This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

A Message from our LEC President: 737-800 Interisland Operations

Aloha nui kākou,

Earlier today, the Company publicly announced that the Boeing 737-800 will replace the 717-200 fleet in our interisland network. The Company’s decision to select the 737-800 is no surprise, as Alaska Airlines has operated this aircraft type for many years. While this announcement may have been anticipated for some time, Alaska Airlines has also decided to begin operating interisland flights under the Alaska brand between Honolulu and Maui beginning this October. This decision by the Company is both disheartening and disappointing to us at Hawaiian AFA.

The unfortunate reality of the situation stems from the reliability issues surrounding our aging 717 fleet which is something that we have all recognized throughout the years. Some of our 717s have been out of service much longer than anticipated due to on-going maintenance issues. This has left the Company with very little options to maintain our robust interisland network. While the decision to utilize the existing Alaska branded 737s and its crews is a near-term solution to maintaining our interisland network, it does come with near-term impacts to us as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.

Our Interisland flying represents more than just taking care of our local people. It represents the very core of our brand and who we are as Hawaiian Airlines. No matter how long each of us has been representing Pualani, or whether you still fly interisland flights or not, we all started out flying between the islands. The infancy of our careers as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants is where we all began flying and so too did the brand itself. The legacy of Hawaiian Airlines from where we came from, to where we’ve gone and how we have grown, stems from our roots here in Hawai‘i. Bringing the Alaska branded 737s to do part of our interisland flying shakes us to our core, especially since it will not be our crews interacting and maintaining our long-standing relationships we have with our local communities throughout Hawai‘i. While there is no denying the factors of this situation, as President of our Honolulu base, I cannot support or stand behind this decision by the Company to bring in the Alaska branded 737s and its crews to do flying that ultimately belongs to us at Hawaiian.

I will be working closely with our HA MEC Grievance Committee as well as the Joint Alaska-Hawaiian MEC to consider all options available to us in our Contract. While I cannot make any promises that we will be able to ultimately prevent this from happening, it is important to know that we as the Hawaiian AFA Leadership will not be sitting idly by and will use the full force of our contract and everything that is available to us to push back. There will be on-going discussions both internally with AFA as well as the Company to ensure that we are protecting our bid lines, but most importantly our jobs as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants in Hawai‘i.

I want to acknowledge that this news hits us hard, and in many ways is demoralizing because of the constant changes that we have been going through along with the reduction of our international flying. The constant taking away and giving to Alaska has pushed each of us to a place where it is starting to affect who we are as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants. Everyone is fatigued from change with no end or relief in sight. The promise of a better future seems to get pushed back further and further as more of these changes continue to disconnect us from who we are as Hawaiian Airlines. The emotional toll that it is taking on each of us is sometimes unbearable and overwhelming. I ask that everyone take a moment to process this information as it will impact and affect everyone differently. Our EAP Committee is available should anyone need to reach out to them for assistance or resources. Remember that while this announcement will affect each of us differently, and at times we may feel alone, know that we are all in this together. The greatest strength that we have as a Hawaiian Airlines ‘ohana is our ability to persevere and to holomua (move forward) in the face of uncertainty and difficulties.

We will continue to keep everyone updated on this developing situation and know that our top priority is to maintain our jobs and our bid lines as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants in Hawai‘i.

E kūpa‘a kākou!
Let us stand firm together!

Me ka ha‘aha‘a,

Kela Chong
President
Hawaiian Airlines Local Executive Council 43 – HNL
Association of Flight Attendants – CWA, AFL-CIO

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

July 2026 – HSAP Newsletter

Aloha,

Welcome to our Hawaiian Safety Action Program (HSAP) newsletter.

Brief review of what HSAP is:

HSAP is a reporting program available to all Hawaiian Flight Attendants to report safety or non-compliance events. Once accepted into the program the event would be protected from disciplinary action from the Company and regulatory action from the FAA.

There are exceptions to the program however; events that involve deliberate acts, criminal activity, substance abuse including alcohol, or intentional falsification will not be covered. The content of an accepted HSAP report cannot be used as the basis for company discipline.

This program allows for a partnership between the Union (AFA), the Company, and the FAA to identify and correct safety hazards and concerns before they develop into a more serious incident.

