Looking to so a trip in J from HNL to HKG. One of the alternatives seemd to involve using a flight via NRT or KIX with a JL code but is "operated by JALWays". Is this some kind of lesser JAL service that operates on tourist routes, or would it offer the full JL service?

Interestingly AN looks like it has the same kind of thing, not a separate airline but a lesser aircraft type than is used from the mainland, no personal TV, etc.

Charter operation, some information can be derived from this press release
http://www.japanair.com/Company/Press_Releases/2001-01-17.htm

JALways was founded as Japan Air Charter, a low-cost 80-percent-owned subsidiary, in 1990. The company changed its name to JALways in October 1999 when it became a scheduled airline flying mainly to Asia-Pacific resort destinations. From April 2000, in line with the airline's FY2000-2002 medium-term corporate plan, JAL has been transferring resort destination routes to JALways, which currently operates 116 flights a week on 10 routes.

Cockpit and cabin crew of JALways are recruited and based overseas. The airline flies to Honolulu, Hawaii, from regional cities in Japan, to Guam from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, and to Saipan and Bangkok, Thailand, from Tokyo and Osaka.

I believe the big difference is that they don't offer F in their flights, just C/J and Y.

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