Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii’s carrier, today revealed an updated brand identity and the freshly-painted livery of a Boeing 717 (N488HA), the first of its fleet of more than 50 aircraft that will feature the new design. Pualani (Flower of the Sky), the beloved icon of Hawaiian’s brand for more than four decades, continues to gaze forward on the tail of the aircraft; beneath her, a silver maile lei with woven pakalana flowers wraps around the fuselage in a larger-than-life expression of the aloha spirit.
«Our new livery embodies a stronger, more contemporary representation of Hawaiian Airlines’ culture of service and hospitality, which is the bedrock of our guest experience,» said president and CEO Mark Dunkerley, who unveiled the new brand design at Honolulu International Airport during a special employee event on Lei Day, a statewide annual celebration of Hawaiian culture. «It acknowledges our place as Hawaii’s airline and underscores the commitment our employees make every day to provide our guests with a gracious and genuine island welcome.»
In addition to the refreshed livery, travelers across Hawaiian’s U.S. and international networks will begin to see the new logo throughout their journey — on web and digital assets, airport lobby signage and kiosks, and at boarding gates. Painting of all aircraft and ground service equipment is scheduled to be complete by 2020. Videos and images of the new designs are available at HawaiianAirlines.com/brand-refresh.
Hawaiian worked with Lippincott, a global creative consultancy, on the new identity. Hawaiian’s brand team and Lippincott spent a year studying the airline’s history, working with a committee of front-line employees, and immersing themselves in Hawaiian culture to arrive at the new design.
«So much of our visual identity, which is 15 years old, still resonated deeply with our guests and employees,» said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing for Hawaiian. «Our aim was to retain the essence of our brand and arrive at a bolder, truer expression of our unique Hawaiian hospitality.»
The new identity retains Hawaiian’s distinctive color palette of purple, fuchsia and coral. Pualani"”the singular icon of the brand"”remains at its core. The new logo and livery emphasize Pualani by featuring her more prominently and liberating her from the floral «holding shape» of the former logo. She gazes proudly with the wind in her hair, adorned with a hibiscus flower and framed by a Hawaiian sunrise. The expressive, organic graphics reflect the natural forms of Hawai’i.
The addition of the lei elements to the livery accentuate the three-dimensional contours of the aircraft fuselage while also incorporating a rich, meaningful cultural narrative that reflects the carrier’s strong sense of place and identity. Updated typography and bright, emotive imagery support Hawaiian’s positioning as a premium leisure airline, focused on warm hospitable service.
«The Hawaiian Airlines’ brand has been and always will be iconic,» said Su Mathews Hale, senior partner at Lippincott. «The refreshed look honors their rich history and culture, while continuing to celebrate the unique, authentic spirit that has led the airline industry for years.»..