This newsletter provides de-identified narratives or summaries from a selection of HSAP reports that have been accepted and closed– followed by a discussion of the report and actions taken by the HSAP Event Review Committee.

To file an HSAP report: Click the ‘INTELEX’ icon on the Team AAG website homepage or on your IMD, and log in with your Hawaiian Airlines credentials.

Please continue to submit safety-related issues, hazards and incidents you’ve experienced.

HSAP Events & Topics covered in this report:

• IMD Left on Aircraft on Layover
• Multiple IMD Reports
• Jumpseat Violation
• Not Suitable for HSAP
• B2B Issues
• Carry On Stowage
• Participation with HSAP Event Review Committee

Click here to read the full newsletter and report.

July HSAP Newsletter >>>

Mahalo nui loa,

AFA Events Review Committee (ERC) REPS
Kerri Ruiz, kerri.ruiz@afahawaiian.org
Baron Lee, baron.lee@afahawaiian.org

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Council 43 is on Social Media!

Aloha,

Contract education and communication is a priority for us. We’re excited to implement more ways to connect with our members!

Join our Union Facebook Group

• Connect with Union Reps
• Access information 24/7
• More updates!

Join Now >>>

Get a breakdown of some of the group features below.

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Contract Education

• Post Contract-related questions in the group.
• Get answers from your Local Council Union reps– straight from the source!
• Exclusive access to Contract education content such as webinars, graphics, and reels.

Reminder: Our Union’s “area of responsibility” is our Contract. Please contact the Company for help with questions about pass travel or Fly.

Critical Updates

• Accident on the freeway, inclement weather, irregular operations? Post important updates to give others a heads up!
• Union reps can provide direct guidance where our Contract is applicable.
• Fewer topics covered in this group make it easier to find important information!

Bonus: Union Officers can relay important updates quickly and easily by posting reels or livestreaming.

How To Join The Group

• This is a private group for Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants only.
• HA Flight Attendants from any of our bases are welcome to join!
• Request to join by providing your employee information and agreeing to the group rules.

Reminder: AFA’s Mutual Respect Policy & Social Media Policy apply.

Follow us on Instagram too! @afacouncil43hnl

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2026 Webinar Schedule

The webinar schedule for the remainder of 2026 is finalized!

• August – Benefits
• September – Reserves
• October – PBS – Stacking & Unstacking – Holiday Months
• November – Reserves
• December – LEC 43 Officers – Year-End Review

If there are questions about our webinar or social media accounts, please contact: hnl.lecs@afahawaiian.org

In Solidarity & Pualani Forever,

AFA Hawaiian Council 43, Honolulu Base

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Reserve Webinar | Collaboration Episode

Join us for a collaboration episode of our Reserve Webinar!

Learn about the work being done to prepare for the Reserve section of our Joint Contract.

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 1400 HST -1530 HST

Register Here >>>

• Use a personal email account such as Gmail to register
• Registration will close July 8 @ 1300 HST (one hour prior to Webinar)
• DENIED BOARDING: Alaskaair.com or Hawaiianair.com email addresses are not allowed

If you can’t attend the webinar, you can still submit a question.

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About this Webinar

Council 43 (HNL) Reserve Chairs Joni & Sasha will:

• Report on the current state of our Reserve operation
• Answer your submitted Reserve-related questions
• Find out how many SCRs (Scheduling Clarifications) are Reserve-related

JCBA Reserve Section

• Julie Thorton, AFA Alaska MEC Reserve Chairperson will join us as a guest panelist.
• Kela Chong is representing the Hawaiian MEC Reserve Committee.

Julie and Kela will share the work they’ve been doing these past few months to prepare for the Joint Reserve Section of the JCBA.

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Mahalo Reserve Flight Attendants!!

We are grateful to have a team of dedicated Reserve Flight Attendants who cover for us when we can’t make it to work, back us up when we time out, and ensure that our passengers reach their destination. Mahalo for helping out at our other bases as well!

AFA Hawaiian– No matter where we are!

In Solidarity & Pualani Forever,

AFA Hawaiian Council 43, Honolulu Base

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

A Message From the LEC 43 President

Aloha nui kākou,

I am both excited and humbled to write to you all as the AFA-CWA Local Executive Council 43 President in Honolulu, representing our Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.

