Hawaiian opens Honolulu-Fukuoka flight
HONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines has opened its newest route into Asia by launching daily nonstop service between Honolulu and Fukuoka, Japan.
Monday's inaugural flight from Honolulu followed festivities including hula, a Japanese cultural performance, a traditional Hawaiian blessing and fresh flower lei for all passengers.
Fukuoka is the airline's third destination in Japan and fourth in Asia in the past 17 months. Hawaiian launched service to Tokyo in December, to Seoul in January and Osaka in July.
Hawaiian is the only carrier providing flights year-round between Honolulu and Fukuoka.
Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney says the new route will provide an estimated $156 million in visitor spending and $17 million in tax revenue annually.
Japan is the largest international market to the Hawaiian Islands.
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Business leaders, others form rail group
HONOLULU - A group of Hawaii business and community leaders have formed a group in support of Honolulu's planned rail transit project.
Move Oahu Forward is made up of more than 30 leaders including the president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, the president and CEO of The Queen's Health Systems and the president and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank.
The co-chairs are Hawaiian Electric Industries President and CEO Constance Lau and James Campbell Co. President and CEO Richard Dahl.
The coalition says its mission is to educate Oahu residents about the initiatives that improve mobility and quality of life in ways that strengthen the economy while protecting the environment.
The project's opponents include former Gov. Ben Cayetano, who is running for mayor as an anti-rail candidate.
