One of the first female pilots at Hawaiian Airlines retired in July after 38 years with the company. Captain Kendall “Kiki” Culler grew up in Kailua and first became a pilot in 1977. She started her own local charter company in 1980 before joining Hawaiian Airlines in 1984.
Culler says her passion for flying started at a young age. Her father was a pilot for the University of Hawaiʻi physics department and her family spent most weekends commuting between islands with him.
In her 40-plus years flying planes, she’s seen many changes and has plenty of stories. She says Hawaiian now has one of the highest female pilot rates in the industry at about 9%. Speaking to The Conversation, Culler reflected on her career and offered advice to young women dreaming of becoming a pilot.
Editor's note: Hawaiian Airlines is an underwriter of Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
This interview aired on The Conversation on July 29, 2022. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
