'Ohana by Hawaiian Launches Inaugural Flight and Says Aloha to Moloka'i

HONOLULU - March 11, 2014 - 'Ohana by Hawaiian, Hawai'i's newest interisland operation, today launched its inaugural turboprop service to Moloka'i, the first of two islands it will return to the Hawaiian Airlines network. Twice daily service between Honolulu and Lana'i will launch on March 18.

The arrival of Flight HA614 into Moloka'i Airport was followed by a cultural exchange featuring an oli kahea (chant of admission) presented by Hawaiian Airlines and 'Ohana by Hawaiian staff asking for permission to enter the community, and an oli aloha (chant of welcome) from the Hawaiian language immersion students of Punana Leo o Moloka'i and 'O Hina i ka Malama, and the seniors of Alu Like, Inc.'s Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna. Remarks were given by renowned Hilo-based artist Sig Zane, who designed the livery of the aircraft; Tim Komberec, president and chief executive officer of Empire Airlines; Moloka'i Senator Kalani English, chair of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs; Stacy Crivello, Maui County council member; Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive officer; and Hadden Watt, 'Ohana by Hawaiian managing director.

The festivities also included a lu'au with nearly 500 Moloka'i residents in attendance, live Hawaiian entertainment, tours of the aircraft and a blessing prior to the departure of Flight HA615 to Honolulu.

"Today marks a very special day for us as Hawaiian Airlines returns to the island of Moloka'i, in partnership with Empire Airlines, to serve its residents and community members with our new turboprop service," said Mark Dunkerley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian. "With the launch of 'Ohana by Hawaiian, our island communities are now connected with a new, safe and reliable service that our kama'aina and their 'ohana can enjoy."

Beginning today, 'Ohana by Hawaiian will offer three daily flights between Honolulu and Moloka'i using a 48-seat ATR-42 aircraft. The daily flights, operated by Empire Airlines, are scheduled below:

The livery of 'Ohana by Hawaiian's aircraft was created by Sig Zane and his son Kuha'o, who both used Hawaiian Airlines' interisland route map as inspiration for the design, weaving three kapa patterns: piko (navel), representing ancestry and progeny; manu (bird), representing both a bird in flight and the prow of a canoe, the traditional form of migration; and kalo (taro), representing family. The ATR-42 aircraft are named after a significant wind on each of the islands that 'Ohana by Hawaiian will serve: Holo Kaomi of Paoma'i, Lana'i; Kaiaulu of Wai'anae, O'ahu; and Hikipua of Halawa, Moloka'i.

The 'Ohana by Hawaiian operation creates more than 100 new Hawai'i-based jobs in various areas of air transportation including pilots, flight attendants and mechanics as well as ground-handling and customer service positions. Hawaiian Airlines handles reservations and sales for the new operation, allowing the interisland flights to integrate seamlessly into Hawaiian Airlines' well-established route network. The new service operates out of gates 49 and 50 at Honolulu International Airport.

Hawaiian Airlines last flew to Moloka'i and Lana'i in 2004, operating on a Boeing 717-200 aircraft.  

Ohana by Hawaiian could receive FAA certification in January

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has resumed the certification process of Ohana by Hawaiian, a process that could be complete by as early as January 2014.

The regulator notified Ohana’s owner Hawaiian Airlines and operator Empire Airlines that it could begin the final phase of certification, which includes flight tests and proving runs, earlier in December, says Empire president and chief executive Timothy Komberec.

“We are preparing the airplanes to be ferried to Hawaii in the next few days where we will commence our inter-island proving flights,” he says. Flight tests are expected to take up to two weeks.

Under this timeline, FAA certification of Ohana could be complete in January.

Certification of the regional carrier was delayed by the US federal government’s sequester budget cuts that went into effect in March. This hindered the FAA’s ability to send staff to Hawaii to oversee the flight test programme.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian had previously planned for Ohana to begin service in July or August.

“We’re really pleased that the FAA, in tough budget times, has come up with solution to the problem,” says Komberec.

Hawaiian will decide when Ohana will begin service, he says.

Commercial service will begin within a month of Ohana receiving FAA certification, says Hawaiian. The airline does not have a timeline for completing the certification process, it says.

“We will be ready when they are,” says Komberec.

Ohana will initially operate three 48-seat ATR 42-500 aircraft between Honolulu International airport and both Lana’i and Moloka’i. Future service is planned to West Maui, as well as during off-peak times between Hilo, Kahalui (Maui), Kona and Lihue.

Hawaiian first disclosed plans to launch a regional carrier, which was later named Ohana, in July 2012.