HOOLEHUA, Molokai » It had been 10 years between landings, but Hawaiian Airlines finally returned to Molokai on Tuesday.
And it couldn’t have come soon enough for the 7,500 residents of this island, who had been starving for reliable service and a larger carrier capable of transporting the kupuna to Oahu for health care needs.
About 500 adults and schoolchildren lined the fence along the tarmac or waited under a large tent in the adjacent grass field to watch ‘Ohana by Hawaiian touch down at about 10:30 a.m. after an approximate 20-minute ceremonial flight from Honolulu Airport. They waved and offered a welcoming chant as airline and government officials, performers and media walked down the stairs of the 48-seat, twin-engine ATR 42 turboprop aircraft.
"It’s extremely moving," Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said. "We’ve always recognized the importance of Molokai as a community to us, and indeed we have many employees from Molokai. To come back to Molokai is a real sense of coming home, and the sense of ohana here on the island of Molokai is one of its defining characteristics."
The welcoming celebration was in stark contrast to the response that American Safari Cruises received in late 2011 and early 2012 when it was turned away from Kaunakakai Harbor several times by Molokai protesters who were concerned about the impact of cruise tourism on the island.
Many Molokai residents said they were glad to have an additional carrier, which they hope will improve service.
Snookie Maikui, who came to the island in the 1960s for commercial fishing, said flight delays had tried the patience of Molokai residents who needed more reliable transportation.
"I love it (that Hawaiian has returned to Molokai) because Island Air wasn’t treating our people justly," she said. "So if ‘Ohana can do a better job, fabulous, because we do need a big transport for our elderly and disabled who cannot get on the small plane."
Island Air CEO Paul Casey called the carrier’s fleet "unreliable" in an email to employees in September after a weekend of late service, including one seven-hour delay. Island Air, which flies a 64-seat ATR 72, is ceasing service to Molokai after April 1.
‘Ohana will compete on Molokai with Mokulele Airlines and Makani Kai Air, which both fly nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravans.
‘Ohana, operated by Idaho-based Empire Airlines under a contract with Hawaiian, fills the only void in the parent company’s interisland network. ‘Ohana plans three-times-a-day service to Molokai, beginning Wednesday. ‘Ohana also will offer twice-daily, round-trip service between Lanai and Honolulu starting Tuesday. Dunkerley said Hawaiian plans to expand to Kapalua in West Maui once it can clear regulatory hurdles because of the short runway there.
Hawaiian hadn’t been back to Molokai or Lanai since 2004.
Auntie Kauila Poaha Reyes, who turns 88 next month and is the oldest kumu hula on Molokai, said airlines come and go, and she was happy to see Hawaiian return.
Glenn Davis, a yardman for the Molokai Occupational Center, said Molokai has suffered because other airlines are always late. But that trend should improve since Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in punctuality for the last 10 years in a row.
State Sen. J. Kalani English, who represents Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and East Maui, said, "We need an airline like this to service the small airports in the more remote parts of our state."
Teri Waros, owner of Kalele Bookstore & Divine Expressions in Hoolehua, said ‘Ohana will bring in visitors to Molokai as well as connect its residents to other family and other airlines.
"You see many of our kupuna here today, some of them in wheelchairs and with walkers," Waros said. "They couldn’t board the smaller airplanes. They may need to get to their doctors’ appointments in Honolulu. Our kids need to get on an airplane to get to sporting competitions. So our whole lifestyle depends on safe, reliable interisland air transportation. This is vital to us."
