Release #09.HAL7
May 1, 2009

Hawaiian Airlines Pilots Deliver Food to Islands’ Hungry

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines pilots of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) delivered almost two tons of food and a check for $1,595 to the Hawaii Food Bank today as their contribution to the ongoing effort to assist Hawaii’s less fortunate.

“In tough times like these, we are all one ohana when it comes to taking care of each other,” said Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Chairman Capt. Eric Sampson. “We are proud of our pilots for stepping up to help their neighbors, and pleased ALPA was able to assist the food bank in its important mission of serving Hawaii’s hungry.”

ALPA’s Hawaiian Airlines group contributed 3,475 pounds of canned goods and other food items, capping off a two-week food drive by the pilots that began April 16. The donated food included individual items brought to collection centers by local pilots, as well as a truckload of bulk food purchased for the food bank by ALPA.

“We had hoped to donate at least 1,200 pounds of food, but we more than doubled our goal and wound up with almost 3,500 pounds of groceries to give to the food bank,” Sampson said.

The $1,500 cash donation included $595 contributed by individual pilots and a $1,000 donation from the Hawaiian MEC’s special projects fund.

In 2007 the Hawaiian MEC created a fund for special projects, including philanthropic purposes throughout the islands. The first major gift from the fund was a $5,000 donation for children’s cancer research in 2008. The food bank delivery is the first major donation in 2009 for the fund, which is organized and supported by the pilots and is not affiliated with Hawaiian Airlines.

ALPA is the bargaining representative for the 405 pilots at Hawaiian Airlines. Founded in 1931, ALPA represents nearly 54,000 pilots at 36 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org.

# # #

ALPA CONTACTS:
Capt. Don Del Carmen 808-561-7300 ddc@hawaii.rr.com
Rusty Ayers 847-323-9519 rusty.ayers@alpa.org

FOOD BANK CONTACT:
Lara Grimm 808-836-3600 lara@hawaiifoodbank.org