'Ohana by Hawaiian Expands its Network to Include Maui

HONOLULU, June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — ‘Ohana by Hawaiian today announced it will be expanding its route network for the summer to include Maui, connecting more islands and offering kama’āina (residents) and visitors more options and more flexibility for neighbor island travel.

’Ohana by Hawaiian today announced it will be expanding its route network for the summer to include Maui, connecting more islands and offering residents and visitors more options and more flexibility for neighbor island travel.

Beginning this July, Hawai’i’s newest turboprop operation will offer daily flights between Kahului, Maui (OGG) and Moloka’i (MKK); Kahului and Kona, Hawai’i Island (KOA); and Kahului and Hilo (ITO). Also announced is an additional flight between Honolulu and Moloka’i which will also operate for the summer period, increasing its existing service from thrice daily to four times daily between the two islands.

“Since launching ‘Ohana by Hawaiian earlier this year, we’ve received overwhelmingly positive response and robust demand for more service between the islands to connect our communities,” said Hadden Watt, ’Ohana by Hawaiian managing director. “We are excited to answer the call for more service from our customers, offering them more convenience and flexibility when planning their neighbor island travel.”

The new flights, to be operated by Empire Airlines.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian operates its flights using 48-seat ATR-42 aircraft with a special livery designed by Hilo-based artist Sig Zane and his son Kūha’o, who both used Hawaiian Airlines’ interisland route map as inspiration for the design, weaving three kapa patterns: piko (navel), representing ancestry and progeny; manu (bird), representing both a bird in flight and the prow of a canoe, the traditional form of migration; and kalo (taro), representing family. The ATR-42 aircraft are named after a significant wind on each of the islands that ‘Ohana by Hawaiian will serve: Holo Kaomi of Paomaʻi, Lāna’i; Kaiāulu of Wai’anae, O’ahu; and Hikipua of Hālawa, Moloka’i.