Now that my time as your Vice President has come to an end and I begin my new role today, I would first like to say mahalo to everyone who has supported the work and efforts of our leadership this past term. It has been quite the experience and journey, to say the least. We faced significant challenges very early in our term, but I look back with gratitude for how far we have come, what we have persevered through, and the opportunity you gave us to do meaningful work on behalf of our members. Together, we have made a real difference in strengthening our Union.

I would first like to recognize our Local Committee Chairs and committee members who stepped forward to get involved and make a meaningful difference through their dedication and engagement. Their work has strengthened our membership and helped us better serve and support our Flight Attendants. Without the hard work and commitment of our committees, Martin and I simply could not have accomplished what we did. Union work requires more than its elected leaders. It requires a unified effort from everyone involved to keep our Union strong, moving forward, and present for our members.

I also want to express my aloha and mahalo to Martin for his work and dedication this past term as President, not only for our Flight Attendants, but for our Union as a whole in helping establish a strong foundation for future generations. Martin has been an incredible resource and a wealth of knowledge. He has been a trusted mentor, helping me and many others involved in committee work navigate difficult situations with the Company while deepening our understanding of our Contract and the intent behind its language. I could not have asked for a better leader to serve alongside throughout everything we experienced this past term. The progress we have made as a Local Council is a direct reflection of his trust in me and the work we accomplished together. I am especially grateful that Martin has chosen to continue serving in our leadership as Vice President this term. His continued support and partnership mean a great deal to me. While neither of us could have imagined when we first started this journey that we would be where we are today, I am grateful that we are still here together, living, working, and continuing to serve as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.

In addition to our leadership team in Honolulu, I would like to welcome our newly elected LEC Secretary, Soon Kim. Soon has been a tremendous asset to our Communications Committee this past term, working alongside Committee Chair Miki Vericella and committee member Joyce Foley to centralize communications for Honolulu and expand our Zoom webinar series. Soon’s passion has long been centered on human rights, workers’ rights, and advocacy for organized labor. Her experience working with nonprofit organizations, combined with her organizational skills and ability to lead digital initiatives, will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team. I am also pleased to announce her appointment as the Human Rights and Equity Chair for Honolulu in recognition of her dedication to ensuring every Flight Attendant has a voice and representation within our Union.

Looking ahead to this upcoming term as President, my focus will continue to be on serving our Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants in Honolulu. As I have shared before, I intend to build upon the successes we have achieved while strengthening the areas where we can improve our service, support, and representation. The strong foundation our leadership and local committees have built will continue to grow through the collective efforts of everyone involved.

There is a great deal of work ahead of us as we continue this next chapter. We must maintain the progress we have made while remaining vigilant for the challenges ahead. Our industry continues to change rapidly, with no immediate end to that pace of change in sight. As a group, we must work together to stay ahead whenever possible, and we will continue to do everything we can as your leadership to advocate for you, represent you, and preserve our identity as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants here in Hawaiʻi.

We ask for your continued support and willingness to engage with us, even when you may not always agree with every decision we make. Regardless of our differences, we are all in this together. The more unified we are, the stronger and more effective we become as a work group, as a membership, and as a Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant ʻohana.

Our kuleana and our aloha for one another are what continue to set us apart from other carriers and AFA councils. The meaning of union and unity is deeply rooted in who we are as a people and reflects the spirit of the Hawaiian Airlines brand. As I have said before, union work is never finished, and it is never perfect. But every time we each do our part, whether by seeking information from credible sources, reading and understanding our Contract, or simply staying engaged, we become stronger, more informed, and better advocates for ourselves and for one another.

Our Union remains strong because of its members, and we, as your elected leaders, are here to serve, support, and represent every one of you, regardless of your seniority or individual circumstances.

Once again, mahalo for your continued support. I look forward to the work ahead as we continue securing our future here in Hawaiʻi as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants. Please continue to reach out to any member of our leadership team or local committees whenever you need support or representation.

No laila, e huli ka lima i lalo a e paʻa kākou i ka hana.
So, let us turn our palms downward, and let us get to work.

Me ka ha‘aha‘a,

Kela Chong
President
Hawaiian Airlines Local Executive Council 43 – HNL
Association of Flight Attendants – CWA