HONOLULU
– May 21, 2014 – Hawaiian Airlines has announced the
promotion of Debbie Nakanelua-Richards to the position of director - community
relations. In this new position, she will continue to spearhead the strategic
community relations efforts of Hawai‘i’s largest and longest-serving airline,
ensuring that its community presence in its key markets is maintained and in
line with the company’s mission and values. She reports to Ann Botticelli,
senior vice president - corporate communications & public affairs.
“In her 36 years at Hawaiian
Airlines, Debbie has proven to be an invaluable leader who is ingrained in our
community and understands the airline’s community relations goals inside and
out,” said Botticelli. “This promotion recognizes both her work and the value
our company places on our community partnerships here in Hawai’i and all of the
communities we serve.”
Nakanelua-Richards
joined Hawaiian Airlines in 1978 as a member of its promotions team and has
held numerous cross-departmental roles including reservations, sales,
marketing, advertising and promotions, and government relations, before overseeing
community relations efforts for the airline. Under her leadership, the airline
has made many community developments including the creation of the Hawaiian
Airlines Team Kōkua, which oversees the airline’s community giving, including the
deployment of more than 1,000 employee volunteers and their family members
every year to assist and support communities throughout the Islands.
As
a Miss Hawai‘i 1984 title holder, Nakanelua-Richards has served as Hawai‘i’s
ambassador of aloha, representing Hawai‘i and sharing its culture and values
with the world. She currently serves on the board of directors of numerous
native Hawaiian organizations and community groups including Hawaiian Civic
Club of Honolulu, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Hawaiian Cultural Program
Advisory Council (HCPAC), Miss Hawai‘i Organization and Friends of Honolulu
City Lights. In addition, she serves as co-chair of Aloha Festivals, Hawai‘i’s
oldest and largest cultural celebration that attracts more than 100,000 people
to its month-long series of events in September.
Born
and raised in Honolulu, Nakanelua-Richards graduated from Maryknoll School and
studied at Chaminade University.
In
2004, Nakanelua-Richards’ peers voted her as Hawaiian Airlines’ Employee of the
Year. In addition, she was recently honored by the Hawaiian Civic Club of
Honolulu at its Holoku Ball 2014 for her contributions to the native Hawaiian
community.
About Hawaiian
Airlines
Hawaiian®
has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 10 years
(2004-2013) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer
surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the
highest of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now
in its 85th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and
longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air
service from its primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers
non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other
airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand,
American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights
daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 200 daily flights
system-wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page.