The minimum experience level of 2500 hours was increased from 1500 hours because a new hire might become an IRO .... second in command....on an international flight over the middle of the pacific on a widebody....and that's an entirely reasonable minimum. (ie Air France.) If you have less than that amount of time you're just beginning your career...that doesn't mean that Hawaiian would not be interested in you...it just means that you should continue to build experience and keep applying!

Nimubusurfer....commuting from the west coast MIGHT be possible, but it would not be easy or desireable. There's no way of knowing what airplane you'd be assigned to...and the 717 schedule is not conducive to commuting. Even within the widebody fleet, new hires (and junior pilots) don't have the scheduling seniority, muscle or flexibility to build schedules for commuting. Those that have tried are generally disappointed. It's easy to understand why the company prefers a good match....if an employee is happy they're likely to stay, and the considerable training investment is reasonable. If a guy is not happy then everybody loses. Everyone has to be honest in the equation to achieve a good result. There are a number of guys in crash pads that make it work...it's an additional expense to be sure, but being available in the islands is doable and workable for not too much money. In the future, as your seniority improves over a few years, commuting will become somewhat realistic, though never really advantageous. The short term...2 to 3 years..of being in the islands would be a reasonable committment in terms of beginning an excellent career!!!

My advice to everyone....be honest in the application process, in considering what the job is and what it means to you in terms of your personal situation and quality of life. Don't "play the game".....be true to yourself!!!