It’s rare for a sound to vanish from the sky, but on Wednesday morning, one will. When flight HA866 from Pago Pago in American Samoa lands in Honolulu at 5:39 a.m., it will mark the last time the words “Hawaiian eight six six heavy” echo over island air traffic radio.
This moment marks the completion of Hawaiian’s merger with Alaska Airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration has retired Hawaiian’s HA call sign and code, officially moving all flights to Alaska’s AS identifier. For 95 years, Hawaiian Airlines bridged Hawaii’s distance with warmth and grace. Flight HA866 will quietly close a chapter that began in 1929.
For travelers, the aircraft and the smiles may look familiar. But behind the scenes, the transition is complete.
Key details of the last HA.
Final HA flight: HA866, Pago Pago to Honolulu
Landing time: 5:39 a.m., October 29, 2025
Years of operation: 95 (1929–2025)
New call sign: AS (Alaska Airlines)
What stays: Hawaiian livery, branding on island routes (at least for now)
What changes: Flight codes, operations, pilot communications
We’ve been part of many celebrations with Hawaiian Airlines over the past 20 years. Our lead photo shows Rob (BOH editor) outside Grand Central Station in New York in 2012, to mark the start of service between HNL and JFK. We were also there for the inaugural A321neo Hawaiian flight from Maui. And editor Jeff attended the Dreamliner preview at HNL. It’s sad for us here at Beat of Hawaii to see the HA call sign ending.
What Hawaiian Airlines passengers need to know.
Existing tickets remain valid. Passengers booked under HA numbers will automatically transition to Alaska’s AS code, with no action required.
HawaiianMiles members have been migrated into the Atmos Rewards system, which Alaska launched earlier this year. For most travelers, balances and elite tiers transferred easily, but the program’s structure still feels different. Free meals, island music, and signature touches will continue on flights branded as Hawaiian for now.
Hawaiian’s A330s will keep their familiar pink-and-purple Pualani tails while fleet integration continues. A new paint scheme may or may not be part of the plans.
“I’ve flown Hawaiian since my honeymoon in 1982. There was nothing like hearing that call sign as we approached Honolulu. It always felt like coming home.” — Ken
“I hope the friendly crews and local food don’t change. That’s what makes Hawaiian feel different from every other airline.” — Debbie
“If Alaska keeps the people, not just the planes, they’ll keep what made Hawaiian special.” — Chris
Hawaiian Airlines’ humble beginnings: flying boats and Bellancas.
Hawaiian’s story began long before there were jets or even paved runways. Its roots trace back to Inter-Island Airways and the Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, which first linked Honolulu and Hilo in 1929.
Those first flights were part adventure and part experiment. Within a decade, Inter-Island Airways added Sikorsky flying boats that touched down directly on Hilo Bay. By the 1940s, the airline had evolved into Hawaiian Airlines, a name that remains inseparable from island life to this day.
The Jet Age: When flying Hawaiian was an integral part of the vacation.
In the 1950s and 60s, flying Hawaiian wasn’t just transportation. It was stepping into a world where the journey itself felt like a vacation.
Flight attendants welcomed passengers with leis, ukuleles, and island warmth. These tailored jackets gave way to pillbox hats, and eventually to bold prints that matched the mood of the changing times.
When Hawaiian introduced the DC-9, under half-hour hops between islands became routine. The hum of those engines defined daily life across the state, connecting commuters, students, and visitors through Honolulu’s open-air terminal.
Hawaiian’s 1970s transformation: L-1011s and the iconic Pualani brand.
The 1970s ushered in bold colors, mod prints, and a new fleet to match the era’s energy.
Hawaiian joined the global jet age with its new L-1011 TriStars, elegant three-engine jets with bright hibiscus tails, opening nonstop flights to the mainland.
Onboard lounges, elaborate tropical meal service, and even bar seating made long-haul flying feel like a tropical vacation.
Those years also gave rise to Pualani, the “flower of the sky,” the smiling face that became the symbol of island homecoming for generations of travelers.
The modern era: from Convairs to A330s.
By the 1990s and 2000s, Hawaiian had transformed again with new branding, new destinations, new fleets, and a renewed focus on domestic and international long-haul routes.
The airline retired its DC-10s in favor of Boeing 767s and later Airbus A330s, followed by A321neos, expanding deep into the Pacific and to the U.S. mainland.
The A330/A321 fleets remain the backbone of Hawaiian’s international and transpacific network. Under Alaska’s certificate, those aircraft will continue flying. Still, for the first time in nearly a century, they will do so without the HA identifier found anywhere in their flight plans.
What happens to Hawaiian Airlines employees after the merger?
