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than 100 of
Hawaii’s who’s who flew in Tuesday aboard Hawaiian Airlines’
inaugural flight, turning a new chapter in its 79-year
legacy of service between
Honolulu and
Manila.
Among
the passengers were Philippine Consul General Ariel
Abadilla, Sen. Richard Gordon, former Hawaii Governor
Benjamin Cayetano (who is a Filipino American), five
State senators, several members of the Hawaii
Legislature and a member of the US Supreme Court.
US
Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who welcomed the delegation,
said Hawaii and the Philippines have 101 years of
continuing friendship.
“It’s an
exciting day for us. Philippine-Hawaiian relations go
back 101 years. The first Filipinos to go to the United
States went to Hawaii and those connections have been
the strongest in a really strong relationship, and today
is just another bridge between
Hawaii and the
Philippines,” she said.
Citing
her experience, she told the newcomers the Philippines
is a wonderful place to visit and to live in, and that
Filipinos truly make visitors feel welcome.
She
pointed to the many cultural traditions shared between
Hawaii and the Philippines.
“We love
building great ties between the Philippines and the
United States, personal ties, family ties, business
ties. Our countries have been linked for so long, it’s
wonderful [to] have a chance to continue to enhance that
friendship and that prosperity,” she said.
It’s
also very exciting to welcome to
Manila
“great American business,” she said. She said the
presence of businessmen in the group is good for both
the Philippine and American economy.
Mark
Dunkerley, Hawaiian president and CEO, said the Filipino
community is the largest ethnic group in
Hawaii.
And, since Hawaii and the Philippine economy are
expanding, and both their standards of living are
growing, visitors from both islands are expected to
visit each other, linked by efficient air
transportation.
“Hawaiian Airlines has a long and distinguished record
of achievements in its eight decades of service, and our
new flight to Manila is the latest in many more to
come.”
In
celebration of its new service, Hawaiian is offering a
special introductory roundtrip fare between
Honolulu
and Manila for $499, plus taxes and fees, for Coach
Class seating that is good for travel purchases through
May 31, 2008.
The
carrier promises Hawaiian’s award-winning “Hawaii Starts
Here” inflight service showcasing island culture, beauty
and people, along with a choice of complimentary hot
meals in Coach Class and the industry’s only tasting
menu for First Class passengers. Hawaiian has given its
Manila inflight menu a distinctive Filipino flair.
Manila
is Hawaiian’s first gateway city into Asia. The new
service also makes Hawaiian the only
US
carrier providing nonstop service between
Manila and
Honolulu,
and is expected to double the current capacity on the
route.
Hawaiian
Airlines will operate nonstop route using its wide-body,
twin-aisle B767-300ER aircraft that set up to 264
passengers. Flight time is approximately 10 hours. |
