Hawaii
Who is Kamaka Air? Here’s what we know
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Kamaka Air Inc. was founded in 1993 as a local airline.
It is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as an inter-island airline and logistics company for per-pound air cargo services and non-scheduled charters.
Its recent history is an example of consolidation happening in the general aviation industry across the country.
In February 2022, RLG Capital and Trinity Private Equity Group acquired an 80-percent majority stake in the airline.
Most of its aircraft are single-engine Cessna Caravan’s like the one that crashed on Tuesday. These are extremely reliable aircraft with the capability of short landings and takeoffs needed to serve airports especially on Molokai and Lanai, so they are essential in serving those small communities.
The one that crashed on Tuesday was not particularly old. It was built in 2011.
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When Mokulele airlines — which provides essential air service to Molokai and Lanai — had trouble meeting its schedules last year, Kamaka Air began offering charter flights for passengers as well.
In January 2023, a Kamaka Air flight crashed near the Molokai airport. The plane was totaled but the pilot and copilot walked away with minor injuries.
In May 2024, Kamaka Air put out a press release saying it was under new ownership and new leadership with complete support of the existing leadership of Kamaka.
It promised a smooth transition but ran into trouble filling key jobs, including a chief pilot and director of flight operations.
That made the FAA uncomfortable, so the company shut down temporarily and returned to service within a couple of weeks.
Kamaka Air is proud of its history in serving during hard times. Their planes were used to deliver emergency supplies of COVID tests to Lanai and food to Kauai during the pandemic, and food and other emergency supplies to Maui after the wildfires.
As federal aviation authorities investigate, the airline will be scrutinized for its operations and safety protocols, and whether it was fully in compliance with FAA certification requirements.
David Hinderland, Kamaka Air CEO, issued the following statement:
“It is with heavy hearts that Kamaka Air confirms the loss of two members of the Kamaka Air family in an accident at 3:13 this afternoon near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. We are not releasing the names of the pilots until family members have had a chance to process this tragedy, and we hope the media will give them the same consideration.
In the meantime, we are making ourselves available to the Hawaiian Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Administration for investigation into this accident, and we will also share appropriate information with the media as it is confirmed over the coming hours and days.
At this time, we ask for your patience, as you know the urgency of getting correct information that not only offers a clear understanding of what happened, but to assure that the information is handled appropriately.”
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is demanding a seat at the table as Gov. Josh Green works to negotiate new military training land leases with the federal government.
OHA Chair Kai Kahele said there is time to bring the public and Native Hawaiians into the process, despite the governor’s concerns about federal condemnation of the properties.
The Army secretary said he wanted to settle new training leases in Hawaii by the end of the year. Green has interpreted this as a threat that the federal government might take the properties unilaterally.
OHA calls for meaningful participation
“Native Hawaiians want a seat at the table, and it’s very important that Native Hawaiian voices are part of, not just discussion in an advisory capacity,” Kahele said Tuesday morning on Hawaii News Now Sunrise.
Green returned from meetings with the Trump administration in October with plans to have a negotiating team in place by now. He has already outlined a $10 billion list of demands in return for new leases.
“I don’t want the federal government to act unilaterally and doing a taking,” he said on Oct. 21. “I don’t want them to condemn our lands, I want them to go through the regular process, but I have heard from them directly that they intend to take the opportunity because of national security concerns.”
Timeline concerns
Kahele questioned the short timeline, noting the current leases don’t expire until 2029.
“It seems that this fear and notion that condemnation is not only possible but inevitable is what seems to be the driving all of these decisions, which are rushed,” Kahele said.
In a letter, Kahele said the “compressed timeline sidelines both the OHA and the general public—who have rights to notice and participation … and the Legislature.”
Kahele pointed out the U.S. Senate has already drafted a negotiating process in the in National Defense Authorization Act that would last until 2031. Congressman Ed Case is involved in drafting that legislation in the U.S. House.
“I’ve been involved in this myself in terms of trying to fund out of appropriations, a process by which people would at least discuss it with each other,” Case said. “But it’s absolutely critical that everybody feel that they had a say in it.”
