Hawaiian Airlines; Authentic Hawaiian Hospitality

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So, in February I FINALLY made my way to Hawaii. But I couldn’t have done it without the help of Hawaiian Airlines. I flew Hawaiian from L.A to Honolulu and I also took advantage of their inter-island service from Oahu to Maui.

Not only do they provide a comfortable, convenient and authentically Hawaiian service, but they are also doing some wonderfully innovative things with their Boeing 717s & recycled seat fabric ( think flight deck meets fashion) . But before we get to that, let me tell you a bit more about their neighbour island service.

Neighbour Island Service

Essentially Hawaiian Airlines have made  life a hell of a lot easier for regular visitors to Hawaii and local residents. If you plan on flying between islands regularly for business or pleasure then this service is for you.

Basically Hawaiian Airlines rewards loyalty. You pick a plan and the flights included in that plan will stay at a cheaper fare no matter what time of the year you book them. MEANING, you pay less for travelling more.

The Hawaiian Airlines neighbour island service has 4 different plans, specially designed to suit their passengers. You can see which one best suits you here. Of course, nothing comes without terms and conditions, there are a few rules which you can read all about here.

Moral of the story, you can pay as little as $499 (US) for 4 return flights to your favourite island. That’s 8 flights, for $499. I think that’s a pretty good deal!

Boeing 717 Facelift

Just over a year ago, in March 2015, Hawaiian Airlines announced that they would be replacing the interiors of their Boeing 717 fleet with new lightweight seats and so much more.
Previously, their fleet had 5 different on board configurations. Now all Boeing 717s in the Hawaiian fleet have a streamlined interior that represents their brand beautifully.

You can see they chose the colours to match the authentic Hawaiian spirit; earth tones are a nod to the volcanic nature of the islands, the aqua colour of the seats match the ocean visible from any window seat and the small touches of fuchsia and sky blue give the cabin a sophisticated island-paradise vibe. Not to mention the new galley curtains and carpets.

But it’s not just pretty! It’s practical too. The new lightweight seats are specially engineered to ensure as much personal space as possible without compromising on legroom. For the fancy few, don’t worry, first class also got a revamp, including new seat covers and leather arm caps.

And just in case you were wondering, I can tell you first hand that I have personally flown on one of these newly kitted out planes and it was incredibly comfortable and distinctly Hawaiian. If you’re interested in hearing more about the Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 facelift then click here.

The Flight of Fashion

Naturally, redoing the cabin of all those Boeing 717s left Hawaiian Airlines with an awful lot of spare materials. So, what did they do with them? They gave them to young promising artists of course! The project was called “Cabin Couture”. Catchy, right?

Seven designers were asked to create wearable fashion and accessories from 19 First Class and 23 Main Cabin seats and headrests. No easy task! I love this idea as I myself was involved in a fashion project MANY years ago where we had to create clothing from recycled object. Funnily enough, mine didn’t turn out quite as cool as these ones.

The designers’ inspiration ranged from vintage flight attendants to shapes within the seats themselves. The artists’ recycled cabin creations were displayed at HONOLULU Fashion Week in November 2015 to great acclaim. Personally, I’m a little bit in love with the above design. That coat looks perfect for Winter and the Hawaiian Airlines logo is so pretty as a little belt buckle.

For more information on this project and to see behind the scenes photos from the fashion show click here.

Final Thoughts

Having flown with Hawaiian Airlines three times now, I can genuinely say that they have been the best airline I’ve flown with in the US (and I have tried quite a few). The complimentary snacks and beverages on board are Hawaiian in nature and of a high quality. The staff are always smiling and their in-flight safety video is one of the most fun ones I’ve seen in a long time. Plus, the views you get from the window seat are beyond compare. So if you ever make it to Hawaii, let Hawaiian Airlines take you there. Oh and don’t worry, I’ll be posting all about the rest of my Hawaiian adventures soon!

Have you ever flown Hawaiian Airlines? What did you think?

**Hawaiian Airlines provided me with complimentary flights. However, the opinions in this post are, as always, my own.