Hawaiian Airlines Faces Backlash Over Memo Proposing Language Change

(HAWAII) — A leaked memo at Hawaiian Airlines prompted immediate criticism over cultural erasure, followed by a January 15, 2026 correction tying the change to technical integration with Alaska Airlines. ### Section 1: Hawaiian Airlines memo controversy: what happened and why it matters

January 13–14, 2026 brought a jolt inside Hawaiian Airlines when an internal memo circulated among employees. The memo said Hawaiian language terms would be removed from internal manuals and policy documents. The stated reason, as widely shared by employees and community members, was framed as “inclusivity” across a U.S.-wide workforce. Even when changes stay “internal,” they can shape daily work. Manuals and policy documents are where employees learn standard phrasing, service expectations, and how the airline describes itself. A change in those materials can ripple into training, customer interactions, and how staff explain the brand to travelers. Frontline aviation work is language-heavy. Think of pre-boarding briefings, safety processes, disability assistance procedures, customer escalations, and irregular operations. Internal terminology influences how consistently employees communicate under pressure. When Hawaiian language terms are removed or renamed, some employees and many in the Hawaiian community read that as more than an edit. They see it as a signal about what the company values. Public reaction was swift. Employees and community members criticized the memo as sidelining ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in a workplace and brand long associated with the language. For many, the stakes were identity and respect, not just word choice. ### Section 2: Official correction and messaging: how to read corporate walk-backs January 15, 2026, Hawaiian Airlines issued a correction and reframed what the memo was meant to convey. The airline said the message was misworded and that the update was tied to technical integration of employee handbooks with Alaska Airlines. That integration, the airline indicated, required some administrative policy-name changes. Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, Hawaiian Airlines Community and Cultural Relations Director, addressed the moment directly: “Oftentimes when you see things at face value, you don’t see the totality of where a statement came from. Don’t lose sight of us holding onto who we are as Hawaiian Airlines. Our leadership is committed to that.” Hawaiian Airlines also reaffirmed that core values remain central to the brand: Mālama, Hoʻokipa, and Poʻokela. For stakeholders, that reassurance matters because values language often guides training and performance standards. It also helps the public separate two questions that easily blur in a controversy: – What is changing in internal manuals and policy documents? – What is changing in customer-facing service, signage, and announcements? Readers can evaluate corporate statements by looking for that boundary. An airline can rename internal policies during a merger integration while still keeping Hawaiian language visible in airport announcements, onboard routines, and branding. At the same time, internal word choices still influence workplace culture. Both can be true. **Table 1: Key dates and actions** | Event | Date | Entity/Source | What happened | |—|—:|—|—| | Internal memo circulated | January 13–14, 2026 | Hawaiian Airlines | Memo suggested removing Hawaiian language terms from internal manuals and policy documents, framed as U.S.-wide “inclusivity.” | | Official correction issued | January 15, 2026 | Hawaiian Airlines | Airline said memo was misworded and tied to technical integration with Alaska Airlines and handbook alignment. | | Cultural relations statement amplified | January 15, 2026 | Debbie Nakanelua-Richards | Urged people to see “the totality” and said leadership remains committed to Hawaiian Airlines’ identity. | | Investment plan cited in context | January 5, 2026 | Hawaiian Airlines | Announced the $600M Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan. | ### Section 3: Hawaiian language history and branding context: why terminology choices carry weight Hawaiian language use at Hawaiian Airlines is not new or decorative. The airline has used Hawaiian language terms in branding and flight announcements since the 1930s. Over decades, that visibility has been part of how visitors encounter Hawaii and how local residents see themselves reflected in a major employer. Language inside an airline shapes language outside it. Internal terminology feeds training scripts, supervisor coaching, and how employees describe the passenger experience. When internal references to Hawaiian terms get reduced, staff may feel pressure to avoid them in customer interactions. That can shift tone in small but real ways. Administrative edits can also affect inclusion. A workplace that routinely uses ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi terms can feel like it “belongs” in Hawaii. Removing those terms, even only in internal manuals, can be experienced as a message about which identities are centered. ### Section 4: Broader federal context: why language and inclusivity debates can spill into travel and immigration experiences Corporate language choices do not happen in a vacuum. Federal policy signals can influence how large organizations write training materials, compliance documents, and customer communications. That does not mean one action caused another. It does mean timing and political signals can shape risk calculations. Airlines sit at an intersection of customer service and government-facing compliance. They deal with identity checks, document matching, and international travel rules. If federal messaging moves toward English-dominant communications, some organizations may adjust their internal writing to avoid phrases that sound out of step with Washington. Private employers are not the same as federal agencies, though. A federal communication policy applies to government operations. An airline’s branding and internal manuals remain corporate decisions, shaped by leadership, labor needs, and customer expectations. For travelers and immigrants, the practical question is simpler: will services remain clear and accessible? Language access affects customer support calls, disability assistance, miscommunication during delays, and the clarity of travel document requirements. **Table 2: Federal actions at a glance** | Policy/Action | Date | Impact on language/inclusivity | Relevance to readers | |—|—:|—|—| | Executive Order 14224 (Official Language) | March 2025 | Prioritizes English in federal communications; shifts tone around language access | May affect how immigrants experience forms, notices, and agency support options | | DOT DEI program changes | January 30, 2025 | DOT memoranda removed DEI programs; changes internal federal posture | May influence industry training priorities and compliance writing, without dictating airline branding | | USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194 (“Hold and Review”) | January 1, 2026 | Heightened scrutiny for benefit requests from 39 high-risk countries | Can affect applicants’ timelines and travel planning if a case is pending | | Travel restriction expansion to 