Spirit of Aloha | Message of Aloha | November/December 2006

Aloha’s Spirit of Giving Goes On and On

Aloha and welcome aboard! The smallest kids sat in a circle eagerly anticipating the singing of “Happy Birthday to You.” Stacked up behind them were 50 boxes of clothing and toys donated by Aloha Airlines employees, and beside that stack was a huge pile of disposable diapers and other supplies purchased with nearly $2,500 in cash donations, also from the Aloha family.

Back in September, Aloha employees jumped at the opportunity to bring some joy into the lives of the children at a Honolulu homeless shelter. The effort began with a few flight attendants and trainers, and grew and grew, reaching all parts of the company. The organizers, led by flight attendant supervisor Cindy Allen and inflight training manager Greg Chilson, took the theme of Aloha’s 60th birthday a step further by throwing a birthday party for all of the nearly 100 children in the shelter, with cake and ice cream, and gifts for each of them. Aloha employees brought their own children to the party to spread cheer, and entertainment was provided by a children’s hula troupe taught by Aloha tax manager Jory Cummins. After a full day of flying, Capt. Mikel Gilliland spent time with the kids at the shelter, inspiring them to think about a future career in aviation. In the end, the spirit of giving designed to brighten one Saturday night was destined to have a lasting impact.

This is just one example of how, for the past 60 years, Aloha Airlines employees have been a vital, caring part of community life in Hawai‘i. This year, Aloha Airlines is honored to have been chosen to receive the prestigious Franklin Delano Roose­velt Award for Distinguished Community Service from the March of Dimes Hawai‘i Chapter. The award, recognizing Aloha’s long history of service, was to be presented at the an­nual Governors’ Ball, one of the principal fund-raising events for March of Dimes programs in Hawai‘i. This honor underscores the role Aloha has played over the years, supporting such worthwhile causes as the March of Dimes, United Way campaigns and scores of other individual charitable and nonprofit organizations that are so important to the life of the community.

Since the year 2000, Aloha also has been involved, in the same spirit, in supporting charitable causes in the communities we serve in California and Nevada. Although we are not the largest airline in the world, we have the biggest heart.

The holiday season is a good time to remind one and all that there are many ways to give.

Best wishes for the holidays.

Message of Aloha Archives