Alaska Airlines today launched service between San Jose and Kona, one day after inagurating service between between San Jose and Maui,

The airline is offering introductory one-way fares of $179 between San Jose-Maui and San Jose-Kona for tickets purchased by March 18, 2010. The Kona and Maui service is three and four times a week respectively.
“In just two years, Hawaii has become a major part of our route network, and we're pleased to expand our Bay Area service,” said Steve Jarvis, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience.
Alaska began service to Hawaii in October 2007. With the new service from San Jose and flights between Sacramento, Calif., and Maui starting March 26, the airline offers 73 flights a week to four Hawaiian Islands.
Alaska Airlines also is inviting the public to enter for a chance to win a Hawaiian vacation for two with celebrated short-track speed skater and the most decorated U.S. winter Olympian in history, Apolo Anton Ohno.
Participants can register for the “Follow Apolo to Hawaii” sweepstakes, beginning today and continuing through April 15, at www.followapolo.com.
They can earn up to 33 additional entries by using social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to share the opportunity with friends who also register. They can also earn five entries by providing their Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number, joining Mileage Plan, or signing up to receive the Mileage Plan newsletter.
Five sweepstakes winners and their guests will join Ohno in June for a Hawaiian vacation, including roundtrip tickets to Maui on Alaska Airlines, a private luau with Ohno and luxury accommodations for four nights and five days at the Grand Wailea in Maui.
Each registered sweepstakes participant can earn up to 44 entries. Winners will be announced at www.followapolo.com in late April.
Passengers boarding Flight 859 from Seattle to Honolulu today will meet Ohno and receive a lei. From Honolulu, the jet will fly throughout Alaska's network.
A native of the Seattle area, Ohno has been the top U.S. short-track speed skater since 2001. The youngest-ever U.S. short-track speed skating champion at age 14, Ohno is a 12-time U.S. national champion, 23-time world champion and eight-time Olympic medalist. Away from the ice, Ohno made his mark in Hollywood when he won ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2007.