Ann Botticelli, vice president for community relations and communications at Kamehameha Schools, is leaving her position on Sept. 30 to take a senior executive position with Hawaiian Airlines.

Botticelli, 52, will join Hawaiian on Oct. 3 as senior vice president for corporate communications and public affairs. She will replace Al Hoffman, 62, who is retiring from the airline but intends to remain very active in Hawaii business.

Botticelli will be responsible for internal and external communications, as well as government and community affairs.

Prior to entering public relations, Botticelli spent two decades as a news reporter in Honolulu, covering business, consumer affairs and state government for KITV-4, KHON-TV and The Honolulu Advertiser.

"Ann’s diverse experience as a communicator and her knowledge of business and our local community are well suited to our executive team," Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, said Wednesday.

Hoffman said it has been a privilege to work with "the outstanding leadership" at Hawaiian and "the best group of employees in the industry."

"I couldn’t be more pleased about handing over the reins to my longtime colleague, Ann Botticelli," he said.

Botticelli said she was excited about the new challenge after six years at Kamehameha Schools.

"It’s not so much leaving one place but it’s an opportunity going forward," she said. "Working at Kamehameha Schools, and with all the employees, has been a real privilege, but I’m excited about this new opportunity.

"I just have a lot of respect for the job that Mark Dunkerley and the senior executive team at Hawaiian Airlines have done to keep our local airline strong and growing in a very competitive industry, and I feel fortunate to be joining that team."