Hawaiian Airlines Launches New Los Angeles-Maui-Kona Service

HONOLULU, March 11, 1999 - Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (ASE and PCX: HA) will inaugurate daily nonstop widebody service between Los Angeles and Maui on Friday, March 12, with continuing direct service three days a week to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, beginning on Saturday, March 13.

Hawaiian's inaugural flight to Maui will be launched with a traditional Hawaiian blessing and dedication ceremony at Los Angeles International Airport Terminal 2 Gate 22 at 8:15 a.m. The flight will depart at 9:50 a.m.

Passengers boarding the first flight will be treated to live Hawaiian music and hula at the departure gate and will be presented with leis and gifts of the islands. Among the dignitaries on the inaugural flight will be Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.

Hawaiian's flights from Los Angeles to Hawaii have already attracted attention among Hollywood TV, film and recording stars. Expected to be aboard the inaugural Maui flight are: Garcelle Beauvais of the "Jamie Foxx Show;" Josh Brolin of "All The Rage" and "Mod Squad;" Minnie Driver of "Circle of Friends" and "Good Will Hunting;" Johnny Galecki of "Roseanne" and "Opposite of Sex;" and singer Lisa Loeb.

Also flying off to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines will be: Ryan Reynolds and Traylor Howard of "Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place;" Jose Salano of "Baywatch;" and Dweezil Zappa of USA Network's "Happy Hour."

Another departure ceremony at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, also at Gate 22, will mark the beginning of Hawaiian's direct service from Los Angeles to Kona on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Among the dignitaries on Saturday's inaugural flight to Kona will be Hawaii County Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro.

Paul J. Casey, Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive officer, said the new Los Angeles-Maui-Kona-Los Angeles schedule expands Hawaiian's role as a leading carrier of visitors to Hawaii.

"Adding these new routes to our three daily flights from Los Angeles to Honolulu makes Hawaiian a major player in the Southern California market, which is Hawaii's single biggest source of visitors," Casey said. "With daily service from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Hawaiian Airlines now offers 106 nonstop flights a week between the mainland and Hawaii. The new Los Angeles-Maui-Kona flights add more than 2,100 seats in nonstop service to Maui, and the only nonstop widebody service from Kona to Los Angeles."

The new service will also add about 100,000 pounds of daily cargo carrying capacity between the West Coast and Hawaii. The DC-10-30 aircraft that Hawaiian will operate on the route has 14 "LD-3" container positions and bulk space available for a total carrying capacity of about 50,000 pounds in each direction.

Hawaiian's new Flight #5 will depart Los Angeles daily at 9:50 a.m. and arrive at Kahului, Maui, at 1:25 p.m. Four days a week, returning Flight #6 will depart Kahului at 2:40 p.m. and arrive at Los Angeles at 9:45 p.m. Three days a week, Flight #5 will continue from Kahului to Kona at 2:40 p.m., arriving at 3:10 p.m. On the same days, returning Flight #6 will depart Kona daily at 4:00 p.m. and arrive at Los Angeles at 10:55 p.m.

Now in its 70th year, Hawaiian Airlines is Hawaii's first and largest airline and the nation's 12th largest carrier. Hawaiian operates a fleet of 12 McDonnell Douglas widebody DC-10 aircraft between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. Its DC-10 South Pacific service links Honolulu to American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian's fleet of 15 McDonnell Douglas DC-9s provides award-winning service on more than 150 flights a day among the islands of Hawaii.