The little airline that could is still moving up. We wrote about both Mokulele and the company they are merging with recently in the post Airlines of Hawaii | How Many Do You Remember?
Among its distinctions that include amazing and unparalleled sightseeing opportunities as they fly much lower than jet aircraft, Mokulele will be the only carrier serving Kauai’s Princeville Airport. Mokulele has codeshare agreements with both American and Alaska Airlines.
Makani Kai Air and Mokulele are merging starting June 15, when Mokulele will become the business’ public entity and the place where all bookings will occur. That, after the merger was announced last week and is scheduled to complete later this summer. Both carriers fly the same Grand Caravan aircraft while Makani Kai also flies Piper Chieftain planes.
As a result of the merger, a new route will be added, from Honolulu to Lanai. Other Mokulele/Makani Kai routes also include Honolulu, Hoolehua and Kalaupapa (Molokai), Kapalua, Kahului and Hana (Maui), and Waimea, Kona (Big Island) and Princeville (Kauai). In Honolulu, Mokulele flies out of terminal three, on Aolele Street.
Mokulele Airlines is based at Kona and operates both scheduled and charter flights between Hawaii airports using Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft. The company has been in business a quarter-century and has an interesting past. Last year, Southern Airways acquired Mokulele. Makani Kai is Hawaii owned and has been in business for over two decades.
Aloha. I’m interested in flying into Princeville. Can you please tell me from what airport I would have to depart from to Princeville? Mahalo.
Hi Kaye.
That will be out of Honolulu.
Aloha.
Cessna Grand Caravan, one of the best little airplanes in the world. Plus wing over the body offers great views. Does it do tour trips? It would be awesome if it did with places to see such as the Napali Cliffs and the Molokai cliffs on the side where Kalaupapa stay.
Eddie
Could you please tell me if all of these smaller airports offer car rental with comparable prices to the bigger airports? I think using this airline would offer some special scenes that would almost make as good as a tour when hopping from island to island, especially going from big island to Kauai. Do they take a route that would provide stunning viewing of the other islands? How do they compare pricewise?
Hi Mike.
Suggest you give Mokulele a call to better answer your good questions than we can. We haven’t flown them for a few years but have really enjoyed flights with them and they focused on the flightseeing aspect which was great.
Aloha.
Thank you. The article uses the phrase flightseeing. This is interesting. So do they offer some type of sightseeing flight that would depart Kahalui and fly around Maui and Molokai for 2 or 3 hours and then return? Similar to the helicopter tours. Thank you for your article’s.
Hi Jim.
They have both charter where you can specify exactly that or regular scheduled flights that aren’t specifically sightseeing. But from our own experience, they excelled in offering great views. It’s part of their business that makes them unique.
Aloha.
We flew Mokulele back in 2010 flying from OGG to HNL, great experience actually, glad to hear this news for them!
Sure would be great if they would come to Hilo!!!!
Thank you for the great news!
Love Mokulele!
Hi Laurel.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Curious to know whether you know what guidelines will Mokulele and the other inter island carriers will institute. Temp checks, limits to passenger numbers, etc?