Hawaiian Airlines: One year of flying high

Hawaiian Airlines, the only US carrier that flies nonstop from Manila to Honolulu four times weekly, has turned one year old. In celebration of this, a luau appreciation party was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City.

It was fitting for Hawaiian Airlines to finally make Manila a flagship route as many Filipinos have already made Hawaii their home away from home. This US state of around 1.2 million people is home to some 180,000 residents of Filipino lineage.

During his early visits to the country, Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO Mark Dunkerley said the deep cultural and historic bond between the Philippines and Hawaii is another major reason for travelers to make more frequent trips. Hawaiian Airlines reported a steady growth of Philippine passenger traffic month after month during its first year of operations in the country.

Aside from Honolulu and other Hawaiian islands, top destinations for passengers flying via Hawaiian Airlines from Manila include Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Phoenix, Sacramento, Portland and San Jose. The significant rate of both incoming and outgoing passengers can also be attributed to the airline company’s aggressive marketing through sales blitzes and promotions. It was for this reason that the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) gave the Best in Marketing Efforts Award to Hawaiian Airlines during the recent Travel Expo.

Hawaiian Airlines’ commitment to operate in the Philippines even goes beyond business as seen from its child-centered activities. Even before it took off for its inaugural flight from Manila on April 17 last year, the company has made donations to Hospicio de San Jose. Furthermore, it took 15 children from Children’s Hour, Gawad Kalinga and Hospicio to a short but fun flight on board Hawaiian Airlines.

Two lucky guests each won two roundtrip tickets (two for Honolulu and two for any West Coast destination) while everyone went home with Hawaiian Airlines giveaways.

Bodies of the Century

A rainy night sizzled during the “Century Tuna Superbods 2009: Bods and Brains Challenge Finals Night” held in Boracay. Twenty-four-year-old entrepreneur Van Victor Leano, who loves sports and music, and 21-year-old music student Theresa Fenger, who enjoys singing and acting, bested 18 candidates to emerge as this year’s winners.

Judges for the competition included former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, fashion designer Rajo Laurel, director Sid Maderazo, Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Zo Aguila, fashion photographer Jun de Leon, PC&V Communications VP Ariel Comia and Century Tuna senior brand manager Angela Gamboa.

Van Victor and Theresa each won P500,000 plus high-end digital cameras courtesy of YKL Fujifilm.

Besides winning the coveted title, Van Victor also won the Superbods Challenge, along with partner Khai Lim, where they competed in five obstacle courses and challenges that started off at the Plazoleta and sent them off on a race to the finish line at the Pearl of the Pacific, the official resort of the competition.

This year’s Century Tuna Superbods 2009 second runners-up were Rey Talosig and Khai Lim; Cherry Ann Kubota and Martin Richard, first runners-up; Ervic Vijandre and Patricia Ejercitado, People’s Choice winners with the most number of online votes; and Terence Lloyd and Cherry Ann Kubota, Mr. and Ms. Superphoto.

Century Tuna Superbods 2009 was sponsored by Pearl of the Pacific, YKL Fujifilm, ETC, C2, A&F magazine, E-games, Havaianas, Charina Sarte swimsuits, Gilbey’s Premium Strength, Strip: The Ministry of Waxing and Envidia.