Imagine paying just over $500 for a flight that lasted just eight minutes.
For Kalaupapa residents, it was the only choice they had to reach Topside until now.
A new flight operator has stepped in offering residents roundtrip airfare of just $77.
For years the main flight lifeline between Kalauapapa and Honolulu was on Pacific Wings.
"It would cost us $500 to fly from here (Kalaupapa) to Honolulu,” said Maile Antone, nurse with the State Health Department. “So most of us couldn’t afford to fly."
"We cannot afford $500,” said Ivy Kahiliwai, Kalaupapa resident. “I can fly to Vegas 500 some.”
But with costs soaring people’s travel plans had to be pulled back with some staying for months at a time due to cost.
"Many of us can’t walk the trail to get out so yeah we had to just stay for 2, 3 months before we could go home,” said Antone.
"We didn’t go on the flights so many times the planes came in with one passenger you know no passengers,” said Sister Rose Ahuna.
Pacific Wings did not use federal subsidies instead charged market rates.
That changed when Makani Kai and other bidders approached the federal government about EAS service that would subsidize the cost partially.
Makani Kai was the winning bidder and the result was a lower cost in flights for both locals and visitors. Residents of Kalaupapa will pay an even farther reduced price.
Many say it will make a big difference to the future of Kalaupapa.
"Being able to have affordable fares to Kalaupapa is going to allow more people from around the world to come to Hawaii to come specifically to Kalaupapa,” said Richard Schuman, owner of Makani Kai air carrier.
And due to the age of many of the patients and residents here they say it couldn’t come at a better time.
"Many of our patients are in their 70s to 80 plus years and to have the opportunity to do the things they want to do now rather than 10 to 15 years from now is really important,” said Mark Miller, Kalaupapa administrator.
Makani Kai will start by operating this one plane between Oahu and Kalauapapa and Kalauapapa and Topside on a daily basis.
In addition to this nine-seater they will also be refurbishing a current cargo plane to go back to passenger service
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
