The recent crash of a Kamaka Air aircraft in Honolulu highlights vulnerabilities in the interisland transportation system of Hawaii and has left residents on neighboring islands temporarily cut off from a critical service.
On Tuesday afternoon around 3:15 p.m., a Cessna 208B collided with an unoccupied structure near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives in this incident. The plane came perilously close to a fuel facility and the cargo area of Delta Airlines. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were present at the site on Wednesday morning, though a comprehensive report will take several months to finalize.
The plane, a 14-year-old single-engine Cessna, was undergoing a training flight to L?na?i, piloted by instructor Preston Kaluhiwa, 26, along with pilot-in-training Hiram deFries-Saronitman, 24. While Kamaka Air typically offers daily cargo services between islands, this particular flight was for training purposes. Just before the crash, one of the pilots informed air traffic control that the aircraft was “out of control,” per the FAA’s report.
While Kamaka Air temporarily halted its operations on Wednesday, they planned to resume services on Thursday. The immediate impact of the crash was felt acutely on the neighboring islands that depend on Kamaka Air for daily shipments.
On L?na?i, staff at the island’s sole pharmacy scrambled to arrange an alternative air service for their daily pharmaceutical deliveries. Jolene Segault, manager of Rainbow Pharmacy, mentioned, “We had thousands of dollars worth of prescription medications that didn’t arrive.” She expressed the challenge of having to inform patients that medications would be unavailable for the next few days.
This incident marks the second deadly aviation accident in Hawaii within the year. In July, a helicopter crash off Kaua?i claimed the lives of three people, including the pilot.
The disruption caused by the crash has been significant for L?na?i and Moloka?i residents, who have become accustomed to dealing with interruptions to medical and delivery services. Mokulele Airlines, which provides passenger services to these islands, has frequently faced backlash from residents regarding cancellations and delays that have impacted vital medical appointments. Notably, in August, the airline was forced to ground a portion of its fleet for a week following a maintenance inspection, resulting in added chaos for the community.
On Wednesday, Kert Shuster, a pharmacy owner on L?na?i, spent his morning navigating the disruption of Kamaka Air’s cargo services, attempting to negotiate with Lanai Air, a charter service owned by local billionaire Larry Ellison. “Switching to Lanai Air is a significant matter contractually,” he noted, acknowledging the complexities of their operations. The only additional air freight option is FedEx, which he found prohibitively expensive for their needs.
Porter Hodgins, a subcontractor for Kamaka Air responsible for unloading planes and delivering to Moloka?i, indicated he anticipated a return to normal operations by Thursday. He stressed the importance of consistent air cargo service for transporting medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and other essential goods, particularly given the high proportion of elderly residents on the islands. Hodgins remarked on the critical nature of this service for the local hospital and dialysis center.
A L?na?i resident highlighted the importance of Kamaka Air, saying, “For many of us, it’s a lifeline, especially when we need everyday items.”
Kamaka Air has undergone a turbulent period in recent years, experiencing significant changes in management and ownership. Originally established in 1993, the airline operates both scheduled flights and on-demand charters, transporting a range of goods from hazardous materials to perishables.
In February 2022, a Texas-based investment group, Trinity Private Equity Group, along with RLG Capital, acquired an 80% stake in Kamaka Air, tapping into the growth potential within the cargo and business aviation sector prompted by an uptick in e-commerce during the pandemic.
This latest crash occurred less than two years after another Kamaka Air Cessna was involved in an incident where it sustained damage during a nighttime approach to the Moloka?i Airport. An NTSB investigation at that time attributed the crash to pilot error. Earlier this year, Kamaka Air appointed two executives from Southwest Airlines as part of a strategic management overhaul aimed at improving operational performance.
Recently, due to staffing challenges, Kamaka Air had to suspend operations for a week, following the departure of key personnel. As of Wednesday, they had listed an operations manager position on their website, a sign of ongoing staffing needs. Following the crash, Kamaka Air is left operating a fleet comprising six Cessna aircraft and additional models.