Every week, more than 80,000 pounds of Maui limes fly in the bellies of Hawaiian Air Cargo widebody jets from Kahului (OGG) to Seattle (SEA) on their way to Canada — bringing fresh Island-grown fruit to North American markets and nourishing the agriculture economy in the state of Hawai‘i.
About 2 million pounds of limes grown by farm company Mahi Pono have been carried on the OGG-SEA route since February 2026, when the first-ever air shipments of limes from Hawai‘i started. From Seattle, the limes are trucked to Canada. The frequent flights allow the fruit to reach markets in just three days, rather than up to two weeks when shipped by sea, keeping the limes fresher and greener.
"Air freight provides a significant advantage because the fruit gets to market faster, preserving more shelf life for customers," said Chris Hayes, logistics manager for Mahi Pono.
Mahi Pono has grown limes on Maui since 2019, when it began transforming more than 41,000 acres of abandoned sugarcane lands to cultivate diverse crops feeding communities across the state. The company now has more than 3 million trees of limes and other fruit, and Mahi Pono-grown citrus, watermelon and other products are sold under the Maui Harvest brand at stores like Foodland and Whole Foods within Hawai‘i. Mahi Pono has even planted crops by request of some large grocery store clients.
“Anything we can do to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports, we're all for,” Hayes said.
Mahi Pono lime fields on Maui. (Photo courtesy Mahi Pono)
Logistics and limes
Our Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo teams worked closely with Mahi Pono for more than a year to solve the logistics puzzle of efficiently flying the limes. The teams navigated U.S. Department of Agriculture and Transportation Security Administration requirements, and our cargo team developed new security inspection methods in Maui.
“We've had a great partnership locally, and I can't talk enough about them,” Hayes said. “Without the diligence, resilience, and aloha from the teams at OGG and SEA, this would not have been possible."
Customized shipping solutions are a top priority for the Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo team, said Ian Morgan, Alaska Airlines vice president for cargo. “Our differentiator is this team truly cares and takes our relationship with our customers deeply to heart,” he said.
Growth on the horizon
Mahi Pono is still growing. The company hopes to increase the size of its lime shipments later this year and has its sights set on shipping produce to other West Coast markets. In coming years, Mahi Pono hopes to double or triple its local workforce on Maui, where it currently employs 300 people.
"It is our kuleana (responsibility) to cultivate higher-paying career opportunities, and my hope is that doing so will help address the high cost of living so more local families can stay in Hawai'i and build their future here," Hayes said.
“This partnership is a proud moment for our team, and it's also good for the community, Maui and the state of Hawai‘i,” said Gail Hayashi, cargo sales manager in Hawai‘i. “We look forward to serving Mahi Pono with mālama, trust and aloha.”
Supporting our communities
In addition to working with newer customers such as Mahi Pono, the company’s air cargo business continues to represent a vital link to the communities Alaska and Hawaiian serve, transporting time-sensitive goods that communities need, including medicine, household supplies and groceries. In 2025, Alaska and Hawaiian carried more than 157,000 tons of cargo to, from and within Hawai‘i and Alaska.
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About Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo
Together, Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo reach 110-plus cargo destinations around the world, including cities across Asia, the South Pacific and Europe. With more than 90 years of experience carrying vital shipments to remote communities, our air cargo teams share deep connections to the communities where we live, work and fly.
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