Aloha Contract Services Workers Adjusting, Optimistic

HONOLULU -- It has been almost a month and half since Aloha Airlines announced it was shutting down its passenger service.

Employees of Aloha Contract Services said they are optimistic about the future.

Under its new owner, the division retained about 80 percent of its employees. They do everything from luggage handling, cabin cleaning and ground services for 20 airlines in Hawaii.

The workers who stayed said they were elated by the company's new owner.

Aloha Contract Services employees trickled in to pick up their $100 bonuses Tuesday.

"I think it was great what she's doing for us. A lot of people have been having hard times you know," contract services worker Sheila Espiritu said. "Out of her heart, we won't get more aloha than that."

"The bonus means so much to us because, you know, we weren't getting paid for the last few days of April," contract services employee Noralei Desuacido said.

"I've just been hanging in there ever since Aloha shut down," employee Dee DeMello said.

It has been a rough time for the division's 900 employees across the state.

The owner of Pacific Air Cargo, which purchased Aloha Contract Services, said she wanted to thank the employees. They worked without pay for almost two weeks to keep the company afloat until the sale went through and Pacific Air Cargo took over May 2.

"They have had such a hard time. I mean, this whole thing was stressful for me, and I can imagine what it's been like for them. This is their livelihood," Pacific Air Cargo owner Beti Ward said.

Ward said she wanted to pay her employees back for their loyalty and patience.

"When they got their paycheck for two days and they were expecting their paycheck for two weeks, I said, 'You know we have to do something. We have to help them out,'" Ward said.

She is calling it a sign-on bonus. About 80 percent of the former employees stayed on to join Ward. Some retired, others left because there would be no more flight benefits.

"They want flight benefits. We told them we'd work on that. We'd work on trying to work out something with somebody to get them some flight benefits," Ward said.

"Beti Ward has really lifted up our spirits. We've been on an emotional roller coaster you know, with the Aloha shutdown and everything," Desuacido said.

Ward said she purchased Aloha's name because it is highly recognized around the world.

However, she was not allowed to purchase the logo. Now employees are engaged in a contest to come up with the new logo for Aloha Contract Services.