Whales on a Plane!

HONOLULU, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Aloha Airlines has unveiled a work of art unique in all the world -- a Boeing 737-700 aircraft hand-painted by globally recognized marine life artist Wyland.

In a traditional blessing ceremony, Aloha bestowed the name Koholalele on the jetliner, which will go into service on May 10 between Hawaii and the West Coast.

The name Koholalele (literally "flying or leaping whale") honors the humpback whale, an ancient visitor to Hawaii, considered by Hawaiians to be a kupuna, or elder, in its own right. Koholalele also is a place name for an area along the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island and the name of a wind that "leaps over the land" like a flying whale.

Each of the eight aircraft in Aloha's fleet of Next Generation Boeing 737-700 aircraft is named for a Polynesian navigator. The name Koholalele recognizes the humpback whale as one of the great navigators of the ocean.

Wyland's design, which spans the 102-foot length of the plane, includes approximately life-size depictions of humpback whales, bottle-nose dolphins, spinner dolphins, tiger sharks, Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles as well as Hawaiian reef fish and a Laysan albatross.

Wyland painted the aircraft, working day and night, over a two-day period.

A pioneer in the environmental movement for more than 30 years, Wyland previously painted an America's Cup racing yacht but this is his first plane. Back on land, the famous muralist has completed 95 of his ocean murals and is closing in on his goal of creating the 100th of his landmark Whaling Walls, a massive, pre-Olympics project being planned in Beijing.

Wyland founded Wyland Galleries in 1978 and it is estimated that there are 400,000 collectors of his art in 70 countries. More than 1 billion people in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania see Wyland's art each year, and perhaps more than any other artist, Wyland has raised the planet's environmental consciousness with regard to the oceans and their inhabitants.

Now in its 61st year of service to Hawaii, Aloha Airlines undertook the project as a symbol of the community's commitment to preserving the ocean environment.

"Since 1946, Aloha Airlines has proudly served the Islands, and graciously helped share Hawaii's beauty, culture and spirit of Aloha with the world," said David A. Banmiller, Aloha's president and chief executive officer. "Over the years, Aloha has looked beyond the business of flying to recognize the importance of giving back to our community, and preserving the many things that make Hawaii so special. The 3,500 men and women of Aloha Airlines care about the well-being of our home state, as well as the beauty of the natural land and sea environment we enjoy so much."

"Nothing is as elemental to an island state as the ocean, which surrounds us, nourishes us and provides recreation and inspiration," said Wyland, a surfing and diving enthusiast who lives on the North Shore of Oahu. "We urge everyone to join in efforts to protect and preserve Hawaii's irreplaceable marine life."

With this new partnership, symbolized by this specially designed airplane, Aloha Airlines will help promote the mission of the Wyland Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the world's oceans, waterways, and marine life. The foundation encourages environmental awareness through education programs, life-size public arts projects, and community events.

Aloha Airlines flies between the Islands of Hawaii and between Hawaii and Oakland, Sacramento, Orange County and San Diego, California, and Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. For more information and the lowest fares available go to AlohaAirlines.com.

For more information about Wyland, go to http://www.wyland.com/.