Makani Kai Air, was an FAA Part 135 scheduled air carrier based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a subsidiary of Schuman Aviation Company as well as Mokulele Airlines.
Schuman Aviation Company, Ltd., also offers charter airplane and helicopter services statewide. Another subsidiary, Magnum Helicopters, offers doors-off tours of the island of Oahu.
Makani Kai Air began operations in 1998. It began regularly scheduled passenger service between Honolulu and Kalaupapa in 2009. In 2011, Makani Kai won the Essential Air Service contract for Kalaupapa and commenced service under the contract in January 2012.[1][2] In June 2013, Makani Kai began regular daily service to "topside" Molokai at the Hoolehua Airport.[3] On May 1, 2019, Makani Kai Air began twice-daily service between Honolulu International Airport and Princeville Airport on Kauai. On August 1, 2019, Makani Kai Air began air service between Kahului, Maui, and Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.
On June 3, 2020, Makani Kai announced it would be merging with Mokulele Airlines, another commuter airline operating in Hawaii, with the new airline operating under the Mokulele brand. Makani Kai owner Richard Schuman oversees the combined airline. Schuman Aviation Company's other subsidiaries, Magnum Helicopters, and Hawaii Aviation Services are not part of the merger.[4][5]
Destinations
Makanai Kai Air served the following destinations prior to the merger:
A Cessna 208 Caravan operating a Makani Kai Air flight ditched into the ocean a mile off Kalaupapa.[6] The aircraft's engine failed after takeoff from Kalaupapa Airport, on the island of Moloka'i, headed to Honolulu. The aircraft had one pilot and nine passengers on board. All persons on board exited the aircraft safely. One passenger swam to shore, while State of Hawai'i Health & Social Services' Director Loretta Fuddy died in the water while awaiting rescue shortly after the crash.[7] The NTSB released a Probable Cause document regarding the accident dated May 23, 2016.
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