President of Island Air
will resign after 32 years

Neil Takekawa, president of the state's third-largest airline, said he will resign next Tuesday after 32 years with Island Air and its former parent, Aloha Airgroup Inc.

Neil Takekawa: President of interisland carrier Island Air will step down

Takekawa, 52, was president and chief executive of the airline until mid-February when former Bombardier and Air Jamaica executive Robert Mauracher was brought in by the new owner as CEO. Takekawa said he will remain as a consultant, but the duration of his involvement with the airline is still being negotiated.

"I'm just going to find other personal-interest things to do," said Takekawa, adding that he's keeping his options open for employment outside the airline industry. "Right now, I'm just looking at taking some personal time."

Under Takekawa's leadership, he transformed Island Air from a small commuter with planes seating less than 10 passengers to a larger operation with 37-seat de Havilland Dash-8 planes. The airline, whose sale by Aloha Airlines' parent to San Francisco-based Gavarnie Holding LLC was completed in May 2004, operates eight Dash-8s and has 84 daily flights that serve every airport in the state. The Dash-8s have been in use for about 10 years, Takekawa said.

Takekawa said the hiring of Mauracher partially influenced his decision to step down.

Robert Mauracher: The airline's new CEO joined in February and has worked for Air Jamaica

"It's one of those things where it had everything to do with it and nothing to do with it," he said. "It was more my personal decision."

Mauracher said he has no immediate plans to hire a successor for Takekawa. Mauracher plans to rely on the experience Takekawa will offer as a consultant.

"All he's done with the airline is recognized by me to be of huge value, so I want to make sure we have an ongoing relationship," Mauracher said.

Takekawa said his decision wasn't an easy one even though he had thought about stepping down in the past.

"It was just right for me personally, and the timing was good for the company," he said.

"But it's like leaving part of your life. It's not easy."