Southwest Airlines and HMHB join forces with Hawaiʻi Seaglider initiative

Friday, March 15, 2024

The Hawaiʻi Seaglider Initiative (HSI), a collaborative effort involving both public and private entities dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of seagliders as an innovative, cost-effective, and accessible mode of transportation for the communities of Hawaiʻi, has recently welcomed Southwest Airlines® as a corporate participant, along with a new community member, the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaiʻi (HMHB). These new additions expand the initiative’s existing membership, as HSI launches a sequence of monthly discussion forums aimed at generating actionable recommendations for integrating seagliders into Hawaiʻi’s transportation ecosystem.

“We’re pleased to welcome our newest members to HSI and look forward to having their perspectives as we explore developing a new, sustainable transportation option for Hawaiʻi residents,” said David Uchiyama, co-administrator of HSI. Co-administrator Veronica Rocha adds: “Engaging both corporate and community members gives us the opportunity to align the capabilities of companies supporting seaglider operations with the core needs of the community members who benefit most from these services.” 

Since its entrance into the Hawaiian market in 2019, Southwest has been operational at five Hawaiian airports and has supported local nonprofits through donations exceeding $3.2 million. The airline’s involvement with HSI represents its inaugural venture into public discussions on battery-electric propulsion technologies.

“Participating in this feasibility study to explore the introduction of 100% electric, zero direct emissions technology aligns with our own Nonstop to Net Zero plan,” said Helen Giles, Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability at Southwest Airlines. “Our agreement with HSI shows our Heart for Hawaii, its residents, and our Customers as we explore inter and intra island travel alternatives that have the potential to support our environmental sustainability goals.”

HMHB is committed to providing essential health services to expectant mothers and families throughout Hawaiʻi, addressing the challenge of transporting patients and healthcare supplies efficiently and affordably, particularly in urgent scenarios.

“Accessible, affordable, reliable, and family-friendly inter-island travel options are paramount to addressing health equity. Seagliders address all of these in a nuanced and innovatove way that also promotes the values of ʻĀina stewardship and health equity, while heavily reducing environmental impact,” said Sunny Chen, Executive Director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii. “We had to jet ski into Lahaina after the wildfires to reach women and children, request special flights for urgent medication drops, and work with the military to get vital resources for families with young children such as baby food, breast pumps, and diapers on a C-17 flight. Solutions like seagliders are a vital part of the solution and should be incorporated into future emergency response and preparedness efforts.” 

Initiated earlier this year, HSI is set to commence a series of discussion groups led by its members, focusing on key areas such as Community and Culture, Infrastructure, Resiliency, and Workforce and Education. These discussions aim to pinpoint specific needs within each domain and formulate practical strategies to ensure the safe and effective operation of seagliders, thereby enhancing connectivity across Hawaiʻi’s communities.

Seagliders, emerging as a novel transportation solution, blend the efficiency of airplanes with the affordability of boats, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with moving people and goods across coastal areas. REGENT, a Rhode Island-based company and the creator of seagliders, anticipates these vehicles will be operational by the mid-2020s.

« Back to Page