Hawaiian Airlines launches nonstop flight service out of SLC

• The inaugural flight landed in Salt Lake City last Thursday.

Between the lines: Utah ranks third in the U.S. for having the largest share of its state residents identifying as Pacific Islanders, per the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.

• The historical link between Utah and Hawaii dates back to the mid-1800s after Latter-day Saint missionaries traveled to the island and converted residents.

What they're saying: "We know the Hawaiian Islands have a special place in the heart of Utahns and for some, a Hawaiʻi vacation also means reuniting with friends and family," Brent Overbeek, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement.