Hawaiian Airlines Unveils New Leihōkū Suites on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
Hawaiian Airlines is set to elevate its passenger experience by transitioning from Airbus A330s to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in early 2024. Along with the fleet transition, the airline is introducing an upgraded premium cabin named Leihōkū Suites, meaning “lei (garland) of stars.”
At the front of the aircraft, the Adient Aerospace Ascent-based Leihōkū suites are arranged in a hybrid herringbone configuration, with 34 seats spanning from doors 1 to 2. Window seats face the windows, while the center pairs face the aisle. This configuration enables Hawaiian Airlines to offer a unique feature called “combined double seats,” which creates a double bed-like experience for partners in the center pairs, allowing them to say goodnight with a kiss while enjoying the starry ceiling option provided by Boeing.
Hawaiian Airlines proudly announces its partnership with Adient Aerospace, a joint venture between Boeing and Adient. While other airlines have previously introduced these seats, Hawaiian Airlines is the first to collaborate with Adient Aerospace. The Leihōkū Suites are equipped with 18″ inflight entertainment monitors, wireless charging capabilities, and the standard array of power and USB outlets, ensuring a satisfying onboard experience.
The cabin design, developed in collaboration with design house Teague, embodies elements that pay homage to Hawaiʻi’s rich natural world. Passengers will appreciate the cabin’s bold textures, island-inspired lighting evoking sunrise and sunset, and organic patterns representing the ocean and wind. The renderings reveal a premium cabin featuring textured tan and beige tones with vibrant teal accents. From wood forms at the entry doors to the suite doors’ horizontal textures, the attention to detail and warm brown leather accents elevate the overall aesthetics of the cabin.
Hawaiian Airlines has taken inspiration from Polynesian wayfinding, expertly infusing it into the cabin design. The result is a meticulously crafted set of cabins that combine established hard product elements with a distinct touch. The extra-legroom economy section at the rear of the aircraft boasts 79 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, consistent with the rest of the economy class. The Collins Aerospace Aspire seats feature 12-inch screens, dual USB-A and -C power outlets, and an appealing teal color scheme.
Additional highlights of the new 787 include:
- Enhanced cabin air filtration and a carbon-fiber composite airframe that permits travel at a lower cabin altitude, resulting in a more comfortable flight.
- Acoustic-treated engine inlets that provide a quieter cabin
- Extra-large, dimmable windows
- Lavatory toilets and faucets with touchless activation
- Fuel-efficient wide-body aircraft built with innovative aerodynamics and modern-General Electric GEnx engines. The plane is significantly more fuel efficient than prior-generation, similarly sized aircraft.
- Simulated cabin sky that depicts soft daylight, soothing sunrise and sunsets or dramatic starry evening skies.
Throughout the cabin, Hawaiian Airlines showcases its rich history, unique Hawai’ian culture, and emphasis on premium leisure travel. From the Polynesian textures and patterns to the charming details like signage featuring people clad in traditional Hawai’ian shirts and dresses for lavatories, the airline’s identity is evident.
The new Leihōkū Suites and upgraded cabins will debut in early 2024 on select routes, inviting passengers to indulge in a truly distinctive travel experience that harmonizes with the airline’s legacy and Hawai’ian heritage.