Hawaiian Airlines celebrated Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) by highlighting the concept of “launa,” which means to socialise or connect. In collaboration with Alaska Airlines, the Community and Cultural Relations Team of the airlines’ organised bilingual flights which focused on fostering relationships among employees, customers, and the community at large.
Hawaiian Language Workshops, Lessons, and Community Engagement
Hawaiian Airlines sponsored expert-led workshops, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) lessons, and Team Kōkua volunteer opportunities in February. The language courses shifted from instructional to intervention learning and centred on the role of language in building community.
Manakō Tanaka, senior community and cultural relations manager at Hawaiian Airlines said:
“Meeting all these people through the Hawaiian language makes the language all that much more critical and shows the strength that education wields in bringing people together”
Bringing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to Seattle and Anchorage
Hawaiian Airlines has expanded its celebration beyond Hawai‘i by incorporating ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into its bilingual flights and workspaces in Seattle and Anchorage . Passengers received special language cards to use while ordering onboard, promoting cultural exchange.
Employees from both Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines took part in ʻōlelo classes at SeaTac and Anchorage airports, looking for ways to weave the language into their everyday activities.
A significant bilingual flight between Kahului, Maui, and Seattle, Washington also highlighted the airline’s dedication. On Feb. 18, HA30 left Maui with 10 crew members and three gate agents trained in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, making announcements in both Hawaiian and English during the flight and at the gate.
This was followed by a cultural exchange at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre in which Hawaiian Airlines employees and Alaska Natives instructed one another in the languages of their respective cultures.
Singing and chanting has been a top feature of the one–month celebration. Hawaiian Airlines received cultural experts who introduced children’s songs and skilled staff in the usage of the words mele (song) and oli (chant).
Keliʻi Ruth, a Native Hawaiian chanter and PhD candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, led a workshop on the significance of oli, while musician and nonprofit founder Zachary Alakaʻi Lum guided employees through Hawaiian music composition and its cultural depth.
Next Generation of Hawaiian Language Speakers
Hawaiian Airlines also organised Aviation ʻIke (Knowledge), a career day for eight students from Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School. The event, conducted entirely in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, provided students with the opportunity to meet aviation professionals, inspiring them to explore careers in the industry while also promoting use of the Hawaiian language in professional environments.
To further support cultural preservation, Hawaiian Airlines donated $2,500 to Kāhuli Leo Leʻa, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing and expanding cultural knowledge through mele.
Reinforcing the airline’s commitment to weaving ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi into everyday experiences—both in the skies and on the ground, Tanaka said:
“Language becomes the vessel by which we build connection.”
Team Kōkua volunteers led arts and crafts activities, including translation worksheets and colouring pages for children featuring Hawaiian names for parts of the Airbus A330 and ramp equipment. Attendees also had a chance to win 15,000 HawaiianMiles in a raffle that promoted the use of Hawaiʻi’s native language.
What do you think about the fun activities the airline held to connect with Hawaiʻi’s native language? Share your comments in the box below.
