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Mokulele Airlines is on the verge of flying into state history.
The state’s third-largest carrier with 4 percent of the interisland market will mark the first commercial flight out of Kalaeloa Airport on Tuesday when it culminates a year of planning with inaugural service between the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station and Kahului.
"We think this will be a great opportunity for Mokulele, and the folks in this area have embraced us," Mokulele Chief Operating Officer Dave Berry said Monday. "We’re very excited to open this new airport. The residents in West Oahu have responded very positively to our efforts and the affordable airfares, as well as the convenience, too. You don’t have to fight the H-1."
Mokulele is jump-starting the service with a promotional $99 round-trip airfare between Kalaeloa and Kahului for reservations booked online through July 31 for travel through Aug. 30.
Parking will be free in certain designated areas, and passengers will not be required to go through Transportation Security Administration screening because it is not required for aircraft with nine or fewer seats.
"We’ve only had bookings for five weeks since we knew the date that the airport was going to open, and we have a lot of flights that are sold out already," Berry said.
Mokulele is commemorating the event with a celebration open to the public starting at 10:30 a.m. which will include a tour of the facility, blessing ceremony, entertainment and refreshments. Boarding of the inaugural flight on the airline’s nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravan turboprop is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. with the flight due to depart at 1 p.m.
Ron Hansen, president and chief executive officer of Mokulele, will welcome guests, and speakers will include state Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui; Ross Higashi, deputy director of airports for the state Department of Transportation; state Sen. Mike Gabbard; state Rep. Karen Awana; and Evelyn Souza, chairwoman of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board.
Entertainment will be provided by Kainani & Friends.
Jenn Boneza, who has hosted shows for Oceanic Cable 16 and has had a guest role on "Hawaii Five-0," will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
Berry, the chief operating officer, said the airline is still fine-tuning the operations from Kalaeloa, which is also used by the Coast Guard, other military aircraft and private planes. The former naval air station closed July 1, 1999 — exactly 15 years ago — and was handed over to the state at that time for use by general aircraft.
"We’re still waiting for the state to approve the Internet provider access to the property so we can have telephone and Internet," Berry said. "We’re using our mobile Internet devices now to operate the station."
Mokulele will offer flights from Kalaeloa to Kahului at 7:35 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. with flights from Kahului to Kalaeloa at 6:15 a.m., 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Kona-based airline, which offers more than 120 flights a day connecting Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii island, could expand service from Kalaeloa in the next couple of months.
"Probably Molokai would be next, and then we’re considering Kapalua (Maui) and Lanai," Berry said. "With our current nine planes (in the overall fleet), we may have one or two flights a day to Molokai by the end of the summer."
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COURTESY MOKULELE AIRLINES