Hawaiian Airlines is the largest operator of commercial flights to and from the U.S. state of Hawaii. Based at Honolulu, Hawaii, it’s the tenth-largest commercial airline in the United States.
Hawaiian Airlines was founded on January 30, 1929 and commenced operations on October 6th of the same year. In its early years, it was known as Inter-Island Airways and only offered service between the Islands of Hawaii. Although it changed names to Hawaiian Airlines in 1941, it didn’t offer service outside the Islands until 1985.
Along with name changes, the airline had several logo changes. 1000Logos shows examples and explains the logos for the airline from 1929 until 1973 and beyond. 1973 was a big year for the airline though – its logo changed from that of a bird to the earliest days of the logo we’re most familiar with today. That’s where Leina’ala Ann Teruya Drummond comes in.
Most people probably weren’t familiar with the name Leina’ala Ann Teruya Drummond, even though she was an accomplished entertainer and businesswoman. Those who are old enough to remember might recall that she was crowned Miss Hawaii in 1964 (and later placed in the Top Ten in the 1965 Miss America pageant). But if you’ve ever traveled on Hawaiian Airlines, you’ve most likely seen her face. Drummond (then Teruya) was the model of the distinctive profile of the island girl of Hawaiian Airlines “Pualani of the Sky,” which is still in use today.
The Hawaiian native began working as a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines when she was 18. A few years later she was selected to become the “face” of the airline’s logo, “Pualani of the Sky” (pua [“flower”] + lani [“sky”] = “heavenly flower; descendant of royalty”).
Hawaiian Airlines has used the memorable image since 1973, although it was updated and refreshed in 1990, 1995, 2001 and, most recently, in 2017.
The airline made a video about the newest rendition of the logo, which still shows a very recognizable Drummond, and how the airline’s employees appreciate Pualani:
The Miss Hawaii organization said in a statement that Mrs. Drummond’s “iconic smile, elegance and grace will always be remembered. Hawaii lost a talented, poised and gracious woman who touched the hearts of many across the globe.”
Born in Pu’unene on the island of Maui, Mrs. Drummond was the oldest of 8 children. Besides her history with beauty pageants, she worked for Hawaiian Airlines for 10 years in sales and marketing. She was also an accomplished hula dancer and served on the Maui County Council.
Mrs. Drummond is survived by her son and daughter, one brother, 5 sisters, a sister-in-law and one granddaughter. A celebration of life service will be held on Maui in October, date TBD.
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