The latest special livery aircraft has been introduced by Southwest Airlines, and this time it recognises the Hawaiian people for the first time.
On the anniversary of its first interisland flights within Hawaii, commemorates beginning a fifth year of serving the Aloha State by introducing Imua One™, a Hawaii-themed aircraft livery that symbolizes an enduring partnership between the Hawaiian Islands and Southwest Airlines.
The aircraft to feature this new scheme is N8710M.
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.
Southwest unveiled Imua One at Long Beach Airport, one of eight mainland gateways where Southwest offers nonstop service to the Islands.
Oahu-based Osaki Creative Group designed Imua One with the guidance of Herman Piikea Clark, Kanaka Maoli/indigenous Hawaiian artist, designer, and researcher. Its distinctive design features eight elements that represent concepts in Hawaiian culture that also align with Southwest values. The aircraft design features stars for each of the five airports in Hawaii Southwest serves (Honolulu, Lihue (Kauai), Kahului (Maui), Kona (Island of Hawaii), and Hilo (Island of Hawaii); six paddlers in an outrigger bring to life the concept of Imua; and six turtles in two groups of three to represent harmony and balance. Emblazoned near the nose of the aircraft, a lei honors unique Islands through their official flowers. Reflective of distinctive colors in the Southwest Heart livery, including bold blue, warm red, and sunrise yellow, a gradient transition from blue to yellow represents the evolution from night to day, and honors Hawaiian history of journeying the Pacific using wind, and following the guidance of the sun, stars, and moon to navigate.
Here’s a video of the painting process:
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