This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in our Flight Attendant ʻohana!

Just like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day holds a unique and personal significance for each of us. For many of us, our fathers not only taught us practical life skills but also instilled character by teaching us resilience and the importance of taking responsibility for our actions.

Today is a day when we recognize the sacrifice and hard work that fathers bring to their families and to our workplace. Whether you’re celebrating with family, remembering a loved one, or at work today, we want you to know that we appreciate your contribution and thank you for all that you are and do – this day is for you!

Mahalo!

Martin Gusman & Kela Chong

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

The Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1963, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that “all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious States “are, and henceforward shall be free.”

Enforcement of the proclamation took nearly two and a half years, and ended on June 19, 1865 when 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were finally emancipated (freed) from slavery.

Why We Celebrate Juneteenth

“Juneteenth” (June 19th) commemorates emancipation, and honors the lives and labor of those whose enslavement called for the proclamation.

Their contributions to society helped jumpstart a wave of labor movements around the globe including the founding and organization of Labor Unions.

Emancipation in Hawaiʻi

The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi Constitution, enacted by Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III in 1852 explicitly outlawed slavery (Article 12) thirteen years before the final Emancipation Proclamation enforcement in Texas:

“Slavery shall, under no circumstances whatever, be tolerated in the Hawaiian Islands: whenever a slave shall enter Hawaiian territory he shall be free; no person who imports a slave, or slaves, into the King’s dominions shall ever enjoy any civil or political rights in this realm…”

Article 12 challenged the norm to extend grace and protection to a vulnerable and oppressed class. This, and other Hawaiian laws and values call for solidarity and kindness toward others.

Emancipation, Unions, and Solidarity

Hawaiʻi has the highest rate of Union membership (24.8%) compared to other jurisdictions on the continent.

The high rate of Union membership in Hawaiʻi is the product of labor movements. Many of these movements were organized on plantations; however, labor movements today span many industries.

Communities were formed on those plantations among people who were meant to remain divided.

Unions Feed Our Communities

Community, kindness, and good food is central our cultural and social norms. These factors are central because we recognize food as a basic human right, and do not hesitate to share it and other resources with others.

When our ability to put food on the table is jeopardized, it doesn’t affect us individually– it affects those around us as well. For this reason, Labor Unions remain strong in Hawaiʻi.

The history of exploited labor on plantations is a grim reminder what’s to come if we cease to take action or lose hope. Behind every change is someone who was ruthlessly hopeful. More importantly, it’s important that we have a reason to keep going.

We don’t need to outrun every change or topple every obstacle. Sometimes, just going is enough.

WE are “The Union.”

Labor Unions are the vanguard (frontline forces) that protect the working class from becoming a class of slaves. Every member of a Labor Union upholds this boundary just by being a member. Strength in numbers!

As a Labor Union, we honor those who keep society afloat: Workers like us! There is no such thing as unskilled labor; everyone deserves fair pay for their contributions.

On this day, the 19th of June, we commemorate those who fought to improve work conditions and strengthen labor laws for all– up to and including emancipation.

Happy Juneteenth – Emancipation Day!

In Solidarity & Pualani Forever,

AFA Hawaiian, Local Council 43 (Honolulu Base)
WE are the Union!

PS: CWA National Human Rights Conference

Are you passionate about human rights? CWA will host a National Human Rights Conference in Peachtree, Georgia August 16 – 19.

Learn more:https://cwahumanrights.com/

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Mother’s Day has a special, personal meaning for each of us. The lifelong bonds we share with our mothers lay the foundation of our ability to love and to express compassion and empathy throughout our lives. Oftentimes, our mothers have been our best examples of self-sacrifice, strength, and resilience in our lives. Regardless of our age or status, there will always be a part of us, our inner child, that will remain connected to our mothers like no one else. We are blessed for all that our mothers have given us, and we have the good fortune to work alongside so many wonderful moms at Hawaiian Airlines. Thank you for all that you are and do – this day is for you!

Happy Mother’s Day!
Martin Gusman & Kela Chong

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Important Rules Regarding Turns

Here are a few important rules to know about operating a turn, particularly if your scheduled duty period is over 14 hours:

• Augmented Crew: In order for a crew to be scheduled over 14 hours, the crew needs to be augmented with an additional Flight Attendant, which then allows the crew to be scheduled up to 16 hours on duty. Once an augmented crew has reported for duty, they may actually work up to 18 hours. Please note that an augmented crew is not the same as an ER flight with a 10^th Flight Attendant. An ER flight with a 10^th FA for crew-to-load staffing is still a standard crew.
  
• Crew Rest Seats: In order for a crew to operate the flight as an augmented crew, designated crew rest seats or the LDMCR must be provided or be available. On the A321 the crew rest seats are 45 GHJ, and on the A330, the LDMCR is used for crew rest. If the LDMCR is not available for use, rows 45 and 46 CEG must be provided as crew rest seats. Again, without the crew rest seats or an available LDMCR the crew is treated as a standard crew.
  
• Exceeding Actual On-Duty Limits: If your turn is delayed during the day of operation, you have the option to exceed the actual on-duty limit by contacting Crew Scheduling (as provided by Section 7.F.2.b. of the contract on page 7-22). When calculating your projected duty time, be sure to use the scheduled bid packet block time (as provided by Section 7.F.2.c. of the contract on page 7-23). CrewTrac or any related scheduling app will show an updated plan time for the flight, which will often be reduced. Crew Scheduling is required to show the updated plan time, but we use scheduled bid packet block time when calculating our duty time.

LQ Premium Pay Errors

It has come to our attention that there may be a systemic problem with the way language-qualified premiums are being paid by the company. Although the premiums for Lead-qualified Flight Attendants are slightly more complicated due to the variables of the position the Flight Attendant is working and the cabin in which they are working, there are errors that cannot be explained. We are in the process of scheduling a meeting with Crew Scheduling and Crew Payroll to get this resolved as quickly as possible.

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month – a month-long celebration that recognizes and acknowledges the history, culture, achievements and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to American society. In recognition and celebration of AAPI month, AFA offers AAPI pins for you to proudly wear on your uniform. Ask one of your Local Officers (or email us at hnl@afahawaiian.org ) for a pin.

Council 43 Elections

This is a friendly reminder that the Alaska-Hawaiian Council 43 elections have begun. Local Council Officers will need to be elected for the term beginning on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2029, as provided by the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws.

Voting notices with credentials to access the electronic ballot were mailed on April 30, 2026, and voting began on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. If you did not receive a voting notice and guide in the mail, please complete this Activation Code Request form to obtain a new 16-digit activation code. Once your account is reviewed by AFA Membership Services, a new single-use activation code will be sent via the balloting system to the personal email address you provide. Please note that only members in good standing will be allowed to vote in the election. You may check your membership standing by going to the AFA Membership Hub.

AFA elections are governed by procedures outlined in the Association’s Constitution & Bylaws, Article VIII and the AFA Policy Manual. For more information, please visit afacwa-elections.org.

Updated Council 43 Committee Roster

Our Council 43 Roster has been updated and moved to its new home at the Alaska-Hawaiian AFA website (afaalaska.org), and may be found on the HNL Council 43 Committee page (https://afaalaska.org/hnl/committees). Please bookmark the page for future reference. In addition you’ll find our 2025 Contract Extension as well as the 2025 SEA Domicile LOA.