It just keeps getting better. Hawaiian Airlines has partnered once again with Pow! Wow! to create a brand new mobile masterpiece that can be seen driving around Honolulu Airport, delivering catering to the airline’s fleet of aircraft.
To continue the airline’s support of local and International artists, the airline commissioned Hawai’i and Japan’s top street artists Kamea Hadar and husband and wife duo Hitotzuki during Pow! Wow! Hawai’i, an annual weeklong event in Honolulu that consisted of gallery shows, lectures mural projects and concerts.
“The Hawaiian couple, their head and nose pressed together, sharing ha (breath of life). Hitotzuki (Kami and Sasu Yoshida from Tokyo), recognized for their flowing, symmetric motifs, complemented Kamea’s design with deep tones of blue and crisp white clouds reflective of Hawaiʻi’s picturesque scenery. The design concept was inspired by each culture’s strong sense of selfless service. Omotenashi is the Japanese term to ‘entertain guests wholeheartedly’ and Ho’okipa translates to ‘hospitality’ in Hawaiian. In both Japan and Hawaiʻi, welcoming guests with pride and honor, whether in one’s home or business, is a long-standing and respected tradition.” States Hawaiian Airlines in a recent press release.
It’s not the first year that Hawaiian has celebrated the art festival. In 2015, Hawaiian commissioned acclaimed New Zealand artist duo BMD to paint images depicting the regions’ landscapes and native animals on a similar service vehicle in celebration of the airline’s second anniversary of service to Auckland. In 2014, Hawaiian commissioned Hadar to paint a service vehicle in support of the launch of POW! WOW! Hawaiʻi.
In a first for the airline, the painting of the vehicle took place in front of hundreds of attendees during the event’s kick off festival on February 6th at the Honolulu Night Market.
“Supporting an initiative such as POW! WOW! helps promote the collaboration of local and global artists – stemming from various cultures – who are making incredibly stunning contributions to our community,” said Alisa Onishi, director of brand management for Hawaiian Airlines. “The artists that we bring here are pulling inspiration from our beautiful islands and then incorporating their talents into a unique showcase for our community to enjoy.”
The newly designed Hawaiian Airlines service vehicle, which transports catering materials to aircraft, returned to normal operations at Honolulu International Airport, where passengers can get a glimpse of the exclusive artwork. This marks the third year Hawaiian Airlines has commissioned artists for service vehicle designs but the first year the public has been able to watch the live painting.
The artwork and artists celebrate Hawaiian Airlines intrinsic connection to Japan. Hawaiian Airlines recently announced it will begin service to Narita International Airport starting July 22 and also rolled out a collection of enhanced in-flight services on its Japan routes,
including meals prepared by Chef Lee Anne Wong of Koko Head Café. In October 2015, the airline supported the launch of POW! WOW! Japan in Tokyo’s Tennozu Isle.