United Airlines Celebrates 75 Years in Hawaii

Date: May 5, 2022

KITV ABC May 2, 2022
Cynthia Yip

United Airlines Celebrates 75 Years in Hawaii

United Airlines is celebrating 75 years today of serving The Hawaiian Islands. KITV4 was at the celebration today at The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to mark the big anniversary.

United's first flight to Hawaii ---between San Francisco and Honolulu--landed here on May 1, 1947. On that first flight, a giant Lei was draped on the United aircraft. Today, workers placed a 75-foot lei on the United's Boeing jet, marking the Diamond Anniversary. From that one flight 75 years ago, United now operates 31 flights a day all over the Islands.

United says this celebration underscores the airlines commitment to not only bringing visitors to The Islands but also to ensure that they malama or care for Hawaii. David Kinzelman is VP of Airport Operations United Airlines, “We like carrying tourists here and sharing Hawaii with them but also because we want to make sure they survive they are able to be visited and viewed by generations to come.”

Governor David Ige says, “They BROUGHT 1.7 MILLION UNITED PASSENGERS TO HAWAII SAFELY AND HELPED US TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND SAFE.” On this commemorative flight, were long time workers flight attendants including Terry Williams who has been with United for almost 50 years! Terry Williams, United Airlines Flight Attendant, “ I have no idea how much longer I will do this as long as my body holds out.

"I’m still having fun as long as they have a base in Honolulu. I’ll keep doing it!" Wayne Nakasone, United Airlines Flight Attendant says,“ I’ve been working for 52 years, I was hired out of Honolulu and I’ve been working since! And enjoying every minute of it. “ As someone said, gee I never worked a day in my life, however my friends would say, yes, I haven’t worked!

David Kinzelman says that United is growing and hiring more workers in Hawaii and across the globe. United's aggressive growth plan includes adding 500 more planes over the next 5 years.