39 countries | January 2, 2026 | Expands entry restrictions for certain nationals | Impacts trip feasibility and reentry planning for affected travelers | ### Section 5: Official Language Policy (Executive Order 14224, March 2025): what it changes—and what it doesn’t Executive Order 14224, signed in March 2025, designates English as the official language of the United States and directs federal agencies to prioritize English in official communications. In plain terms, it signals a shift in how the federal government frames language access and multilingual outreach. What it may change for immigrants is the feel of the process. Forms might remain technical, but guidance pages, public-facing explanations, and support channels can change quickly. If an agency reduces translated materials, applicants may rely more on their own translated records, community help, or qualified legal support. What it does not automatically do is erase every translation option. Many agencies have long-running language access practices. Those practices can change, but they may also persist in key areas, especially where civil rights rules or operational needs require it. ⚠️ **Important: verify current official guidance on language access and interpretation when traveling or applying for benefits; policies cited are evolving and subject to change.** 💡 **How to request interpretation or translated documents in immigration-related interactions and at airline check-in points:** In many cases, you can ask the agency or service provider what interpretation options exist, request written instructions in a language you read, and keep copies of every notice and receipt. For travel, ask early at check-in what document language is acceptable and what must match the passport. ### Section 6: DOT DEI program changes (January 2025): airline-facing implications without overreach January 30, 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed memoranda eliminating DOT programs promoting DEI. Duffy described the changes as a return to “common-sense governance and merit-based policies.” DOT policy does not directly order airlines to remove cultural language from branding. Still, regulatory climate can shape how companies write internal rules and training material. Large carriers often align internal documentation with what they think regulators expect, especially when they anticipate audits, complaints, or public scrutiny. Airlines also have their own commitments and market realities. Hawaii-based operations, local hiring, and customer expectations can push in the opposite direction. That tension is part of why the Hawaiian Airlines memo language drew so much attention. ### Section 7: January 2026 USCIS/DHS actions happening at the same time: what travelers and immigrants should watch Separate from the airline memo, several USCIS/DHS actions landed in January 2026. Together, they may affect travel planning, pending immigration cases, and family logistics. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced Somalia TPS termination on January 13, 2026, effective March 17, 2026. For Somali TPS holders and their families, that kind of change can affect work authorization, travel decisions, and long-term planning. People in this situation often benefit from qualified legal advice because timelines and options vary by individual case. USCIS also issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194 on January 1, 2026. It ordered an immediate “Hold and Review” of pending benefit applications from 39 high-risk countries. A hold can delay decisions and increase requests for evidence. That can matter if someone is planning international travel while a case is pending. A Presidential Proclamation that took effect January 2, 2026 expanded entry restrictions to nationals from 39 countries. Entry restrictions can affect whether a person can board a flight, transit through certain airports, or return to the United States after travel. Airline travel intersects with these rules at the gate. Carriers check documents before boarding. They also face penalties for transporting passengers who lack required entry permission. That reality can lead to tight document scrutiny, especially on international routes. ⚠️ **Important: verify current official guidance on language access and interpretation when traveling or applying for benefits; policies cited are evolving and subject to change.** 💡 **How to request interpretation or translated documents in immigration-related interactions and at airline check-in points:** If you receive an English-only notice you cannot read, ask the issuing agency what language help is available and whether an interpreter line exists. For flights, bring printed copies of key immigration receipts and approvals, plus certified translations when needed, and ask for a supervisor if there is confusion. Official starting points include the [USCIS newsroom](https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom) and [DHS press releases](https://www.dhs.gov/newsroom/press-releases). For DOT background, see the [DOT newsroom](https://www.transportation.gov/newsroom). ### Section 8: Summary of impact and context: who’s affected and practical next steps Hawaiian Airlines employees sit closest to the internal memo fight. Internal manuals are part of workplace belonging, and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi carries deep meaning in Hawaii. Cultural practitioners and community members also feel direct impact because the airline is a high-visibility symbol. Passengers feel it differently. Many travelers experience Hawaiian language through announcements, greetings, and tone. Even if no customer-facing changes occur, public trust can take a hit when internal documents appear to sideline the culture the airline markets. Immigrants and mixed-status families face a parallel concern: uncertainty. English-dominant policy signals, plus heightened screening rules, can raise stress around paperwork, boarding, and reentry. Practical next steps can stay grounded: – Employees can use internal HR channels and leadership feedback routes to ask what is changing in internal manuals versus public-facing service. – Travelers can check airline websites before departure for document requirements and keep extra time for international check-in. – Immigration applicants should save every USCIS/DHS notice, track deadlines, and confirm current rules on official sites before booking flights. – Families affected by TPS or entry restrictions may want to consult a qualified immigration attorney for case-specific planning. Corporate commitments can also be weighed as context. Hawaiian Airlines pointed to its $600M Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan announced January 5, 2026 as a marker of commitment to the islands. Investments do not settle a language debate, but they help readers judge how the company describes its long-term relationship with Hawaii. The most immediate action is simple: before you fly or file anything, confirm today’s language access options and entry rules on official sites, then carry clean document copies that match your passport exactly. — This article discusses immigration policy and corporate language decisions; information reflects official sources but readers should consult current agency guidance for individual cases.