Hawaii-based Airlines - Pacific Wings stops service after incident at OGG; means LUP cut off from air service

Read here:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090709/BREAKING01/90709049&s=a

Some strange stuff going on.

1. I did not know that Pacific Wings (or any airline) had service to the Kalaupapa leper colony. I thought that the only way to get there was by helicopter.

2. The article talks about an incident with security at Kahului Airport. Why would that cause Pacific Wings to cut off service to Kalaupapa?

Or did Pacific Wings stop operations altogether? It's not clear from the article.

Sounds like the guy in charge is pissed about whatever happened between his company and security and decided to stop service. Also sounds like both sides have had problems with each other before.

1. I did not know that Pacific Wings (or any airline) had service to the Kalaupapa leper colony. I thought that the only way to get there was by helicopter.

Their schedule shows four non-stops from OGG, four non-stops from HNL, one non-stop from KOA and four non-stops from Hoolehua, at least on the date I checked.

That's to Kaluapapa, Molokai - I have no info on that being a leper colony.

The article is a bit vague, but it sounded like all PW operations were halted. Kaluapapa was specifically mentioned as PW is the only airline that services that city. Other destinations have other airline options. Thus, it is "cut off" from the rest of the state.

EDIT: Google tells me it was a "site for the isolation of people from Hawaii with Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)... between 1866 and 1969."

Today it's a national park. It does seem odd to have so many flights, as the reference I have shows "access is restricted by law", though it does indicate "The peninsula can only be reached by air or by the trail from upper Molokai.

The people that are still at Kalaupapa are those who were previously treated there and have decided to live out their lives there.

BTW flights are resuming today: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090710_Airline_to_resume_flights_cut_in_dispute. html