Inaugural Aviation Day hosted by Hawaiian Airlines to spark student interest in aviation

Hawaiian Airlines hosted its inaugural Aviation Day on June 20 to spark student interest in aviation and build a pipeline of future professionals. Held in the airline’s hangar at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, the event welcomed students aged 13 to 18 from across Hawaiʻi. Participants learned about airline operations and career pathways through sessions covering areas including flight experience, airport operations, revenue management, simulation technology, and flight operations, with additional attention to training, maintenance, engineering, and cargo roles. More than 100 Hawaiian Airlines employees facilitated student rotations, and attendees also met community partners and 11 community booth exhibitors, including Hawaiʻi National Guard and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. Approximately 500 students attended, according to Jim Landers, Chief of Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiʻi Operations. The program builds on workforce-development initiatives shared with Alaska Airlines and related student outreach efforts emphasizing safety and discipline.