United to start daily service to Bay Area

PO’IPU — Two weeks ago, United Airlines celebrated its second anniversary back on Kaua’i. Monday night, it announced daily nonstop service between Lihu’e and San Francisco beginning Tuesday, Oct. 31.

United currently has daily nonstop service between Lihu’e and Los Angeles, and twice-weekly nonstop service (each Saturday and Sunday) between San Francisco and Lihu’e.

The announcement was made public when Tony S. Vericella, president and chief executive officer of the Hawai’i Visitors & Convention Bureau, called to the stage Mayor Maryanne Kusaka and Jeff Tarpey, United’s Lihu’e manager.

Vericella, at the Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort & Spa for the quarterly membership meeting of the Kaua’i Chamber of Commerce, said the news is important, and impacts the entire state.

Tarpey, who is also chair of the board of directors of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau, said the community has welcomed United warmly back to the island.

Kusaka, who said she was “thrilled” with the announcement, joked that the more frequent flights might make it easier for her to fly from Kaua’i on United.

Now, the flights are so “packed” she can’t get on, she said.

The Mayor mentioned with obvious pride the positive signs of a rebounding island economy, and said it is a result of the aloha spirit shown by workers on the island.

“Being nice works,” whether you’re the mayor, someone who carries the bags of others, or a worker passing out brochures,” Kusaka said.

Vericella, who during his presentation commented on how no other mayor in the state gets out on the road to promote the virtues of her home island like Kusaka, also said Tarpey and Kusaka worked tirelessly to convince United to begin the daily service.

Finally, some equipment has been freed up for the San Francisco service, Kusaka said.