Indiantelevision.com Team

(15 February 2008 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: go!, Hawaii's low-fare airline, in association with Hawaiian music event Ho'omau 2008, has announced the official launch of a new website in the Hawaiian language.

This is a first-of-its-kind venture in that never before had any airline launched a website that read in the local language.

This new site http://www.lelegowau.com (Hawaiian at http://www.iflygo.com) will allow passengers to search for and book inter-island travel, all in Hawaiian.

The site has been created with inputs from many people including Larry Kimura, noted Hawaiian language author and UH Hilo Professor; Sterling Kini Wong of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Manu Boyd, Cultural Director, The Festivals Company; Kaulana Vares, UH Manoa Hawaiian Studies student, as well as Kaui Keola and her students at Kula Kaiapuni 'o Anuenue in Palolo.

"In the last 30 years, there has been a remarkable resurgence in the training and use of Hawaiian," said go! VP of e-commerce Frank Among.

"We hope that the production of this site will continue to support interaction and familiarity with the Hawaiian language, and also encourage more of the business community to make an effort to keep Hawaii's rich culture alive," he continued.

Student involvement from other Hawaiian language schools will also be sought and the goal is to involve students in the marketing, sales, support and development of the site on an on-going basis. Another local company, Ezrez Software, is being used for the booking engine technology.

"As a company with deep roots in Hawaii, Ezrez has a strong commitment to the community. We are honoured to be a part of an initiative that promotes and perpetuates the Hawaiian language," said Ezrez CEO Tina Fitch.