This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants
Officer Update – May 7, 2026
Aloha Los Angeles and Seattle Flight Attendants,
Here are a few updates and reminders we wanted to share with everyone. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Council 47 Officers with any questions, concerns, or feedback.
- AANHPI Heritage Month
- Council 47 Chairs and Volunteers
- Voter Registration & Information
- Segment Drops Into Open Time
- Language Testing
- HNL Officer Elections
- Jumpseating at International Destinations
- The Importance Email
Mahalo,
Josh Aoki — LEC President
Paul Ikioka — LEC Vice President
Beth Hayes — LEC Secretary
47@afahawaiian.org
AANHPI Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. As Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants, this month holds special meaning for many of us, as the cultures and traditions of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities are deeply woven into the identity and spirit of our airline. From the aloha we share with our guests to the diverse backgrounds of our crews, these cultures continue to shape who we are both in the workplace and in our union ‘ohana. This month, we celebrate and recognize the many AANHPI Flight Attendants and communities that make our airline so special.
Did you know that AFA created the AANHPI pin with Hawaiian Airlines very much in mind? Many of the colors and design references were inspired by our brand, and you can even see traces of Pualani reflected in it. It’s something we should be proud to wear, not only as a union pin, but also as a symbol that reflects part of our airline’s culture and identity.
A limited number of pins will be available in both the LAX and SEA lounges. Please only take one per Flight Attendant, as these pins are purchased through the local council budget. As a reminder, uniform standards allow Flight Attendants to wear a union pin above their wings or nametag regardless of which branded uniform is being worn.
Council 47 Chairs and Volunteers
Throughout this week, Council 47 Officers have been conducting interviews for local chair and committee vacancies. Selections will be made on May 10 and will be communicated to the membership shortly thereafter.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who put their name forward and expressed a willingness to serve the members of Los Angeles and Seattle. The continued growth and success of our union depends on members stepping up to support one another, and we truly appreciate the interest, time, and commitment shown by all applicants.
Once these vacancies have been filled, Council 47 will publish a full list of Local Chairs and Committee Members so members know who is available to assist, support, and serve our LAX and SEA Flight Attendants.
Voter Registration & Information
As a reminder, the voter registration deadline for the California Primary Election is May 18, with Primary Election Day taking place on June 2. Members are encouraged to verify their voter registration status and ensure their information is up to date ahead of the deadline.
Additionally, ballots for the Oregon primaries have already started being mailed out, so Oregon voters should expect to receive them soon if they have not already.
AFA has also recently launched a voting resource page with information regarding the upcoming November midterm elections, including AFA-endorsed candidates organized by state. Members can access the page at: afacwa.org/vote
Mahalo,
Bruni Agosto-Pinal
Segment Drops Into Open Time
We would like to remind everyone that segment drops into Open Time are not permitted. While Flica is designed to catch these types of unpermitted drops, the process involves both automated and manual review. Because of this, there may be situations where a segment is successfully dropped into open time or becomes visible for pickup before Crew Scheduling identifies the issue.
Please be aware that even if the system initially allows the drop or pickup, Crew Scheduling may later take action to reverse the transaction once discovered. This can create unnecessary confusion and complications for all parties involved. To help avoid these situations, please do not drop segments into open time.
Additionally, if you see an individual segment sitting in open time, please do not pick it up, as it was placed there in error and will later be removed.
HNL Officer Elections
Some members may be aware that a local election is currently being conducted in Honolulu for Council 43. Council 43 members will be electing their Local Executive Council Officers consisting of LEC President, LEC Vice President, and LEC Secretary.
Los Angeles and Seattle based Flight Attendants are represented by Council 47 and are therefore not part of this election process. Council 47 members are currently represented by Local Officers Joshua Aoki — LEC President, Paul Ikioka — LEC Vice President, and Beth Hayes — LEC Secretary. Council 47 officer elections took place last year and operate on a different election cycle than Council 43.
Voting for the Council 43 elections will close on May 19.
Jumpseating at International Destinations
An issue was recently brought forward to the MEC regarding the new jumpseat procedures and international travel on Hawaiian metal. At some international stations, when a flight is full, boarding/standby passes are not issued at the check-in counters until a seat assignment is provided. This has created concerns under the new jumpseat process, as Flight Attendants are currently unable to receive their pass until 30 minutes prior to departure.
At certain international airports, this may not provide enough time to clear security screening and make it to the gate prior to departure. The company has been made aware of the concern and is currently working on a resolution.
The Importance of Email
Please know that one of the best ways to communicate with management is through email. Email communication creates documentation of the conversation, leaves less room for misinterpretation, and provides a timestamped record that may become important in the event of a future grievance or dispute.
When emailing management, we encourage Flight Attendants to remain professional and clearly explain the issue or concern without letting emotion drive the communication. Keeping emails factual, organized, and concise often leads to more productive outcomes.
We also encourage members to copy multiple members of management when appropriate to help increase visibility and awareness of the issue. Additionally, please consider copying your union representatives (47@afahawaiian.org) so AFA is aware of the concern and can help monitor patterns, provide guidance, and hold the company accountable when necessary.
If you are unsure how to address a situation, who to address your issues with or how to draft a response, please reach out to one of your local officers for assistance before sending the communication.
