Mokulele finishes commuter terminal renovation
Mokulele Airlines unveiled its new commuter terminal at Kahului Airport on Monday, celebrating the renovated space with a blessing and the announcement of new flights between Kahului and Hilo.
A small number of guests, including the airline’s founder and Hawaii island native, Kawehi Inaba, and Southern Airways Corporation Chairman and CEO Stan Little, gathered at the terminal for the blessing. Southern, along with its Hawaiian investors, have operated Mokulele since 2019.
“We felt it important to upgrade the passenger experience at Maui,” Little said. “Kahului is poised to be a very popular connection point for people commuting between the islands when the interisland travel restrictions are lifted.”
Mokulele used local workers and locally sourced materials to complete the renovation, which features a modern tropical theme with digital monitors, bamboo facades, new counters and updated signage, the airline said in a news release.
“I can’t remember if there has ever been a renovation with this level of investment at this terminal,” Maui Airports District Manager Marvin Moniz said. “I am truly appreciative of the commitment Mokulele has shown this last year.”
On Monday, Mokulele also announced brand-new, four-times-a-day service between Kahului and Hilo, which will be the only nonstop flights between the two airports when the new schedule begins April 19. Flights will depart from the Hilo commuter terminal, which Mokulele said it hopes to have renovated in time for the inaugural flight. Fares between Hilo and Kahului will begin at $89, with tickets now on sale at mokuleleairlines.com.
Mokulele added that despite the pandemic, it has not had to furlough, lay off or take away benefits from any of its 200 Hawaii-based employees.