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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Cavorting, or possibly frolicking — it's hard to tell with monk seals and we are not cetologists.

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: The secret life of monk seals</title>

Today's social media find comes from adventure_hawaii, with a bird's eye view of monk seals cavorting.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: The secret life of monk seals

Cavorting, or possibly frolicking — it&#039;s hard to tell with monk seals and we are not cetologists. 

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Arts & Entertainment

Columnists

Onlookers were stunned on Sunday, March 29, when the famous Scottish lake monster, affectionately known as Nessie, broached the waters of the equally famous Ala Wai Canal.

[{"type":"text","text":"ASD was first on the scene, bringing you these exclusive photos."}]

We were soon joined by noted Isle cryptozoologist Sigmund Zack, who said he was alerted by postings on the private social media channel of a secretive monster hunter society.

“I never thought I’d see the day!” said Zack. “I had been saving up all my Atmos Rewards miles for a trip to Scotland and now this happens — amazing!”

The creature kept perfectly still, head in the air, as if embarrassed to be caught in the open in broad daylight.

[{"type":"text","text":"Isn’t Nessie a little far from home? we asked."}]

“It’s 42 degrees in Loch Ness,” says noted Isle cryptozoologist Sigmund Zack. “That’s Fahrenheit, it’s sounds even worse in Centigrade, just 5 or 6 degrees! So the question isn’t, ‘Why would Nessie swim 7,000 miles to vacation in Waikīkī?” it’s ‘Why wouldn’t he?”

Zack speculated on the beast’s route across the Atlantic, down the Eastern Seaboard, through the Panama Canal, past Easter Island, finally arriving in the Islands with uncanny navigational skill. Was Waikīkī its final destination?

He shrugged. “There’s just so much we don’t know about Nessie. Its mating habits, its taste in streaming content, its connection, if any, to Big Foot. So many blanks to fill!”

Could Nessie pose a threat? If, as theories suggest, the lake monster is a Plesiosaurus, a living fossil from the Jurassic period, it’s likely to be carnivorous.

At that, Zack narrowed his eyes and dashed off a quick text message to unknown parties.

“I want to assure people,” he said to ASD, “that Nessie would never use its long neck, jagged teeth, lightning reflexes and propulsive swimming ability to pluck people from the sidewalk in a flash and drag them down into the Ala Wai as a snack. Not joggers, not kids, definitely not pets. And definitely not at night, when no one would notice. Nope. Definitely not.”

A crowd had gathered. Someone noted that the long neck and apparent humps of the sinewy serpent looked suspiciously like a log carried into the canal by the recent Kona Low deluge. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Zack threw up his hands."}]

 you to think!” he exclaimed. “Listen, people, and look at these photos,” he said, taking ASD’s iPhone and rummaging through the photos without so much as a thank you.

“The first photo is from 2:48 p.m. and the creature is clearly facing makai, looking into the feeding grounds — I mean, excuse me, the 

 — of Waikīkī. Then, just 12 minutes later, he is photographed again — by a journalist, mind you — this time facing mauka, possibly toward the ball field for leaner prey, I mean, where people play.

“Now, you tell me, what kind of log can change direction on its own, huh? Only flippers can do that!”

As he wrapped up on that conclusive, scientific point, Zack handed back ASD’s phone, took one last look at the bleached, scaly, possibly bark-like hide of the beast and walked off in a hurry.

[{"type":"text","text":"Happy April Fools’ Day, everyone!"}]

Nessie 29 March 2 48 pm 16x9

<title>Loch Ness monster spotted in Ala Wai Canal</title>

“It’s 42 degrees in Loch Ness,” says noted Isle cryptozoologist Sigmund Zack. “The question isn’t, ‘Why would Nessie swim 7,000 miles to vacation in Waikīkī?” it’s ‘Why wouldn’t he?”

Loch Ness monster spotted in Ala Wai Canal

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Diana Birkett Rakow has been at the helm of Hawaiian Airlines for just over two months.

Formerly the senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines

 of Hawaiian in September and stepped into the role in late October.

Alaska Air Group Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings Inc. 

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time. The acquisition was 

 of Hawaiian Airlines at that time, part of an interim Honolulu leadership team that would help guide the airlines through the process of obtaining a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Birkett Rakow became CEO on Oct. 29, the same day that Alaska Airlines received that 

 from the FAA, a major milestone in the efforts to integrate the operations of the two airlines. 

Both airlines, though, will maintain their individual brands.

During a Jan. 5 press conference at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, she announced the 

, Hawaiian Airline’s new five-year, $600 million investment that she said aims to modernize its airport spaces, aircraft cabins and technology; expand loyalty benefits for Hawai‘i residents; and support community and sustainability efforts statewide.

Aloha State Daily caught up with Birkett Rakow briefly after Monday’s press conference.

How are things going two months on the job?

“Great,” she says. “The people are incredible. The team members are amazing and I’ve had the great opportunity to get out and work with some of them in maintenance, on the ramp and at the gate, and will continue to do that. It’s a great way to learn. And we’ve got a lot of change going on. We pushed a lot of change through the system with guests and employees and our technology all at the same time. It's not all easy, but I think we’re heading into a place where we can stabilize, we can work on these investments, we can bring our ticketing systems together, which is going to make life better for everybody.”

When asked about her goals in this role, Birkett Rakow says she’s been working on "this combination since the beginning." She was responsible for Alaska’s business in Hawai‘i, “so I’ve cared a lot about this going well,” she told ASD. “My goal is that we successfully bring this combination together and do it in a way that is positive for Hawai‘i.”

As for the newly announced Kahu‘ewai plan, Birkett Rakow says it’s been in the works for nearly a year.

“We started to build the idea as we’ve been getting feedback from employees and guests, and then started to put a more structured plan together over the last probably six, nine months.”

These investments, she says, are good for both the business and the state.

“We rely so much on transportation here, we want to make sure that our guests have a great experience, local guests as well as visitors, and that we’re continuing to invest in a sustainable business.”

 has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Harvard University and master's degree in public health and public administration from the University of Washington, and had been with Alaska for eight years.

She previously held senior executive roles at Group Health and Kaiser Permanente, and was a health policy adviser for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

, Alaska and Hawaiian carried more than 55 million passengers on more than 486,000 flights across their combined global network, and carried more than 40,000 tons of cargo to and from communities across Alaska, Hawai‘i and the Pacific.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Also in 2025:"}]

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Hawaiian airlines

<title>Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow on her new role</title>

Formerly the senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, Birkett Rakow was named CEO of Hawaiian in September and stepped into the position in late October. Aloha State Daily recently asked about her professional goals and the newly announced Kahu‘ewai investment plan.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow on her new role

Hawaiian Airlines is starting the new year with a new $600 million investment plan.

Airline leaders and state officials — including Gov. Josh Green and state Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen — announced the Kahu‘ewai Hawai‘i Investment Plan during a press conference Monday at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow told the crowd gathered in Terminal 1 that the plan includes investments of more than $600 million over the next five years “to modernize airport spaces, aircraft cabins and technology for both guests and employees, expanding loyalty benefits for Hawai‘i residents and continuing our deep investment in community and sustainability statewide.”

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve gotten a ton of really good feedback from guests, from community members, from employees and the plan that I’m describing has been built with all of their input, to touch every part of the guest experience and operation in the Islands, to support infrastructure, jobs, responsible tourism, and to deepen our support for communities and sustainability,” she continued. “The plan lays a foundation that we will continue to build on for years to come.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Here’s what the plan has in store:"}]

 “These projects will improve the experience with well-lit open spaces as well as better seating and amenities like power charging in the seats,” she continued. “Our goal is for local travelers to enjoy beautiful facilities that match the level of service they’ve come to expect when flying with us and that reflect a sense of place while providing visitors a wonderful first impression when they first step off the plane.”

 (ICYMI: Atmos Rewards is a joint loyalty program for both Alaska and Hawaiian. It 

Birkett Rakow says a lot of the investments are capital investments that don’t directly impact operating expenses.

“We have a capital plan, over time, that allocates a certain amount of money on an annual basis to invest in the business,” she says. “These are really important investments for us to make. It helps us keep our guest service strong and helps us keep our infrastructure strong, and so we’ve got a very strong balance sheet.”

Green said the state also has an additional $1.2 billion plan “that continues to reinforce all of the investment in the airports.”

, the same day that Alaska Airlines received a 

 from the Federal Aviation Administration, a major milestone in the efforts to integrate the operations of the two airlines.

Diana birkett rakow hawaiian airlines 010526

<title>Hawaiian Airlines announces $600M investment plan</title>

The Kahu‘ewai Hawai‘i Investment Plan includes investments over the next five years to modernize airport spaces, aircraft cabins and technology, expand loyalty benefits for Hawai‘i residents and continue "our deep investment in community and sustainability statewide," Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow said.

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