HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines on Monday celebrated the launch of all-cargo service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Lihue Airport and Hilo International Airport by transporting construction and household supplies to support disaster relief projects in Hanalei on Kauai and Puna on the Island of Hawaii.
Hawaiian’s new ATR-72 aircraft was loaded with 1,020 pounds of construction tools bound for Lihue to be used by Kauai Habitat for Humanity in repairing homes for low-income residents affected by last April’s devastating storms.
A second flight to Hilo carried 1,815 pounds of furniture for 20 micro-houses built by HOPE Services Hawaii to shelter families affected by the ongoing Kilauea volcano lava flow. The items were packed by employees at City Mill, which augmented Hawaiian’s list with its own donations. Also aboard the flight from Honolulu to Hilo were 23 boxes of school supplies collected by Hawaiian employees and being delivered to Pāhoa Elementary.
“We are honored to utilize our new cargo operation to help support our neighbors in need,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “We couldn’t think of a better partner in this effort than City Mill, another long-time kama’aina company.”
The Lihue shipment expands Hawaiian’s partnership with Kauai Habitat for Humanity, established with an initial $25,000 cash donation after torrential storms displaced residents on Kauai earlier this spring.
The new partnership with HOPE Services Hawaii builds on Hawaiian’s earlier contribution of $50,000 to support the Salvation Army’s emergency shelters set up in Puna in the wake of Kilauea’s recent eruption.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of Hawaiian Airlines and City Mill,” said Stephen Spears, executive director of Kauai Habitat for Humanity. “We provided a long ‘wish list’ of materials, from face masks to jig saws, and we can’t wait to unpack the boxes and continue making critical home repairs during the long road to recovery islandwide.”
“We appreciate the support of Hawaiian Airlines and City Mill in their donation of supplies that will be used to furnish the temporary emergency micro-shelters in the Puna community,” said Brandee Menino, chief executive offer of HOPE Services Hawaii.
Hawaiian’s new cargo fleet, consisting of two ATR-72 aircraft in an all-cargo configuration, offers customers efficient shipment of goods throughout the state with well-timed connections from the airline’s mainland and international networks. The ‘Ohana by Hawaiian freighter operation will also include flights between HNL and Kahului Airport and Kona International Airport with the arrival of two more aircraft expected to be in service next year.