The merger affects roughly 7,000 Hawaiian Airlines employees, all now part of Alaska’s corporate family. Pilots and flight attendants are still working to retain their seniority under the upcoming merged labor agreements, but training, systems, and scheduling are already transitioning to Alaska’s standards.
Executives have said both brands will continue to operate with unique identities for now. Yet many employees acknowledge uncertainty about how long that duality in structure can last.
Ground agents told us this week that Hawaiian Airlines uniforms are also being retired, with staff transitioning to Alaska Airlines uniforms. They said the change would take effect immediately as the merger moves under one operating certificate. When we asked flight attendants about their own uniforms, they hadn’t yet been told whether they would also change or when.
“I worked for the airline for 23 years. We were a family. I hope Alaska understands that what made Hawaiian special wasn’t just the paint job.” — Leilani
“It’s bittersweet. We knew this was coming, but hearing the HA call sign vanish still hits hard.” — Jordan
Why the HA call sign will be missed.
Retiring the HA call sign isn’t just an administrative change. It’s the end of a voice and a history, every clearance, every landing, every exchange between pilot and tower.
When HA866 lands in Honolulu on October 29, it will close the last active flight plan bearing that call sign. Operationally, the HA era is over.
“As a kid, I watched those DC-9s take off from Kahului every day. It’s hard to imagine island skies without them.” — Paul
“Losing the Hawaiian name in the sky feels like losing part of Hawaii itself.” — Cindy
What remains for travelers and crews.
The faces, the service, and the aircraft will still carry the Hawaiian name for now. But after Wednesday, they will fly under Alaska’s code and call sign. It’s a practical shift, but emotionally, it feels like the end of something much more.
For travelers, the merger means expanded connectivity and reciprocal elite benefits. But Hawaiian was more than an airline. It was an identity. Its call sign connected generations of island residents, visitors, and employees in a uniquely local way that no system integration can replace.
What’s your earliest memory of flying Hawaiian Airlines?
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
I’ve been a loyal Hawaiian Airlines passenger since 1992 when hurricane Iniki hit Kaua’i. We were scheduled to go to Kauai about 3 weeks after the hurricane hit. I had made the trip reservations through Delta Airlines,so I called them to see what we needed to do. I explained the situation and the person on the phone said “What do you want me to do ?”. I almost paniced and remembered the interisland flights were booked on Hawaiian, so I called them, a young lady answered and I explained we were scheduled to go to Kaua’i in three weeks. She chuckled and said “Well you aren’t goint to Kaua’i, where else would you like to go?” Painless to correct the problem. From that day forward I never booked a trip on any airline but Hawaiian (to Hawaii.) That’s 33 years, 2 trips a year. Round trip from CA with numerous interisland flights, and not 1 single problem. I’m concerned the whole operation will faulter due to the merger. But what can we do? Keep our fingers crossed.
I’ve lived in Hawaii since 1980. For 25 years I actively flew light aircraft around this beautiful state.
First “Aloha” dropped off the air frequencies. And now “Hawaiian” is gone as well. I realize that business is business, but indulge me just a bit of nostalgia and emotion… This Is So Sad!! Now our main interisland carriers are on frequency as “Alaska” and “Southwest.” WT*??!
Fighting back a tear here, guyz… *sniff* *sniff*
P.S. Very informative article. Thank you. Outstanding vintage pics!
Alaska Air Group owns Alaska Horizon and now Hawaiian Airlines. It’s sad that Hawaiian apparently will end up being merged into Alaska Airlines and undoubtedly the HA brand will vanish into history as did the airline I worked for. Alaska is a very conservative profit driven operator with prior dubious aircraft maintenance issues culminating in the AS261 MD80 crash in 2000. Just saying to the employees……. cya and be safe…
The last petal from Pualani’s beautiful flower has been plucked. Hawaiian Airlines is no more. All pau.
I have spoken the words “Hawaiian xxx” to air traffic controllers around the world for the past 26 years. Saying the radio call sign “Alaska” from now on will be a very hard transition to make.
A huge “Mahalo!” to all the guests who have flown with Hawaiian Airlines for the past 95+ years! We couldn’t have done it without you! Aloha!
I will miss Hawaiian airlines and hope that most of its employees will continue to be employed thru the transition and moving forward as they were an important part of the airlines as were their service to the customers and passengers
Just repeat it twice. HAHA!!!! No wonder Alaska wants to get rid of this flight acronym.
Inter-Island Airways, Hawaiian Air’s earlier name, flew two Sikorsky S-38 seaplanes to Hilo (stopping on Maui) that first day on 11/11/1929. The Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker landplane was technically the first aircraft the company purchased, but it wasn’t used to ferry passengers between the islands. It was used on Oahu to introduce residents to the concept and experience of air travel instead of travel by steamship.
