Mokulele Airlines

Mokulele Airlines is a Hawaiian interisland airline. Its name derives from the Hawaiian words Moku ("island") and Lele ("to leap" or "to hop"); when airplanes were first introduced, Native Hawaiians created the word Mokulele because there had been no Hawaiian word for "airline." Founded in 1994 by Rebecca "Kawehi" Inaba as Mokulele Flight Service, the airline has been connecting the Hawaiian Islands for over 30 years. In February 2019 its assets were acquired by Southern Airways Express, and today, under parent company Surf Air Mobility, Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines together form one of America's largest and fastest-growing regional commuter airlines, operating one of the nation's largest fleets of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft. The airline operates more than 100 daily flights linking nine airports across five Hawaiian islands, and serves some of Hawai'i's smallest communities including Hāna, Waimea, Kapalua, and Kalaupapa.

In Hawaiian, Moku means "island," and Lele means "to leap" or "to hop." When airplanes were first introduced, Native Hawaiians created the word Mokulele, as there had been no Hawaiian word for "airline." Today, the name reflects two meanings: airline and island hopper. Mokulele Flight Service was founded in 1994 by Rebecca "Kawehi" Inaba as Mokulele Flight Service, and Mokulele Airlines has been connecting the Hawaiian Islands for over 30 years. Kawehi's passion for aviation ran deep (her father was a pilot for Aloha Airlines) and together with partner Jules Dudoit, she helped establish the airline's early operations by securing the certification needed to offer scenic circle-island and air tours. Over the decades, Mokulele evolved through six ownership changes while remaining committed to its mission of serving Hawai'i's communities. In February 2019, the airline entered a new chapter when its assets were acquired by Southern Airways Express. Today, under parent company Surf Air Mobility, Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines together form one of America's largest and fastest-growing regional commuter airlines, operating one of the nation's largest fleets of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft.

1. 1Hawaii Interisland Flights - Mokulele Airlinesmokuleleairlines.com
2. 2Our Heritage - Mokulele Airlinesmokuleleairlines.com