HONOLULU – March 29, 2010 - With the goal of showcasing the music of Hawaii to a broader audience, Hawaiian Airlines is lending its resources and marketing expertise to support the Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival as presenting sponsor of the 2010 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
The inaugural four-day festival, May 27-30, will celebrate Hawaiian music and its artists, with special events, concert performances and musical workshops held throughout Waikiki, culminating with the annual awards show honoring the best of the best in Hawaiian music for 2010.
Hawaiian is joining the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts and Hawaii Tourism Authority in the effort to create a new festival celebrating the legacy of Hawaiian music and its growth in contemporary Hawaii. The airline’s sponsorship is designed to help elevate the awards show and bring increased awareness to the essential role of Hawaii’s music in the cultural experience of the islands.
Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, commented, “Hawaiian Airlines has a long history of promoting the music of our islands. We are proud and excited to be a part of this important new festival and presenting the all-new Na Hoku Hanohano Awards program.”
In addition to providing financial support and air transportation to the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, Hawaiian will promote the music festival and awards show through its communication channels reaching millions of HawaiianMiles members both locally and outside of Hawaii.
The 2010 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards takes place Sunday, May 30, starting at 7:30 p.m., at the Hawaii Convention Center, and will be televised live and in prime time – and in high definition for the first time – by KGMB9.
“To say the stars are aligning on May 30 at this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano Awards is an understatement, with this partnership between 4 Miles LLC, Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, Hawaiian Airlines, and KGMB9,” said John Aeto, chair of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. “That night will feature our state’s biggest and brightest stars, in high definition on Hawaii’s number one TV station, sponsored by Hawaii’s best and favorite airline. Mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines, KGMB9 and 4 miles for making this special event happen.”
The Na Hoku O Hawaii Music Festival is a production of 4 Miles LLC in partnership with the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts and its major sponsors, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaiian Airlines, as well as numerous other sponsors. For more information about the festival’s events, purchasing of tickets, and travel packages, please visit www.nahokufestival.com.
For more information about the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, please visit www.nahokuhanohano.org.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian is the nation’s highest-ranked carrier for service quality and performance in 2008 in the 19
th annual Airline Quality Rating study. Hawaiian has also led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past six years (2004-2009) and has been an industry leader in fewest misplaced bags during that same period (#1 from 2005-2007, #2 in 2008 and 2009) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the top domestic airline serving Hawaii.
Now in its 81st year of continuous service for Hawaii, Hawaiian is the state’s biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawaii from the state’s primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides more than 150 daily jet flights between the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at www.HawaiianAirlines.com.