Thoughts on Mokulele

Every resident of Molokai who has flown on Mokulele Airlines since they began service in 2007 can tell you a horror story about their travel experience. Because of Mokulele’s delays and cancellations, business appointments, graduations, weddings, mainland fights, and most importantly, crucial medical appointments have been missed – which are often scheduled months ahead of time.  

Mokulele’s sporadic scheduling has also caused economic stress on an island that can ill afford it. Many of my acquaintances make their reservations a day early on Oahu and stay overnight just so a late flight will not cause them to miss a crucial meeting. Often, this involves large costs for ground transportation, extra meals and hotel accommodations. With the cost of living being what it is on Molokai, our people do not need any additional economic burdens. 

My sympathy goes out to the desk clerks who face irate customers day after day. The people who are going to miss mainland flights seem to be particularly vociferous, as perhaps they have a right to be.  I wish the managers who are responsible for the failure of this disastrous business could be the ones to face the wrath of disgruntled passengers and deal with the flack. 

This situation has gone on long enough. It is time for our elected officials to get involved in a serious way, not simply saying “I feel your pain, my thoughts and prayers are with you.” I don’t know if it’s legally possible for the state to step in and take over a private airline and provide it with competent management, but that would be my first suggestion. It seems to me that when an airline is endangering peoples’ health it could and should be taken over by the state. 

On Molokai, we are an island with an incredibly diverse population, but one thing I believe we can all agree on is that something must be done. I’m tired of missing milestone birthday parties, of my neighbor missing appointments with her oncologist, of an airline that can’t even keep their planes flying. A non-flying airline is a failed airline. 

Sincerely, 

Larry Shawhan