HANAMA‘ULU — One year ago, Leolynne Escalona was working at the Lihu‘e Airport. In charge of flight attendants, she served on the last crew to process and greet the final flights of Aloha Airlines. The state’s No. 2 carrier shut
HANAMA‘ULU — One year ago, Leolynne Escalona was working at the Lihu‘e Airport.
In charge of flight attendants, she served on the last crew to process and greet the final flights of Aloha Airlines. The state’s No. 2 carrier shut down at the close of business on March 31, 2008.
Tuesday, Escalona reunited with some of her former co-workers at an informal luncheon at Hanama‘ulu Cafe where memories and updates to lives were exchanged.
“She’s the only one that needs to work,” Jeff Albao, one of the senior ramp people said. “The rest of us can retire.”
Albao said combined, the informal group at Hanama‘ulu Cafe has 342 years of experience with the long-time inter-island airline.
Escalona, who currently works with the county and part-time with Aloha Air Cargo, said as far as she knows the handful of flight attendants that were part of the Kaua‘i crew on the final day of operations all have found jobs elsewhere.
Albao scratched his head and gave thought to people who shared the Lihu‘e station on the company’s last day.
“As far as I know, I think everybody has a job somewhere,” Albao said. “But we’re going to have a bigger get-together Saturday and then we’ll know because there will be more people.”
William Morita was the most experienced with 41 years of service, remembering how the Aloha Airlines DC-3 planes were the only ones that you had to climb up to get to your seat.
Escalona added that Mary Thronas was also a flight attendant at one time in the legacy of Aloha Airlines.
“We had her picture up for the longest time,” Escalona said. “She was featured in one of the magazines.”
Jerry Kubota, at 35 years of service, noted that in the days of the DC-3, the flight attendants used to sing and dance for the passengers. Albao added that they also distributed Chiclets gum and cigarettes.
Joining Morita and Kubota, Escalona put in 24 years of service, Alabo had 37, Don Arrojo had 32 years, Bernardo Gerardo had 35 years, Harry Adachi marked 32 years, Stan Tamagawa had 37 years, Alan Kawado at 34 years and George Sakamoto left with 35 years of service.
