Swanson, Brian (OST) OCV-pSCr^COO'^'^'^^ 

From: Pa'oneakai Lee-Namakaeha [kauikeolanL2004@hotmail.com] , ';bi'UHTATl'Ji'! , 

Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 3:11 PM I:'] OPBrliO'' ^ 

To: Devany, Dennis (OST); EAS (OST) 

Subject: "Answer to Pacific Wings'Petition for Reconsideration." ^MIO C O 1- ? R 

Importance: High 

Pacific Wings said, 'The carrier notes that there has never been a complaint made that the 

service it offers is inadequate to transport the patients at Kaiaupapa." 

Pacific Wings are well aware of how the community felt when they took away the handicap lift at 

the Kaiaupapa Airport. Most of the patients in Kaiaupapa cannot bear weight on their feet which 

makes it difficult for them to get on and off the plane! When they took the lift away, it limited 

certain patients who are in wheel chairs from coming home to Kaiaupapa and leave for Oahu for 

medical treatment as they cannot get on and off the air carrier. 

Pacific Wings argues that air fares for the community's patients, as well as most National Park 

Service ("NPS") and Hawaii Department of Health ("HDOH") workers, are paid for either by the 

State of HAwaii or their employers, respectively, and therefore the cost of fares does not affect 

the residents' ability to leave the island. 

As a community resident of Kaiaupapa and an employee for the National Park Service I CANNOT 

afford to pay $500 fly round trip between Kaiaupapa on Pacific Wings. The NPS will only pay for 

GOVERNMENT travel. Even if it were an emergency, I could not afford to fly on Pacific Wings 

leaving me no choice but to walk the 3 mile trail up the mountain. My employer (NPS) DOES NOT 

pay for my personal travels, so Pacific Wings needs to get that facts straight. NPS employee's pay 

for rent (for houses and apartments in Kaiaupapa settlement, and many are paying rent either on 

topside Molokai or on another island as well), electric (in Kaiaupapa and as well as their family 

residence), home telephone (in Kaiaupapa and home residence), and meals (breakfast, lunch, 

dinner and snacks). After paying your basic bills and essential living costs TWICE (hence we live 

in Kaiaupapa and in another home/family residence), I cannot afford to pay $250 at the end of 

the week to go home to visit spouses, children and family members. 

I just cannot understand why Pacific Wings would still want to continue air service to Kaiaupapa 

if the number of customers who choose to fly on Pacific Wings have dramatically decreased over 

the last several years. If they are so concerned about the community and the welfare of 

essential air service into Kaiaupapa than why are they making such a big fuss about Schuman 

Aviation coming into Kaiaupapa with affordable airfare service? Since the EAS service of Makani 

Kai began, there have been a large number of residents of Kaiaupapa who choose to fly out of 

the settlement. These residents are now leaving weekly to go see family members who live on 

Molokai or on another island as now it is affordable. I have seen a major up rise in the morale of 

the Kaiaupapa community since the arrival of daily air service provided by Makani Kai and have 

also seen an increase in the number of tourist who come into the settlement for the day for the 

Damien Tours. 

I am writing this letter in SUPPORT of Makani Kai! I appreciate the service they have provided 

1 
since their arrival, not only with the prices of flights but also with the customer service. Their 

reservation receptionist is great with information and very kind. The pilot is great with the patient 

community, helping them on and off the plane, loading and unloading baggage and its just a 

very warm feeling know that incase I do have a medical of life emergency that I can afford to 

leave Kaiaupapa on a plane and not having to walk up the 3 mile trail on the mountain. 

Aloha, 

Pa'one