My first trip from LA to Honolulu was on World Airlines in 1976. Once in Honolulu I got on a Hawaiian flight to Maui with locals that had some chicken’s on their lap in cages. It was a hoot! Spent the next week upcountry in Kula with future ex-inlaws, I fell in love with Lahaina and Makawou. Have returned to all the islands frequently flying Hawaiian, last trip to celebrate my 70th birthday on top of Holeokola! Spp, I know..
While we might mourn the loss of the Hawaiian callsign and code, at least the employees continue to work at a now better managed airline. Unfortunately years of poor management brought Hawaiian to the brink of collapse.
I’m not entirely sure why Alaska could not have maintained dual brands and codes. Possibly a limitation of their 2nd tier technology (Sabre). It’s clear that Amadeus based airlines have had no problem maintaining multiple brands and codes on the same mainframe (Iberia / Level, Air France / KLM).
What about Hawaiian’s DC-8s (-62/-63/-70)
Didn’t they have up to 11 of them & weren’t they flown from 1983 (for charters)/1984 (scheduled service) until 1994, when they were retired in favor of DC-10s?
We as Hawaiians born and raised here in Hawaii r very proud of all the people who made Hawaiian airlines so special we won’t forget this chapter of our lives., family members chun,narisco,taui ,kehi , Bray,nahalea,,so many more madita,list goes on.mahalo for ur awesomeness making others feel great.thank you Hawaiian Air Will Truly Be Missed
My wife flew for Western Airlines from the 60’s to the 90’s. When they merged with Delta, the seniority issue was tedious. And the passes for family members changed for Western employees, for the worse.
Delta offered buyouts for Western people, but treated us poorly…
Watch out…..Hawaiian employees…..
Seniority isn’t going to be an issue for the major unions. The Flight Attendant groups at both carriers are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants and the merger policy is already established: Date-of-Hire. In fact, the most senior flight attendants at the merged carrier are from Hawaiian (hired when LBJ was POTUS). Moreover, the Hawaiian employees are all becoming Alaska employees and get the Alaska pass benefits. Trust me when I say this: They are among the most generous in the industry, even for family.
The Hawaiian Airlines brand isn’t going anyway. It just got stronger with a better management team, more resources, and more opportunities.
Yeah, you hope! This is going to arbitration! That would probably work if it were a “merger” of equals and not an “acquisition.”
Hawaiian brought nothing to the table except debts and airplanes they couldn’t afford!
Decisions and policy have consequences… the States decisions and policies over the last several years contributed to the fall of Hawaiian Airlines.
You get what you vote for.
We have been loyal customers of HA and sad to see HA call sign is ending. Flew Hawaiian from the mainland to OGG. recently. It would be great to keep the HA branding and level of service. The flight crew mentioned the complementary food offered will eventually go away and our Pualani Gold level no longer includes the premier lounge as we were denied access at OGG and told it was effective October 1, 2025!
Hope they keep it Hawaiian or it will eventually fail…! Work clothes and the name on the jet! Aloha’s🤙🏼
As loyal Hawaiian Airlines platinum customers for 50 plus years, we are very disappointed that we no longer can use our HA miles (now Atmos points) to upgrade our seats. We hope that Alaska will reconsider their policy to allow us points to upgrade seats.
We are long time HA travelers from the California (40+ years). Have been apprehensive about Alaska’s HA acquisition. But, must report we just scheduled a trip and it went well with ATMOS. Fairly easy to use, HA miles were used for upgrade with no problems.
First flight with HA was June, 1965 from HNL to LIH. Can’t remember if it was the Convair 340, or one of the newly converted turbo-prop Convair 640s. I was 17 at that time, and felt really exotic for a kid from Ohio. The only HA plane I have not flown on all these years is the new 787. Great memories from all of those flights, be they short inter-island or Trans-Pacific.
Aloha to all.
I think Alaska doesn’t realize that by phasing the Hawaiian side of this company, you lose the symbolism and the uniqueness of the brand. It is the only one of it’s kind for Hawaii. You would think their execs would understand this, as Alaska is also unique to a region. If Hawaiian brands, uniforms, logos and link to the islands, goes away, then you lose the reason for flying this airline in the first place. For anyone flying to and from Hawaii or inter-island, you expect classy island touches. Why would you associate and support Alaska in Hawaii more than any other main carrier? If you want to compete with Delta, American or United, then why merge and then erase the one thing you have going for the brand you collaborated with? Why erase the association of the brand with the one thing the brand had going for it…basically with Hawaiian, you expect class, leisure, friendliness, and aloha. You should keep the uniqueness of the brand vs eliminating it.