Mokulele Airlines

Mokulele Airlines is a regional airline that operates in Hawaii. It offers scheduled flights between the islands and also provides special charter flights. These flights mainly connect smaller airports with two big hubs: Kahului Airport on the island of Maui and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on the island of Oahu.

The airline was bought by Southern Airways Express in 2019 but still uses its own name. Both Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines are part of a bigger company called Surf Air Mobility, which bought Southern in 2023.

In Hawaiian, "Mokulele" means aircraft. This name comes from putting together two words: "moku," which means island, and "lele," which means leap or hop. This name fits well because the airline’s flights hop between the islands.

History

Mokulele Flight Service and Mokulele Airlines

The airline started in 1994 as Mokulele Flight Service by Rebecca "Kawehi" Inaba. She was the first Native Hawaiian woman to start an airline in Hawaii. "Mokulele" means "flying ship" in Hawaiian and refers to airplanes and aviation.

In 2005, Boyer Industries bought the airline. The company then had three Piper Navajo Chieftains and only did charter and sightseeing flights. They later got permission to fly between Kahului Airport on Maui and Kailua-Kona and Hilo on the Big Island.

In 2006, Mokulele agreed to fly Cessna Grand Caravan planes to Kapalua, Molokai, and Lanai under the name go!Express. Flights started in 2007.

In 2008, Mokulele planned to fly jets between islands with Republic Airways. Later, they made deals with Alaska Airlines and WestJet to let their customers fly with Mokulele.

go! Mokulele joint venture

In 2009, Mokulele joined go! and became go! Mokulele. This meant higher prices in Hawaii because there was less competition.

New Mokulele Airlines

In 2011, Mesa Air Group sold go! Mokulele to Transpac Aviation Inc. Mokulele later started charter flights from Honolulu to Rockford, Illinois, and London but delayed these plans.

In 2012, Mokulele began flying between Maui and Lanai and returned to Kapalua Airport. They also started flying to Hana on Maui.

California expansion

In 2016, Mokulele started flights from Imperial County Airport and Santa Maria Public Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

Acquisition by Southern Airways Express

In February 2019, Southern Airways Express bought Mokulele Flight Service. The full merger happened in February 2020.

Electric aircraft

In early 2019, Mokulele helped Ampaire test an electric plane. They also planned to use a new electric "seaglider" called the REGENT Viceroy.

Makani Kai Air merger

In 2020, Mokulele merged with Makani Kai Air. Flights were sold under the Mokulele brand. In 2022, Mokulele started using larger Saab 340 planes for charter flights.

Public Listing

In July 2023, Surf Air Mobility, the parent company of Mokulele Airlines and Southern Airways Express, went public on the New York Stock Exchange.

Awards

Mokulele Airlines has been chosen as "Hawai'i's #1 Island Hopper" by local news media. It has also won awards for the "Best Air Tour".

In 2019, Trip Advisor named Mokulele Airlines the Best Specialty/Leisure Airline in North America.

Destinations

Mokulele Airlines offers flights to different places in the state of Hawaii.

The airline also has special agreements to work with other airlines, such as Japan Airlines.

Fleet

Mokulele Airlines uses the following airplanes for its flights: