Hawaiian Airlines launched its new service to Sapporo, Japan, today.

Hawaiian’s inaugural flight to the city on the northern island of Hokkaido left Honolulu today. The airline plans to fly to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport three times a week.

Sapporo is Hawaiian’s fourth destination in Japan.

Hawaiian entered the Japanese market with a flight to Tokyo in November 2010. It later started flights to Osaka and Fukuoka.

Passengers on the inaugural flight got to see a pre-flight ceremony featuring Hawaiian music and hula, a Japanese cultural performance and a traditional Hawaiian blessing. They also received fresh flower lei.