The Rev. Richard Kamanu, pastor of the Kapa’a First Hawaiian Church performed a traditional Hawaiian blessing that marked the start of assembly of Hawaiian Airlines’ first Boeing 717-200 on the mainland recently. His blessing was just a part of the
The Rev. Richard Kamanu, pastor of the Kapa’a First Hawaiian Church performed a traditional Hawaiian blessing that marked the start of assembly of Hawaiian Airlines’ first Boeing 717-200 on the mainland recently.
His blessing was just a part of the Hawaiian culture the airline took to the Long Beach, Calif.
site where Boeing is building what will eventually be the airline’s new inter-island fleet.
The sounds of a chant in the Hawaiian language and a performance of ancient hula filled the Boeing 717 production facility.
The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) began assembly of airplane number 5050 — the 50th in the 717-200 series — scheduled to be delivered to Hawaiian in February of next year.
In an agreement valued at $430 million, Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (AMEX and PCX: HA) will acquire 13 new Boeing 717s in 2001, with rights to purchase up to seven more.
“Boeing and Hawaiian Airlines are taking a giant step into the future by introducing 21st-century aviation technology to the Hawaiian islands,” said Jim Phillips, vice president and general manager of the Long Beach Division of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group.
“The 717s we’re assembling here are the best short-range passenger airplanes in the world, and they are perfect for Hawai’i.” The Boeing 717 is built specifically for short-range, high-frequency airline routes. It makes effective use of the latest technology, resulting in low operating costs. The new twinjet produces the lowest noise and emissions in its class, provides big-jet passenger comfort, and offers breakthrough simplicity in design.
“We celebrate this momentous occasion by harking back to the proud traditions of Hawai’i’s ancient arts of hula and chant,” said Paul J. Casey, president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines.
“At the same time, we look forward to providing Hawai’i’s residents and its tourism industry with quieter, more comfortable and more reliable airplanes that will set the standard for inter-island service well into the future,” he said.
Hawaiian Airlines employee Tony Lenchanko offered a Hawaiian chant, a work composed especially for the occasion, describing the beauty of native Hawaiian birds and the start of a new endeavor.
Adorned in native leaves and ferns, eight dancers from Halau Na Mamo O Pu’uanahulu performed in the ancient, or kahiko, tradition of hula. The hula troupe, under the direction of award-winning hula master Sonny Ching, won top honors at this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawai’i , and went on to present a three-hour performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Founded as Inter-Island Airways, Hawaiian Airlines launched the first commercial airline service in Hawai’i on Nov. 11, 1929, and over the years has relied heavily on DC-3s and DC-9s and DC-10s.
From its Honolulu hub, Hawaiian serves the islands of Maui, Kaua’i, Lana’i, Moloka’i and the Big Island of Hawai’i. As the nation’s 12th largest carrier, Hawaiian operates a fleet of 14 DC-10s on daily flights between Hawai’i and the U.S.
mainland.
Its DC-10 South Pacific service links Honolulu with American Samoa and Tahiti.
Hawaiian Airlines has earned numerous international awards for service. Most recently it was rated third in Travel and Leisure magazine’s 2000 rankings of the Top 10 Domestic Airlines.
In Long Beach, where 717s are assembled, Boeing is developing a unique continuously moving line for producing the airplane. The line will improve efficiency and quality, while shortening the time it takes to deliver the twinjet to customers such as Hawaiian Airlines.
