Hawaiian Airlines today greeted arriving passengers with 9,000 flower lei as part of the carrier’s 80th anniversary festivities.

The carrier’s airport stations statewide were decorated to recognize the historic occasion. At Honolulu International Airport passengers were serenated with live Hawaiian music in addition to being presented with orchid lei.
The festivities capped a year-long series of anniversary events that included a $150,000 cash and in-kind donation to Bishop Museum. The donation includes the transporting of museum curators and educators to schools and communities on the Neighbor Islands through 2011 in support of its Holoholo Science educational outreach program.
In addition, Hawaiian partnered with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii during summer and fall on a series of projects to help restore native Hawaiian habitats on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.