Hawaiian Airlines began service to Fukuoka, Japan with its inaugural flight Monday.

This is the airline's newest expansion into Asia with the launch of daily nonstop service to Fukuoka.

Hawaiian is the only U.S. carrier providing flights year-round between Fukuoka and Hawaii, and its service will add 100,000 new air seats annually to Hawaii's visitor industry.

"We are extremely pleased that Hawaiian Airlines' new service from Fukuoka to Honolulu has begun," said President and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority Mike McCartney.  "Japan is the largest international market to the Hawaiian Islands and we estimate this new route will provide $156 million in visitor spending and $17 million in tax revenue annually."

Fukuoka is Hawaiian's third destination in Japan, and fourth in Asia to be launched in the past 17 months following Tokyo, in Nov. 2010, Seoul, in Jan. 2011, and Osaka, in July 2011.