Travel Pono with Hawaiian Airlines — A Sustainable Journey Through Hawaii
An interview with Debbie Nakanelua‒Richards, Director of Community and Cultural Relations at Hawaiian Airlines
Interviewer Pyo Youngso
Interviewee Debbie Nakanelua-Richards
In collaboration with Hawaiian Airlines
What does sustainable travel mean to Hawaiian Airlines?
Hawaiian Airlines encourages ‘Travel Pono,’ or responsible travel. It refers to the responsibility we all share to keep Hawaii as beautiful as it has always been. When you travel with consideration, you not only enjoy a fulfilling connection with Hawaii’s local culture, its communities and its natural world, but also help protect and preserve natural resources for the next generation. One of our important roles is to convey the true meaning of ‘Travel Pono’ to our guests. Beyond that, we help travelers take part in it through carbon offset programs, in-flight videos, sustainable in-flight service and community giving programs.
Which of Hawaiian Airlines’ sustainable initiatives has drawn the strongest response?
In September 2021, Hawaiian Airlines released its ‘Travel Pono’ in-flight video, which promotes sustainable ways to travel. The video runs about five minutes and features five Hawaiian Airlines employees who introduce Hawaii’s natural resources, ways to protect endangered species, and tips for hiking, ocean activities and visiting cultural sites. Drawing on input from members of Hawaii’s local communities, its main goal is to preserve the islands’ natural resources and local culture while effectively sharing information that makes travel on each island more special. I think the video carries great influence because the message comes straight from our employees, who are themselves members of the local community.
Are there any services designed specifically for Korean passengers?
We continually strive to offer tailored services to our international passengers. For the convenience of Korean travelers, every flight has a Korean-speaking flight attendant. We also offer a range of in-flight services, including Pan-Asian-style meals designed with Korean tastes in mind and more than 10 of the latest Korean films and dramas.
Tell us about Hawaiian Airlines’ efforts to protect local communities and culture.
Having grown for 93 years as Hawaii’s flagship airline, Hawaiian Airlines actively supports local artists, chefs, athletes and small businesses through a variety of sponsorships and partnerships. Last year, we supported 76 Hawaii-based organizations and donated more than $300,000 to local nonprofits. Recently, we also gave $100,000 to partner organizations to support sustainable agriculture and traditional local farming methods. Of all our efforts to protect the community and its culture, what we are proudest of is our employees’ passion for giving back. Every year, Hawaiian Airlines employees volunteer thousands of hours as part of our community service. Beyond that, Hawaiian culture and language are woven throughout our business, from the exterior and cabins of our aircraft to our offices, the uniform designs of our frontline employees, free cultural lectures for employees and an ‘Ōlelo Hawaii certification program.
What aspects of Hawaiian culture do you hope visitors will experience in Hawaii?
While enjoying Hawaii’s beautiful ocean and hiking, I hope travelers won’t miss the chance to experience Hawaiian culture and take part in volunteer work. At the Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace on Oahu, you can learn about the history of the islands in greater depth. Joining the varied cultural workshops and eco tours offered by local organizations such as Kāko‘o ‘Iwi, Gunstock Ranch, Sustainable Coastlines and Travel 2 Change will make your trip even more meaningful and special.
If you had to name just one reason to fly Hawaiian Airlines to Hawaii, what would it be?
Our greatest strength is that you can experience Hawaii’s unique culture of hospitality. From the moment you board, you see, hear, feel and taste Hawaii, so your trip begins right there. Because most of our flight attendants are from Hawaii, if you ask them where you should visit, they will gladly share their own favorite places.
Sustainable Services Unique to Hawaiian Airlines
Mananalu Water in Aluminum Bottles
Hawaiian Airlines serves Mananalu Water in infinitely recyclable aluminum bottles to passengers in the premium cabin and first class on international flights and on U.S. mainland domestic flights. Mananalu is a brand founded in 2019 by Hollywood actor and Hawaii environmental activist Jason Momoa. With the introduction of Mananalu Water, Hawaiian Airlines plans to cut its use of plastic bottles by about 142,000 a year.
Eco-Friendly Amenity Kits
In collaboration with the local designer brand Kealopiko, Hawaiian Airlines offers charming eco-friendly amenity kits inspired by Hawaii’s natural resources, including coral reefs, to passengers on international flights and some domestic flights. The kits for the international premium cabin and Extra Comfort include a hydrating mist from the Hawaiian skincare brand Loli’i, a bamboo comb, hand and body lotion and an unscented lip balm, and all products come in eco-friendly packaging.
The Travel Pono Campaign
To raise awareness of the importance of sustainable travel, Hawaiian Airlines released its ‘Travel Pono’ in-flight video. In it, employees introduce ways to enjoy travel while protecting the nature, culture and communities of each Hawaiian island, and the video has been warmly received.
A Comfortable Long-Haul Flight, Convenient Connections
A Premium Cabin for Enjoying Long-Haul Flights in Comfort
The premium cabin, with seats that recline into 180-degree lie-flat beds, features curved designs reminiscent of Hawaii’s nature and bright colors. Its 2-2-2 seating layout is ideal for leisure travelers such as couples, families and honeymooners, and it also suits business travelers.
Convenient Connections to the Neighbor Islands and Multi-Destination Trips
Hawaiian Airlines operates the most flights connecting Incheon, Honolulu and the neighbor islands. It runs about 130 inter-island flights a day on average among six Hawaiian islands. A free stopover in Honolulu also makes it possible to plan a multi-destination trip that combines Hawaii with the U.S. mainland.
Incheon–Honolulu Flight Schedule
Hawaiian Airlines’ Incheon–Honolulu flight (HA460) operates five times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, departing Incheon at 9:25 p.m. and arriving in Hawaii at 11:10 a.m. the same day. The Honolulu–Incheon flight (HA459) operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, departing Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu at 1:45 p.m. and arriving at Incheon International Airport at 7:00 p.m. the next day (as of October 2022).
*Flight schedules change monthly. For more detailed schedules, please check the Hawaiian Airlines website.
*Korea is 19 hours ahead of Honolulu.
Hawaiian Airlines is the largest and oldest airline in Hawaii, providing air service between the U.S. mainland and the Hawaiian Islands. It currently operates about 130 jet flights between the islands, along with nonstop service to 16 major cities on the U.S. East and West Coasts and international service to Korea, Japan, American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti.