DALLAS, April 28, 2023 — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) commemorates its fifth year of serving the Aloha State by unveiling Imua One™. This Hawaii-themed aircraft livery symbolizes the enduring partnership between the Hawaiian Islands and Southwest Airlines®. The high-flying tribute is dedicated to Southwest® Employees and to communities across Hawaii that welcomed the carrier with warm aloha.
Imua One, designed by Oahu-based Osaki Creative Group with the guidance of Kanaka Maoli/indigenous Hawaiian artist Herman Piikea Clark, features eight distinctive elements that represent Hawaiian culture concepts that align with Southwest values. The design includes stars for each of the five airports in Hawaii Southwest serves, six paddlers in an outrigger embodying the concept of Imua, and six turtles in two groups of three to represent harmony and balance. A lei near the nose of the aircraft honors unique Islands through their official flowers.
The Imua One livery was unveiled at Long Beach Airport, one of eight mainland gateways where Southwest offers nonstop service to the Islands, facilitating seamless connections to airports across the western two-thirds of the U.S. mainland. Southwest Employees across the country watched through a livestream as Kahu Kordell C. L. Kekoa, a Hawaiian church Minister, led a blessing and dedication of the aircraft, witnessed by Southwest Employees and Customers, many with ties to the rich culture in Hawaii.
Southwest also donated $10,000 to eight organizations in the Islands to underscore a commitment to longtime community partners in Hawaii. These organizations support causes close to the Heart of Southwest and align with elements and themes featured on Imua One.
Imua One is the first Southwest aircraft with in-seat power available at every seat. It is the third Boeing 737 MAX 8 in the Southwest fleet of specialty liveries. Other special paint schemes in the Southwest fleet dedicated to specific states include: Arizona One, California One, Colorado One, Florida One, Freedom One (flag of the United States of America), Illinois One, Lone Star One (Texas), Louisiana One, Maryland One, Missouri One, Nevada One, New Mexico One, and Tennessee One.
Following a dedication in Long Beach, Calif., Imua One will fly first to Honolulu, and during the weekend, will visit each airport in Hawaii served by Southwest. The tour allows Southwest Employees and community members to share in the special tribute. Imua One will then re-join the Southwest fleet and fly throughout the Southwest network on regularly scheduled service.
Since its first service to Hawaii in 2019, Southwest is grateful to have grown to serve five airports in the Aloha State and to link the Hawaiian Islands to the mainland with nonstop service through eight gateway airports. Today, Southwest offers 90 departures daily, including 60 daily flights within the Islands.
