Hawaiian Airlines Contributes an Additional $100,000 to the Polynesian Voyaging Society's Worldwide Voyage

Donation Tied to Activation of Hawaiian Airlines World Elite® MasterCard

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Sep 02, 2014, 05:15 ET

HONOLULU, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The successful launch of the Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite MasterCard has generated an additional $100,000 in funding for the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage Sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines. The donation is the maximum amount pledged by the airline and its credit card partners MasterCard, Barclaycard US and Bank of Hawaii. The companies made contributions for each credit card activated between the card's launch on February 24 and May 13, 2014.

The funds are available on an unrestricted basis to further the voyage's mission of global sustainability. The donation augments Hawaiian Airlines' previously announced commitment of 32 million air miles for crew travel as well as cargo support to transport supplies throughout the Pacific.

"We are proud to be the lead supporter of Malama Honua and its mission to change the way we approach our planet's natural and cultural resources, and are pleased to be able to use this latest opportunity to further support and encourage this epic undertaking," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive officer.

"We are very grateful to Hawaiian Airlines for its steadfast commitment to Malama Honua," said Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) President Nainoa Thompson. "Our first international leg was tremendously successful. Ongoing support such as this is critical if we are to succeed in inspiring young people throughout the world to care for and sustain our planet and co-exist in peace and compassion."

Malama Honua, to care for our earth, is a four-year journey by the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule'a and the research canoe Hikianalia across the earth's oceans. Powered by the wind, guided by the stars, and based on the culture of ancient Polynesian navigators, the voyage will cover a total of 47,000 nautical miles and will visit 85 ports in 26 countries.

Hokule'a and Hikianalia began their passage across the Pacific on May 30, departing from Hilo on Hawai'i Island and arriving in Papeete, Tahiti on June 22, 2014. The canoes traveled throughout French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, visiting marae, learning about shared culture and history and conducting port education programs about navigation and the voyage.

The canoes arrived in Apia, Samoa on August 31, 2014, where PVS will participate in the United Nations Small Island Developing States Conference. The conference will highlight the importance of sustainability efforts in islands and oceans throughout the world.

About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian^® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 10 years (2004-2013) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the highest of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 85th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air service from its primary visitor markets on the U.S. Mainland. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 200 daily flights system-wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com

About the Polynesian Voyaging Society
The Polynesian Voyaging Society was founded in 1973 on a legacy of Pacific Ocean Exploration, seeking to perpetuate the art and science of traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through experiential educational programs that inspire students and their communities to respect and care for themselves, one another, and their natural and cultural environments.

For more information about the PVS and the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, visit www.hokulea.com.

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SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines