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[{"type":"text","text":"Frequent fliers take note."}]

A combined loyalty program for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will debut next month, a move that comes as the airlines continue to integrate operations.

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 

The distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands will be maintained but the loyalty programs from both will be combined into a singular program.

A Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson told Aloha State Daily in an email Thursday that the combined loyalty program will be unveiled in August, with Alaska's Mileage Plan transitioning to the new program at that time.

The HawaiianMiles program will remain through Sept. 30, but on Oct. 1 "will fully transition into the new combined loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines," they noted.

"We're making great progress and look forward to unveiling a new combined loyalty program that will deliver the most generous and exciting benefits in the industry," the spokesperson said.

They did not share the name of the program or the date it will be unveiled but said the transition will be "seamless for members of both programs."

[{"type":"text","text":"Do members need to do anything to ensure their miles transfer?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Not necessarily. "}]

The spokesperson told ASD that if members do nothing, miles will automatically transfer to the new program on Oct. 1.

"That said, we do encourage HawaiianMiles members to sign up for an Alaska Mileage Plan account and link their Alaska and HawaiianMiles accounts to start taking advantage of Mileage Plan’s current benefits, including traveling on more than 30 oneworld air partners," they noted. "We will track their elite-qualifying miles, or EQMs, in both programs and award elite status in both programs, based on their combined EQM balance. Linking accounts now will also ensure the most seamless transition to the new program.

"HawaiianMiles members are welcome to covert their miles into Mileage Plan miles at any point. When the combined loyalty program is launched, any miles that haven’t converted will be moved over automatically."

But the spokesperson said the most important things HawaiianMiles members should keep in mind is that everyone's miles are safe and there are no changes to the credit card benefits.

Additionally, Huaka‘i by Hawaiian — a new free program

 for residents of Hawai‘i that offers monthly deals, travel perks and a free checked bag when traveling interisland — will also continue with the new loyalty program, they said.

"In preparation for HawaiianMiles to transition to the new loyalty program, HawaiianMiles member actions will be limited several days prior to Oct. 1," the spokesperson noted. "We will share more information with members in August. For now, members may continue to access their HawaiianMiles account as normal."

You can find more information about the combined loyalty program 

. Hawaiian Airlines also shared a blog post about it 

 of Hawaiian Airlines in September following its combination with Alaska Air Group.

ASD sat down with Sprague earlier this year to talk about the merger and future plans. You can 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaiian airlines

<title>What's happening with Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program</title>

A combined loyalty program for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will launch next month. Here's what you should know.

What's happening with Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Kauai‘i residents have reacted negatively to plans by the U.S. Navy to retain its missile testing facility on the island.

For three days this week, the Navy has held public meetings to discuss an environmental impact statement for the retention of 8,172 acres of state land used for the Pacific Missile Range Facility in West Kaua‘i.

All leases involving those lands are set to expire by 2030, and so the Navy published in June a draft environmental impact statement describing its plans to extend those leases for at least another 25 years.

But that plan was unpopular among the PMRF’s neighbors, dozens of whom testified at this week’s meetings to highlight perceived inadequacies in the plan.

“Are we really supposed to believe that decades of water diversion, rocket launching, wargames, access restrictions, development expansion has no cumulative adverse impacts?” said Christopher Kaia‘apu at Wednesday’s meeting in Kekaha, who added that the document does not sufficiently address PMRF’s long-term impacts on marine ecosystems.

Kaia‘apu said the PMRF operates pump stations that have shrunk wetlands that “supported some of the largest known native waterbird populations in Hawai‘i.

Ni‘ihau resident Kaneali‘i Williams said the EIS needs to take into account the PMRF’s impact on the Kaulakahi Channel between Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, and was skeptical of the document’s claims that the Navy has contacted Hawaiian lineal descendants to carry out a Ka Pa‘akai analysis, a process that government agencies must follow to avoid impinging on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights.

Several testifiers called the facility’s presence on Kaua‘i “desecration” and warned of long-term health impacts caused by the Navy’s activities.

The testimony wasn’t strictly negative. Kekaha resident Keith Castaneda, by way of constructive criticism, recommended that the Navy consider allowing local residential use of the land and uncap several freshwater wells on the land.

Jose Felix, a worker at PMRF, said he and other workers do everything in their power to comply with environmental regulations, but acknowledged that the Navy doesn’t convey that information well to community members.

“I can testify that [the land] is being stewarded in the right way,” Felix said. “If you allow the state or the county [to manage it] I believe it’s going to get worse.”

The Navy was not able to respond to any of the testimony, as the meetings only served to gather public testimony. A final environmental impact statement taking public comment into account is scheduled for publication next spring.

PMRF 16x9

<title>Kaua‘i Navy plans controversial among residents</title>

Public meetings on the extension of Navy missile testing range draw condemnation.

Kaua‘i Navy plans controversial among residents

Arrasmith Portrait

Perry Arrasmith has been navigating the historical complexities of Hawai‘i since his early childhood days on Center Street in Kaimukī. Born in southern Illinois and raised on O‘ahu, Perry earned a Bachelor's in History from Harvard University before returning home to earn a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In his free time, he enjoys searching for strawberry guava in the hills of ʻAiea. The views expressed are his own. 

<title>Perry Arrasmith</title>

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