Spirit of Aloha | Message of Aloha | November/December 2005

A Time for Thanks, Prayers and Hope

Aloha and welcome aboard! What a year of ups and downs this has been for the U.S. airline industry! Many of my fellow airline executives will be glad when this year is over. I’ll be thankful for all that Aloha Airlines has accomplished this year with the help of so many dedicated employees, customers and business partners.

This was my first year at Aloha and, trust me, it was one of the most difficult and challenging of my 30-plus years in the airline business.

We began 2004 under bankruptcy protection and worked throughout the year to reorganize and restructure Aloha, from top to bottom, so that we can emerge from Chapter 11 as a tough competitor in a marketplace brimming with competition.

One of the things you’ll probably remember about 2005 was the sticker shock you experienced at the gas station. It seemed as if politics, economics, production problems at oil refineries and natural disasters were working against motorists all across the country. The gas tank of your car is miniscule compared to the mammoth fuel tanks of our trans-Pacific airliners, which hold more than 6,800 gallons. Like other airlines, Aloha has taken decisive action to economize on fuel consumption. Nonetheless, the astronomical rise in jet-fuel prices has made fueling one of the costliest and most unpredictable factors in running any airline. Imagine operating a business or a household when one of the primary items in your budget increases by 50 percent in a year!

Despite all the negatives confronting the airline industry, I remain positive about the future of Aloha Airlines. That’s because our greatest strength lies in our people, and they have remained dedicated, resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

Although everyone in the company has had to make sacrifices, I am amazed at how the aloha spirit of caring and giving goes on and on. Over the years, Aloha has contributed to countless organizations that serve the needs of less fortunate citizens of the communities where we fly. Our employees have been selfless contributors of their time and money for international and national disasters, as well as worthy causes closer to home. Early in the year, one of our pilots created T-shirts with a commemorative design, and sold them to employees to raise money for tsunami victims in Southeast Asia. Later in the year, employees in our reservations department wanted to do something for victims of Hurricane Katrina, so they organized a rummage sale, bake sale and silent auction that enabled them to give several thousand dollars to the American Red Cross Relief Fund. Year after year, Aloha employees work tirelessly as volunteers in their communities, and they are out there donating pints of blood to the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i, well in excess of what’s typical for a company our size.

As the year draws to a close, it is traditional to count one’s blessings and pray for peace in a troubled world. Let me take this opportunity to wish you all good health and great success in the many things you are striving to achieve. I recently came across a quotation from the poet and social activist Maya Angelou, who said: “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

I urge you to take time during the holidays to give thanks and offer prayers for the loved ones you care for and all those who care for you. And above all, remain hopeful, because the future has wonderful things in store for us all.                                                                                                                                                                      

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