Mokupuni Boeing 314

Mokupuni was founded in 1926 as Mokupuni Island Airlines, beginning operations in late 1928 with five PBY Catalina aircraft for inter-island flying. The airline was very successful flying between Honolulu, Kona, Kahului, and Lihue, connecting the U.S. territory and ensuring the growth of its sugarcane plantations with large scale shipments of products by air. By 1937, MK had a fleet of 25 Catalinas, 8 Barkley-Grow T8P, and 12 Northrop Deltas. It was soon to add its most important aircraft type. Mokupuni was considering ordering the Martin M 130 that Britannic was successfully employing for trans-Atlantic voyages, but wanted something bigger and longer range. Mokupuni commissioned Boeing to create an aircraft with superior range and comfort and the 314 was born. With this aircraft, Mokupuni began to market air travel to and from the American mainland, helping to balloon tourism and exoticism of Pacific Island goods. The sugar, pineapple, and coconut industries exploded as mainland demand increased with fresher access to these new tropical foods. Hawaii became the number one vacation destination for Americans nationwide.

The Boeing 314 had a complicated service life however. Entering service in 1939, America would be plunged into war very soon. On December 7th, 1941 when the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Three of MKs 10 314s were destroyed. One in Honolulu undergoing engine maintenance near the naval yard, One in Manila Bay, and one was shot down on its way from Guam to Wake Island. In the wake of the attack, one 314 was fitted with specialized hardpoints to help re-float the USS Oklahoma and to recover bodies of fallen servicemen. Mokupuni would use the type to fly rubber and sugar materials to the mainland until the war's end.

The Boeing 314 would continue flying until early 1952, leaving its mark on the development of the Hawaiian islands forever.