History
On November 11, 1929, Inter-Island Airways, as Hawaiian Airlines was known then, began commercial flights between the islands with two Sikorsky S-38 aircraft, which carried eight passengers and two crewmembers, and had a top cruising speed of 110 miles per hour. The inaugural flight from Honolulu to Hilo, with a stop on Maui, took more than three hours.
On October 1, 1941 the company officially changed its name to Hawaiian Airlines to pave the way for trans-Pacific operations.
Exceptional Service Record
While Hawaiian Airlines has suffered through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization following the events of September 2001, its service to its passengers has remained high. Hawaiian has been rated as the number one on-time airline for the past eleven months with an amazing 96.7 percent on-time performance through September 2004. The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report also shows that Hawaiian has the best across-the-board scores in customer service, with the fewest flight cancellations and high marks in the areas of baggage handling, over-sales, and consumer complaints.
Year-to-date, Hawaiian's flights have arrived on schedule 93.7 percent of the time, an aggregated nine-month average that is far better than any single month by any other carrier. Following Hawaiian, rounding out the top five airlines for on-time service in September were SkyWest Airlines, 88.8 percent; ATA Airlines, 88.6 percent; United Airlines, 87.9 percent; and ExpressJet Airlines, 86.3 percent. The DOT reported only one complaint out of the 416,844 passengers Hawaiian served systemwide in September.
Hawaiian Airlines is moving forward to exit bankruptcy successfully.
In-Flight Entertainment Honored
With its onboard showcase of all that is magical about Hawaii and its people, Hawaiian Airlines has earned international honors for excellence in in-flight entertainment. The World Airline Entertainment Association announced the winners of the 16th Annual Avion Awards on September 24 in Seattle. Forty-four airlines worldwide submitted 212 entries in 11 categories of in-flight entertainment involving video, audio, and print. Hawaiian was named First Runner-Up in the category of "Best Video Magazine Style Program" behind Air France, and Second Runner-Up for "Best In-flight Audio Entertainment" behind winner American Airlines and Thai Airways.
75th Anniversary Celebration
In honor of its 75th anniversary, Hawaiian Airlines has teamed up with Hilo Hattie to offer a limited edition, commemorative music CD featuring timeless classics from some of Hawaii’s greatest performers. The music collection showcases 14 island favorites performed by Hawaii legends:
- Kawaipunahele - Keali‘i Reichel
- Kawika - The Sunday Manoa
- Pua ‘Ahihi - The Kahauanu Lake Trio
- Ho‘onanea - Lena Machado
- Nohili E - The Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau (featuring Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole)
- ‘Alika - Genoa Keawe
- Ku‘u Home O Kahalu‘u - Olomana
- I Kona - Na Leo Kane O Punahele (featuring Ledward Ka‘apana)
- Waimanalo Blues - Country Comfort
- Hi‘ilawe - Gabby Pahinui
- Waikiki - Andy Cummings
- Ahe Lau Makani - Eddie Kamae and The Sons of Hawaii
- Kalama‘ula - George Helm
- Aloha ‘Oe - Alfred Apaka
The accompanying 12-page CD jacket highlights the history behind Hawaii’s music, and key moments during Hawaiian’s first 75 years.
Committment to the Hawaiian Community
Also as part of the marking of their 75th anniversary, Hawaiian Airlines has committed major funding to Aloha Festivals, the nation’s only statewide cultural festival, as a way to thank the people of Hawaii for their support throughout the years.
Hawaiian Airlines has signed up as Statewide Presenting Sponsor of Aloha Festivals, a landmark Hawaii tradition for almost 60 years, from 2004 through 2006. Hawaiian will provide more than half a million dollars in support over three years, mainly in cash.
Over the years Hawaiian Airlines has made a similar financial commitments to other Hawaiian cultural icons such as the annual King Kamehameha Celebration, the Merrie Monarch Festival, the Honolulu Symphony and many other organizations that help form the cultural fabric of Hawaii.
A Relaxing, Pleasurable Experience
Visitors to Hawaii can rest assured that when they choose Hawaiian Airlines they will receive top-rated service and award-winning in-flight entertainment, both of which will make their flights to and from Hawaii a relaxing and pleasurable experience.
