I predict WN will wind up serving Hawaii - and perhaps taking over that market.

Reasons for not doing so are excuses:

• No spare planes. (OK - I think there are some available on the open market.)
• Crews already booked. (There may be some people available for hire, including airline experienced.)
• Crews not trained. (OK - so train or hire them already trained.)
• Planes not equipped for over-ocean (So equip them or buy them equipped.)
• Planes in HI service will not be interchangeable with all the others. (Deal with it - and/or keep them busy on that route.)
• Can't put enough flights into HI to make it worthwhile, i.e., >10 day (40?). (what airline now has 10 or more per day there? Also, see below.)
• Can't justify establishing a base, ground crew, etc. there. (See above.)

The reasons given are relatively easily solved. Except perhaps the last - number of flights per day. Let's see, originating in SDO, LAX, LAS, SJO, OAK. SFO, PDX, PHX, etc., etc. with good fares - how many flights per day would that be? While economically times are not good at the moment, in normal times seats to HI can be scarce and a bit dear with many flights (on widebodies) full or nearly.

So, I am willilng to bet their current denials are a head fake while they prepare to take over that market - and we'll see something wihin a year.