky S-38 amphibian propeller planes that carried eight passengers and two crewmembers, and had a top cruising speed of 110 mph. Today, Hawaiian has a fleet of 33 aircraft — 15 Boeing 717-200 jets for inter-island flights in Hawaii and 18 Boeing 767-300 wide-body jets for trans-Pacific and international service. Hawaiian is on pace to carry more than 8 million passengers in 2009 — its largest total ever.