Originally Posted by captfurlough

Tanker Driver,

The short answer is yes, they have hired mainlanders, but the longer answer is they usually have significant or tangible ties to the island. Schedules are not conducive to commuting, especially with preferrential bidding. While there are some junior pilots that commute, new hires and junior guys do not generally have as much flexability as they might wish to derrive reasonable commuting schedules. There is a SEA base but it's extremely senior and not a possibility for junior crewmembers. Trips begin and end in HNL so starting a trip from the West coast is not really a viable option either. In general you'll be happier with your quality of life if you're willing to relocate to the island. Hawaii is different....in almost all respects....so relocation is something that requires an understanding of the history, culture, and realities of life in the islands. Previous threads have shed some light on these things; you may wish to do a search on related topics.