Source: Hawaiian Airlines
An iconic view of Sydney, photographed at sunrise from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Twenty years ago, Hawaiian Airlines embarked on a new chapter in its history with the launch of nonstop service between Honolulu and Sydney, Australia, one of its first long-haul destinations and most traveled international routes. Over a million Aussies have since chosen the carrier’s five-times-weekly nonstop flight to visit the Hawaiian Islands and experience the authentic hospitality and aloha of Hawaiʻi’s flagship carrier.
This week, Hawaiian’s leaders and employees celebrated alongside the local Sydney travel industry and community with events connected to the people and places of New South Wales.
“Our Sydney-Honolulu route has always been a special one to serve and connects two very special places to live and visit,” said Andrew Stanbury, managing director of international and North America sales at Hawaiian Airlines, at the celebratory gathering for employees, partners, friends and family in downtown Sydney.
Committed to Aussies since May 17, 2004
Hawaiian’s Sydney service, which holds the trophy for its longest international flight at 5,066 miles, has also been a significant and convenient bridge for Aussies connecting to the U.S. mainland. In the past decade, as many as one in four Sydney travelers have leveraged the carrierʻs seamless connectivity in Honolulu to fly to U.S mainland cities they love, such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, New York City – and now Salt Lake City – and break up the long journey with a stopover in Hawai‘i.
In addition to Hawaiian’s award-winning service, Aussies will soon enjoy complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi as the technology is rolled out on its Airbus A330 fleet beginning this summer. Hawaiian also intends to operate its newest flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, in ‘The Land Down Under.’
Stanbury added, “For decades, Hawaiʻi has never stopped winning over the hearts of Aussies, and we know that because of their love for the islands, they also hold a particular place in their hearts for Hawaiian Airlines. For that, we are grateful, and it keeps us motivated to put our best foot forward for Australia.”
Celebrating the ties that bind
Hawaiian’s Team Kōkua this week also donned their purple shirts for a community service day around the bronze statue of beloved Hawaiian waterman and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku at the Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue and Commemorative Park on the northern headland of the famous Freshwater Beach.
In December 1914, and again in January 1915, Kahanamoku paddled into the surf at Freshwater Beach and made history. Riding a hand-carved board made of solid sugar pine, his elegant wave riding ignited Australiaʻs passion for the water sport. Today, Freshwater is known as the birthplace of Australian surfing and remains a symbol of the strong ties that bind Hawaiʻi and Australia.
On the morning of Thursday, May 22, 15 Hawaiian employees from Honolulu and Sydney joined local nonprofits Friends of Freshwater and Aboriginal-owned Bush to Bowl to commemorate Duke’s legacy. The morning began with a traditional smoking ceremony, welcome-to-country protocol for Australia’s First Nations, by Adam Byrne of the Garigal/Gadigal clan, followed by an oli (chant) from Hawaiian’s Community and Cultural Relations team and remarks on the Duke’s significance.
As a final gesture of aloha, volunteers adorned the Duke’s statue with a lush and vibrant red carnation lei – a lei the waterman would have worn during his days representing Hawaiʻi’s spirit, culture and people to the world.
“Lei brings the giver and the receiver together, and in Hawaiʻi, sharing lei allows us to acknowledge and celebrate family, friends and community. In offering carnation lei to the Duke today, we recognize his presence in the Freshwater community and his contributions to Australia, Hawaiʻi and the tradition of surfing,” Debbie Nakanelua-Richards shared during her remarks.
Before beginning the day’s work, Hawaiian surprised the Friends of Freshwater with a $2,500 (USD) check donation to support its efforts to preserve Freshwater Beach. Then, volunteers took to clearing weeds, cutting back foliage and planting native shrubs along the peaceful pathways that wind through the park.
“This donation will support our work of making sure this area [Freshwater Beach] remains with and improves for the community and its locals,” said Denise Goldstein, Friends of Freshwater founding member and committee co-chair.