A Message of Aloha
“We Do” Spirit Keeps Spreading Aloha
by David A. Banmiller l President and Chief Executive Officer, Aloha Airlines |
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Aloha and welcome aboard! Aloha Airlines has been
assisting charity drives and civic-minded efforts
throughout Hawai‘i since our humble beginnings
as a charter carrier in 1946. In the 1950s, we were
known as “the People’s Airline.”
As the airline grew, so did our commitment to
serve the people of our home state. Because giving back to the
community was second nature to our founders, the company
worked proudly and quietly, usually behind the scenes, in support
of many community organizations. During our 60th
anniversary celebration in 2006, the March of Dimes of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Gov. Linda Lingle recognized Aloha Airlines
for our tradition of community giving by presenting the
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award for Distinguished Community
Service.
Early on, the company’s credo called on employees to foster
the Aloha Spirit, which stems from the noble tradition of caring
and showing compassion for others.
Today, as a corporation with 3,500 individual team members
steeped in the Aloha Spirit, the Aloha ‘ohana, or family,
serves the community in many and varied ways. In the past we
did not take credit for the many things we did, out of a sense
of civic pride and generosity. We let people take it for granted
that Aloha was there to help. More recently we have turned to
television and radio advertising to remind Hawai‘i’s people of
some of the many ways Aloha Airlines as a company and our
employees as individuals contribute to the well-being of the
communities in which we live and work.
For example, Aloha carries more than 85 percent of all the
non-mail air cargo among the Islands. Our overnight cargo
flights make it possible for Neighbor Island residents to get
fresh-baked goods and newspapers every morning, and for
farmers to ship fresh produce for retail sale on O‘ahu and
export to the world. We carry U.S. mail between the Islands
every day, and, when blood and medical supplies are urgently
needed, we get them there in a hurry.
Every year we assist countless humanitarian efforts that require
interisland air transportation. We help Hawai‘i’s Department
of Education by flying in spelling bee contestants and
scholastic award winners from the Neighbor Islands for events
in Honolulu. We fly flower lei donated by community groups
to O‘ahu to decorate veterans’ graves on Memorial Day. We
support community and university athletic teams and cultural
troupes in many ways. Our employees are the kind of people
who band together to throw a birthday party for children in a
homeless shelter and donate thousands of toys, clothing articles
and food for needy families. Some of our pilots and other
workers serve our country in the National Guard, with several
currently serving in Iraq. Some are youth-league coaches and
Scout leaders. Hundreds of others take part in charity walks
and fundraising events throughout the year.
We’re proud of the men and women of Aloha and all they
do to make Hawai‘i a better place. Enjoy your flight on Aloha
Airlines. Let us know how we’re doing. |
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