Hawaiian Airlines on August 13, 2018 celebrated the launch of all-cargo service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Līhu‘e Airport (LIH) and Hilo International Airport (ITO) by transporting construction and household supplies to support disaster relief projects in Hanalei on Kaua‘i and Puna on the Island of Hawai‘i.

Hawaiian’s new ATR 72 aircraft was loaded with 1,020 pounds of construction tools bound for Līhu‘e to be used by Kaua‘i 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 Hawai‘i to shelter families affected by the ongoing Kīlauea 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.

The pictured N810HC below made the first revenue flight.

Above Copyright Photo (all others by Hawaiian): Ohana by Hawaiian-Empire Airlines ATR 72-212 (F) N810HC (msn 423) HNL (Ivan K. Nishimura). Image: 943082.

The Līhu‘e shipment expands Hawaiian’s partnership with Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity, established with an initial $25,000 cash donation after torrential storms displaced residents on Kaua‘i earlier this spring. The new partnership with HOPE Services Hawai‘i 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 Kīlauea’s recent eruption.

New Cargo Operation

Hawaiian’s new cargo fleet, consisting of two ATR 72 aircraft (N810HC and N811HC) 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 (OGG) and Kona International Airport (KOA) with the arrival of two more aircraft expected to be in service next year.

Hawaiian’s ATR 72s can also accommodate up to seven LD-3 containers, the same type carried by aircraft flying Hawaiian’s transpacific routes, allowing the airline to transfer cargo more seamlessly between the islands and destinations in Asia, the South Pacific and the U.S. mainland.

The cargo fleet is operated by Empire Airlines, which also operates ‘Ohana by Hawaiian’s four 48-passenger ATR 42 fleet serving the communities of Kapalua (Maui), Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. 

The new ATR 72 service complements bulk freight and containerized shipping Hawaiian provides on over 70 scheduled transpacific daily flights with Airbus A330 and A321neo, and Boeing 767 aircraft. The airline’s Boeing 717 fleet, which flies approximately 170 daily flights between the Neighbor Islands, will continue to provide express shipments throughout the state.

Hawaiian Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to obtain a cargo certificate on March 20, 1942, when it converted amphibious Sikorsky S-38s into cargo aircraft to transport beef from Moloka‘i to Honolulu, while using S-43s as freighters servicing other islands. Hawaiian has provided transpacific shipping for over 75 years.

Photos: Hawaiian Airlines.

Ohana aircraft slide show:

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