Aloha to Aloha

Off the top today, sadness and uncertainty lingers for 1,900 employees of Aloha Airlines.

After 61 years of service and just 11 days after filing for bankruptcy, the company known as 'the people's airline' is ending passenger operations effective tomorrow.

CEO David Banmiller said in a news release, ""This is an incredibly dark day for Hawai'i. We simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger service. We had no choice but to take this action."

An inter-island fare war and record jet fuel prices were primarily to blame for Aloha's decline.

I suspect this has more to do with those mischievous Menehunes - the Gremlins of Hawai'ian lore. Long admired for their master craftsmanship by most, I've always been leery of their secretive nature and deep forest inhabitancy.

This is what they look like. Very scary.

Learn more about this back beach militia here and read more Aloha coverage at the Honolulu Advertiser.

UPDATE: Co-Founder JDot mentions in the comment section of this post, the most widely known of the Menehune, Mr. Hanalei. Tales of salvation surround this mysterious leader, best exemplified by this Bruce Lee Band song.

Pure propaganda. Hanalei would be 'person of interest' number one in any island wrong-doing. He is not to be trusted.