STAR-BULLETIN / SEPTEMBER 2002 While working as a city prosecutor in 2002, David Arakawa headed down the corridor in the Circuit Court building to attend a grand jury hearing. He is now general counsel to Hawaiian Airlines.

Arakawa goes Hawaiian

David Arakawa David Arakawa, former city corporation counsel under Mayor Jeremy Harris, has been named senior vice president and general counsel for Hawaiian Airlines. He replaces David Webster, who left in January. » Served as the city's lawyer for eight years after losing the 1996 Honolulu prosecutor's election to Peter Carlisle. » Spent 13 years in private practice, including as a partner with the law firm Fujiyama Duffy & Fujiyama. » His family owned the former Arakawa's general store in Waipahu, which closed in 1995. » Is a vice president of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association.

Question: Once Hawaiian is out of bankruptcy, what will be your big tasks?

Answer: Once Hawaiian Air exits bankruptcy, I think there are a number of pending contractual matters and also employment-related matters that are held pending during the bankruptcy. Depending on what happens in bankruptcy, either the parties can agree to a new agreement and we have to implement terms of the new agreement and also if there are changes in how we operate or ways to improve because of the bankruptcy, we're forced to implement changes in productivity type of issues.

Q: Are you just observing the current court proceedings between the company and its pilots or taking part?

A: I'm just observing.

Q: Do you have any airline experience?

A: No, I have not had specific experience with the airlines, but I've had 23 years of government regulations, experience in employee relations, a bunch of law enforcement background through working at the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office, private practice, corporation counsel. Another thing I've had long-standing experience in is using the law and my experience to make a positive difference in Hawaii's communities. I think this a great opportunity: A company like Hawaiian that has the same philosophy and values to make a positive difference for our state and the people who live here.

Q: What's it like getting up to speed with the air industry?

A: It's very exciting and I'm learning things every day. Hawaiian has been one of the most important companies in Hawaii for the past 75 years. Right now it's expanding and growing its opportunities to serve not only nationally but internationally. Being part of that is very exciting. They are a major player in the tourism industry and a great ambassador for Hawaii for the past 75 years. I'm not finding it that difficult. In my former job as corporation counsel, the city administration, Mayor Harris, very much emphasized Hawaii as being the best place in the world to live and the best place in the world to visit and has a vision of Hawaii as a great place.

I'm excited about being part of Hawaiian's turnaround. It appears to be one of the top aviation stories in the past two years. Other airlines are having problems and Hawaiian has become one of the nation's most profitable and efficient airlines. The other thing I can relate is our family is the Arakawa's store family. Hawaiian has been around for a long time; they have a tradition like our family store, of support and community service. That is familiar to me. It feels like a family. It reminds me of Arakawa's stores in that it's been around a long time, with local roots and the culture of local values. Employees have a lot of pride in the company also.

Q: Why are you joining Hawaiian now?

A: No. 1, the legal issues don't wait for after bankruptcy. The other thing is that there are number of legal issues that have to be taken care of in anticipation of getting out of bankruptcy, or if the bank-ruptcy continues.

Q: What are those issues?

A: It's the everyday working of the airlines. They include enforcing our rights under our existing contracts with our numerous vendors. We have fuel vendors, services vendors. We have numerous legal relations and contracts. With respect to coming out of bankruptcy, with respect to the structure of the organization is going to be, there are a number of compliance issues we are going to take care of, securities-type issues, because it's a publicly traded company. There will be those and client issues and regulatory issues. Another thing that's day-to-day is we're highly regulated.

Q: Would you rule out working in public office again?

A: They say "never say never." But, you know, I enjoyed my experience with public service and I learned a lot working at the city, from everyone I worked with at the city. I learned a lot from employees, council people, the mayor and all administrators, but this is a new exciting experience. This is a great career for me. Right now, I have no inclination, no desire to go into public office. I don't have any desire to pursue public office in the future. I guess that business background has bit me. From Arakawa's and Ko Olina and Fujiyama. It feels very comfortable for me in this position. Every day there are challenges. It's a very dynamic industry. It's very exciting. We're not only making it better for people who live here but people who visit here.

Q: Final word?

A: The employees at Hawaiian: Like the city, I'm finding them very hard-working, very competent and they have a lot of pride in their job.