{"id":2815,"date":"2026-07-20T05:04:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2815"},"modified":"2026-07-20T05:04:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:04:32","slug":"airlines-compete-for-lanai-air-service-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2815","title":{"rendered":"Airlines compete for Lanai air service contract"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<section>\n<p>HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) &#8211; The competition is on between several airlines vying to become the essential air carrier to the island of Lanai.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2813\">Hundreds gather for art therapy at UH Cancer Center<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mokulele Airlines is the only commercial airline currently servicing the island, and has been receiving federal subsidies to do so.<\/p>\n<p>The company is defending its position, and touting its performance, with a 98 percent completion rate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would basically put that record against anybody. That record is very clear and our commitment is very clear, and we\u2019re very proud of that,\u201d Mokulele president Louis Saint-Cyr said. <\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s not the first time Lanai\u2019s sole commercial carrier is competing to supply essential air service to and from the island. <\/p>\n<p>In 2024, Mokulele requested the federal funding, prompting the U.S. Department of Transportation to open bids to other airlines. <\/p>\n<p>Since then, the airline has invested more than $22 million in its Hawaii network. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe made a commitment to our constituents and the island communities that we would do this and we\u2019ve done that,\u201d Saint-Cyr added. <\/p>\n<p>Isle State Sen. Lynn DeCoite and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are backing the airline\u2019s proposal. <\/p>\n<p>Maui Mayor Richard Bissen supported Mokulele during the bidding two years ago, but is now endorsing another contender, Pacific Air Charters. <\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2811\">Nearly 150 guns turned in during Hawaii Island buyback event<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat our goal is for the people of Lanai is to give them an affordable option, a safe option, a reliable option for air travel,\u201d said Kapukini Kalahiki with Pacific Air Charters.<\/p>\n<p>The charter company is pursuing the routes after losing the bid to Mokulele two years ago.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>If awarded, the agreement would be the carrier\u2019s first time providing scheduled service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t have any issues with safety, we don\u2019t have any issues with reliability. Everyone who starts scheduled service has to start somewhere. We are Hawaii-based and Hawaii-operated by local executives making decisions for our people that are here in the islands, so I think that\u2019s what really makes us stand out,\u201d Kalahiki said.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a third competitor as well, Massachusetts-based Cape Air, which recently held a meeting with Lanai residents. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing, like just to, you know, introduce themselves to the community and say what they\u2019re all about. I think that, you know, having competing airlines on this island is a good thing,\u201d said Lanai resident Ross Morita.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Hawaii News Now reached out to Cape Air for comment, and we\u2019re waiting to hear back. <\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Transportation is reviewing the proposals for the new contract term, which is set to begin Sept. 1.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2809\">E-motorcyclist critically injured in Makiki crash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mokulele is currently the only commercial airline servicing Lanai. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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