Steve Neill's Inter-Island Airways sign

Inter-Island Airways is the predecessor to Hawaiian airlines. Its parent company was Inter-Island Steamship Company. Stan Kennedy son of the Steamship's CEO was a WWI aviator who saw that aviation was the future of inter island travel. It was a hard sell to the rest of the company. Airplanes were crashing all the time. No one had made a go in the business without government subsidies. Boats were reliable and safe. The old boy network was eventually convinced to pony up some money to start the airline. The inaugural flights took place on November 11, 1929, just as the country was entering the great depression.

The airplane featured is the eight passenger Sikorsky S-38. Being able to land in the water helped to allay fears of flying over expanses of oceans. Also since the airports were so primitive conditions sometimes warranted a water landing.

This graphic is taken from a brochure that Steve was given. Not how the word "principal" is spelled. Not sure is this was a common spelling at the time. Any insight on this would be appreciated. Also note that Hawaii was not a state at that time. You will often see the initials T.H. in Steve's work as most of his art is based on logos, graphics and signs from the 30's and 40's. More of Steve's airline based art can be found at www.vintageaviationsigns.com. His other Hawaiiana art can be seen at www.stenneillart.com