I think your partially right and also a factor for asia FAs is remember some are contract hires right? (please correct me if I'm mis-informed here... they wear different uniforms than UA hired FAs?)

So the good service we enjoy in Asia on United very often is from contract hire FAs...

But I'd say that many of the (if there are any left) HNL crews were good. Also.. you just get lucky sometimes right with a good bunch ;-)