A Mokulele Airlines employee loads a plane with groceries bound for Molokai on Thursday. Photos courtesy Keith Sisson

The Maui News

Free grocery delivery service that began on Molokai has now been expanded to include Lanai, Hana and Waimea starting today, Mokulele Airlines announced Thursday.

As of Thursday, the first day of free shipping, the airline had delivered 2,960 pounds of groceries to Molokai — 1,560 pounds from Honolulu and 1,400 pounds from Kahului, said Keith Sisson, chief marketing officer for Mokulele Airlines.

“It seems like everyone is looking for ways to help their neighbors during this unprecedented time,” Sisson said in a news release. “Giving our staff the opportunity to assist the community in this way has brought back some big smiles and the aloha spirit that has dampened a bit during this crisis.”

On Wednesday, Mokulele announced that it would start offering free shipping of up to two bags of groceries per customer on any scheduled flight departing from either Kahului or Honolulu to Hoolehua or Kalaupapa during the month of April. The decision was in response to the closure of Molokai’s Friendly Market through April 20 after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Groceries await delivery to Molokai on Thursday

Sisson said that Mokulele’s normal rates are $1 per pound.

“After looking at the daily reports we noticed a huge spike at the beginning of the week,” Sisson told The Maui News. “When we realized the reason for the spike was because the main grocery store on Molokai was shut down, we immediately put this program in place to remove all of the fees for shipping groceries.”

Starting today, the airlines is expanding the offer to all its airports. The free shipping deal is good for up to 50 pounds of groceries per customer. People wanting to participate should have their groceries delivered to the Mokulele counter at either Honolulu or Kahului at least 30 minutes prior to departure time.

Flights depart Honolulu for Molokai at 6 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Flights depart Kahului for Molokai at 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 2:40 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; for Lanai at 7:15 a.m. and 3:05 p.m.; for Hana at 7:30 a.m. and 4:50 p.m.; and for Waimea at 11:55 a.m. and 6:20 p.m.

For more information, visit mokuleleair.com or call (808) 495-4188.