Hawaiian Air - regardless of transition, a history of excellence, and culture of aloha
A reminder that aloha can transcend any moment despite the adversity
I recently had the opportunity to spend time at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, not as a traveler, but as a vendor, for Hawaiian Airlines Quarterly Safety Fair. If I can, I always try to fly Hawaiian. Hawai‘i’s longest running air carrier is nearly a century old and throughout its history has one of the safest records of any airlines in the world.
In an age where it seems like we’re hearing about crashes and chaos throughout the travel industry, how is this possible?
As the day began, vendors gathered at the Cargo facility, eerily close to the Federal Detention Center, scenes of movies and escapes playing in the back of my all too animated. After checking in with security, we were shuttled ‘back of house’ through a magical little gate that I had never known to exist where we traded our government issued identification for an all-access pass aka visitor badge.
From there, it was like getting a guided tour as we learned about the different planes and the airport itself. We also heard a little bit about the merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. While the Hawaiian brand, as of this writing, shall remain, it is now owned by Alaska, and with any change, there comes with it transition and challenge.
As we arrived at the area where the event was held, we were greeted with smiles and so much stoked for being there. I’ve worked probably over a thousand events in my career and the aloha that all of us vendors were welcome with was refreshing and this was a very different, unique experience as it was private and not public facing. From there, the hydration station was set up and the festivities began.
Water is my go-to drink despite working for a beverage brand known for water. I’ve naturally consumed a large volume of water prior to my two tenures with Waiākea but I realize not everyone drinks enough water. When I was still working at HOT, I’d often get a kick out of my former colleague, our Director of Artistic Administration, as he would remind singers that it’s different type of heat here because we’re closer to the equator and it was really important that they stayed hydrated.
Unrelated to the larger story here but hitting another HOT note (see what I did there opera people?), there were also reminders of sunscreen usage to protect from the sun. And perhaps to save the sanity of the make-up team as the skintone of performers darkened (or reddened) in the lead-up to the performances due to beach trips during the day with night rehearsals.
In addition to our hydration station, there was a hearing test, demo on the importance of stretching, free ear plugs, swag giveaways, hot dogs, a dunk tank, and maybe my favorite, ice cold POG!
What struck me throughout the day as the different waves of employees rolled in like sets at sea, was the palpable joy, love, and camaraderie that could be felt.
That stood out to me choke (alot, many, plenty) because due to the merger, there were people whose positions were on the chopping block and others who might still have a job with significant paycut and a there event a few needing to take a paycut and relocate to the Alaska HQ in Seattle if they wished to keep their jobs. Knowing that, you’d think the mood would be a bit more somber and not so light. But that wasn’t the case.
This might sound like and could very well be a slight exaggeration but it seemed like the hundreds of Hawaiian Air employees that rolled through were smiling. I found it truly remarkable that there was so much aloha on display. Perhaps what makes their brand perform so well and beloved is that culture is lived from within.
I hope that Alaska keeps its words and doesn’t gut the Hawaiian brand.
Every day, whether due to human error, autocratic aspirations, and/or disillusionment, we’re subject to a diminishing ROI on JOY. It’d be very sad for this brand, which has been “Connecting people with Aloha” since 1929 to no longer share its Light.
I’m sure financial decisions contributed to this acquisition. And that’s Life, things happen, we have to adapt and the striking lesson of the Hawaiian Air ‘ohana was that you can still be amazing, even while facing challenge. It was a great reminder and takes me back to what Max Ehrmann shared in his iconic “Desiderata”:
“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”
And:
“With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”
Whatever moment you’re in, this is where you find the Self. And as long as we breathe, we have opportunities to live aloha, share aloha, and let go and grow beyond the moments where we don’t hit the peak of that.
Soul enjoy.