Governor’s response
The governor’s office issued a statement saying “The Governor will be convening an advisory group made up of key community members and Native Hawaiian leaders, including OHA, over the next two weeks.”
Kahele said OHA wants more than an advisory role.
“We do not want to be a token advisory group that does not have a seat at the table and is not taken seriously and does not have a vote,” Kahele said.
Native Hawaiians and OHA have leverage in the situation because the state constitution requires they be considered, consulted and compensated for any use of lands that were part of the overthrown kingdom.
Previous coverage
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Frequent flyers know that Los Angeles International Airport can be a nightmare to navigate. But for most SoCal residents planning trips to Hawaii — especially those interested in direct flights on major airlines like Delta and American — passing through LAX is a necessary evil. Luckily, there’s good news for travelers considering an island getaway in 2026. Thanks to Alaska Airlines’ new service from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), set to launch in May 2026, the trip is about to get dramatically easier.
“Hollywood Burbank Airport is honored to be selected by Alaska Airlines as the next Southern California gateway to my home state,” said John Hatanaka, the airport’s Executive Director, to local television station KTLA. “Our mahalo nui loa (‘thank you very much’) to Alaska for making our hope of having air service once again to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport a reality.” Hatanaka’s statement refers to the fact that direct flights once existed between the two airports. More than two decades ago, between 2002 and 2005, Aloha Airlines flew the route, though service was discontinued when the struggling airline filed for bankruptcy. (In 2008, the company folded.)
Fast-forward to 2024, when Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines, expanding services throughout the region and establishing Honolulu as the company’s second-largest hub. The stage was set for a roll-out of more flights to the islands. “By the joining of these two airlines, a stronger company will emerge and offer more travel options for Hawai’i residents and local businesses,” predicted Hawaiian governor Josh Green.
Alaska Airlines announces new direct service to Honolulu
Alaska Airlines announced direct flights from Burbank to Honolulu in October 2025, and the news has been widely well-received. After all, Hollywood Burbank is already a favorite among L.A. residents. It’s one of the least crowded airports in the country, and it’s conveniently located to both the Valley and downtown. Compared to LAX, the airport offers cheaper parking options and shorter security lines. And improvements are coming in 2026: Burbank’s modernized terminal will feature upgraded seating areas and enhanced dining options, all set to be unveiled in October.
The new service will streamline the experience of flying from L.A. to Hawaii. Alaska Airlines travelers currently spend about ten hours making the trip from BUR to HNL, as the itinerary includes stops in hubs like Portland or Seattle. But on upcoming direct flights, the trip will last around six hours. Though introductory fares have yet to be publicized, travel experts suggest that flights between the two airports will likely cost $199 to $299 each way, at least during the introductory period.
There’s hardly been a better time to plan an escape from L.A., and it doesn’t hurt that Honolulu’s airport, considered one of the best airports in America for winter travel, is a gateway to tropical paradise. From there, you can hop on a shorter flight to one of the islands, or stay closer to the city and enjoy these amazing experiences you can only have on O’ahu.
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK (HawaiiNewsNow) – After just over five hours, the latest episode of Kilauea’s eruption began and ended Sunday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said episode 36 began at around 11:15 a.m. with fountains from the north vent that reached about 500 feet high, while fountains from the south vent were about one-third as high.
At around 3:35 p.m., USGS said the south vent remained up to 1,000 feet high, but began dropping at around 3:48 p.m.
The eruption ended at around 4:16 p.m., and USGS said it 10-11 cubic yards of lava that covered over half of the crater.
USGS said episode 36 was preceded by over 180 lava overflow-drainback events at the north vent on Nov. 3, with the south vent following the next day.
According to the National Weather Service, winds are blowing from the northeast, and the USGS believes volcanic gas emissions and material may be distributed to the southwest of the summit of Kilauea.
Shortly before 12:30 p.m., the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said ashfall and tephra are likely to affect the Kau district.
Officials recommend that those with respiratory sensitivities take extra precautions to minimize exposure.
CDA advises drivers to be cautious on the road as visibility may be reduced.
Watch episode 36 here:
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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