Stich, the sometimes-naughty blue alien from Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” film, is hitching a ride on Hawaiian Airlines’ plane, receiving aerial exposure, now through summer.
The first aircraft with a Stitch image, is an Airbus A330, released earlier this week. It is the first of a trio of specially designed HAL planes depicting Stitch, whose image is highly visible on the exterior of the design, all part of a partnership with Disney, whose live-action, filmed-n-Hawaii “Lilo and Stitch” film will be released May 23.
Next week, a second aircraft, an A331, will be painted with another Stitch image, followed with a third Stitch on a Boeing 717 debuts next month.
Clearly, Stitch will be a vital companion for Pualani, the steadfast woman, depicted on the tail of all Hawaiian planes.
In announcing the Disney promotion with Stitch, Hawaiian – the state’s flagship carrier – referred in a media release to Stitch’s much-quoted notion that ‘ohana (Hawaiian for family) is important, so Hawaiian noted that the Stitch presence is one form of the spirit of aloha and hospitality in the friendly skies
“At Hawaiian Airlines, Hawai‘i is our home, and we consider our guests to be our ‘ohana,” said Alisa Onishi, director of brand and culture at Hawaiian Airlines. “Our hope is that all who visit our islands feel welcomed from the moment they step onboard, just as Lilo welcomed Stitch. We’re also excited to have Stitch be our new Travel Pono ambassador through an AR experience and as the star of our in-flight video, where he learns valuable lessons on how to be a mindful visitor.”
Further, Stitch’s visibility will be inside the cabin, too, interfering with the Travel Pono in-flight video, the focus of a search-for-Stitch game, the star in several in-flight video streaming of his past TV and movie credits. And Disney being Disney, there will be Lilo and Stitch merch to order onboard select flights and online at LogoStore.HawaiianAirlines.com …
And that’s Show Biz…