This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

ʻAuhea wale ana ʻoe e nā manu hāmama lewa, aloha ʻoukou~
Where are you, O birds soaring across the sky, aloha to you all~

February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), a time to celebrate and uplift the Hawaiian language and the many ways it lives through our people and our work.

In recognition of “Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi,” committee members of I Mua Ke Alo: Stewards of Cultural and Language Legacy will be hosting lounge sits in the HNL Airport Crew Lounge on February 12th & 13th throughout the day.  These relaxed, come-and-go sessions are an opportunity to talk story about how ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi shows up in our roles as Flight Attendants at Hawaiian Airlines and how each of us helps carry the language forward through everyday moments of service and connection.

During these lounge sits, we are also happy to share information, answer any questions, and help guide those who are interested in the process of becoming certified to bear the Hae Hawaiʻi, which signifies fluency in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. While full announcements should be made only by certified speakers, we warmly encourage everyone to use Hawaiian words and short phrases in daily interactions and service whenever possible.

This gathering reflects the mission of our committee, to protect the integrity of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and our culture, especially during times of change.  As we prepare for the future, we remain focused on preserving what makes us who we are, ensuring our language and culture continue to be respected, visible, and lived every day.   We invite you to stop by, connect, and join us in uplifting the language and values that guide us.

E kipa mai nō, he wahi kēia no kākou a pau.
Come visit, this is a place for all of us.

Me ka haʻahaʻa,
Nā lālā o “I Mua Ke Alo: Stewards of Cultural & Language Legacy”

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

We hope you’re having a great week. Please join us on Wednesday, February 11th at 11:00 HT for our next LEC 43 webinar.

Our featured panelists, Kerri Ruiz, Randy Rivera, and Baron Lee, will be sharing important updates on the Hawaiian Safety Action Program (HSAP) and walking us through how to navigate fume-related events. This is a great opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and learn directly from your peers.

You’re welcome to submit questions for our panelists during registration or live during the webinar.

Scan the QR code or click HERE to register now. Please use your personal email that is on file with the union to register. Company emails will be denied registration. All members in good standing are welcome to join us.

We hope to see you there.

Scan the QR code or click HERE to register now. Please use your personal email that is on file with the union to register. Company emails will be denied registration. All members in good standing are welcome to join us.

We hope to see you there.

In Solidarity,
LEC 43 Communications Committee
Miki Vericella
Soon Kim
Joyce Foley

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

We are pleased to announce that management has agreed to a seven (7) day grace period to withdraw a notice of intent to retire. The grace period is specifically for the February 1 deadline that a notice of intent to retire must be submitted by to be eligible for the Retiree Health Reimbursement Agreement (RHRA) benefit.

The agreement to extend the RHRA did not include a rescission period, so we approached management with our concern that some people may have second thoughts about retiring. We sincerely appreciate management hearing our concern and supporting you having more time to make this important life decision.

The RHRA benefit will not be available to anyone who retires after April 2, 2026. You must notify the Company by February 1, 2026 of your intent to retire on April 2, 2026, in order to receive the RHRA benefit.

The (RHRA) is an AFA-negotiated benefit that provides some retirees between $10,000 and $30,000, based on their years of service. The funds are available for you to pay for things like medical insurance or medical expenses while in retirement. More information about the RHRA may be found in Section 34-22 of the contract. If you are considering retirement please be sure to review the company-provided retirement planning checklist and the required retirement notification form. 

In Solidarity,

Martin Gusman
President
AFA-CWA Hawaiian Airlines Council 43, Honolulu

Kela Chong
Vice President
AFA-CWA Hawaiian Airlines Council 43, Honolulu

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Aloha pumehana kākou e ka ʻohana,

As we reflect on this moment and the responsibility we carry in our words and actions, we are reminded of the words penned by Queen Liliʻuokalani:

“Mai nānā ʻinoʻino, nā hewa o kānaka
Do not look upon the faults of people with ill intent
Akā e huikala, a maʻemaʻe nō”
But instead forgive and make pure

This communication is being shared on January 17, the anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.  This day reminds us that words, decisions, and the ways they are explained carry lasting consequences.  We offer this reflection not to assign blame, but to reaffirm why ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, our voices, and our cultural identity must always be treated with care, intention, and respect.  It is in that spirit that we are reaching out to the Hawaiian airlines Flight Attendant ʻohana to address concerns that arose following the initial communication about updates to the employee handbook, particularly the removal of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.  It was the framing and messaging of that communication, specifically how the decision was described and justified, that sparked widespread concern, conversation, and hurt across our Flight Attendant ʻohana and the broader community.

First and foremost, we want to be very clear.  The committee members of I Mua Ke Alo: Stewards of Cultural & Language Legacy had no prior knowledge of, nor were we consulted on, the removal of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi from the handbook, nor on the messaging that accompanied that change.  Like many of you, we learned this through the initial communication that was sent, and we were equally surprised and deeply concerned.

As a result, we are actively engaging with the appropriate parties to discuss both the substance of the decision and, critically, how it was communicated. These conversations are ongoing and necessary. We would also like to sincerely acknowledge the support shown by so many of you, whether by sharing your thoughts, speaking with colleagues, reaching out to members of this committee, or simply acknowledging that something about the messaging and reasoning did not feel pono (right). Note how simple it is to include English in parentheses to be inclusive, without removing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi altogether.

 At the same time, we must be honest about what has been especially troubling.  As the ʻōlelo noʻeau warns us, “i ka ʻōlelo nō ke ola, i ka ʻōlelo nō ka make,” in words there is life, and in words there is also harm.  The initial communication framed the removal of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi as an effort toward inclusivity for a broader workforce, a framing that was deeply concerning for many of us. The subsequent revision of the message following widespread backlash only compounded that concern, as it felt less like accountability and more like a reframing of intent. Taken together, the words chosen and the way they were later adjusted caused additional harm and betrayed trust, highlighting how carefully our words must be chosen, because once spoken, they cannot be taken back.

This matter is particularly concerning because standardization and similar justifications have historically been used to erase indigenous languages, not only ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi but indigenous languages worldwide. For many of us, this historical context cannot be separated from the present moment.

Please know that the stewards of this committee remain steadfast in its mission to protect, perpetuate, and advocate for our cultural identity within Hawaiian Airlines.  As stewards of cultural and language legacy, we will continue to engage, to ask difficult questions, and to push for processes that honor who we are before decisions are made, not after.  Mahalo nui loa for your voices, your manaʻo, and your continued commitment to each other and to our culture.  Your voices matter, and they are heard. 

Me ka haʻahaʻa,
Nā lālā o “I Mua Ke Alo: Stewards of Cultural & Language Legacy”