HONOLULU (KHON2) -- As the transition into the umbrella of Alaska Airlines continues, Hawaiian Airlines is launching a new program for Hawaii residents called Huakaʻi by Hawaiian. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You "It's free to sign up starting today, and once our residents become a Huakaʻi member, they will enjoy a free checked bag – inclusive of surfboards, golf bags, and other sports equipment – on neighbor island flights, 10 or 20% off one neighbor island booking per quarter, and network-wide deals monthly," CEO Joe Sprague said. "We know how critical it is for our residents to fly between the islands for so many reasons – to visit family, go to a doctor's appointment or work – and so we wanted to make it even easier for them to be able to fly with us, and also take a free bag and carry their sports equipment. Huakaʻ i by Hawaiian is very similar to a resident travel program that Alaska Airlines launched in the state of Alaska more than a decade ago called Club 49. As Hawaiian combined with Alaska Airlines, and as we celebrate 95 years of serving Hawaii this month, we thought it would make a lot of sense to introduce a resident travel program in Hawaii. The idea also was shaped by feedback we've received from our Hawaii Community Advisory Board – a 16-member group with local representatives from across the state. We are very grateful to have such an engaged board as we embark on this exciting journey as a combined company." Hawaiian Airlines resumes seasonal service between Hawaii, New Zealand Hawaiian Airlines also began offering seasonal flights to New Zealand, which started this past weekend. Sprague says the network with Alaska will benefit local residents. "It's well underway now. We're over two months since the combination was made official. It's progressing, it's going to be a fantastic arrangement of an expansive new network for folks in Hawaii to be able to travel to three times the number of destinations here in North America. It's going to be a fantastic loyalty program the combination of the two airlines' loyalty programs, not just Huakaʻi by Hawaiian but the expanded loyalty programs that both airlines will offer." Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here You can sign up now, with operations starting on January 8. "Signing up is free and easy at HawaiianAirlines.com/Huakai. All you need is a HawaiianMiles account, which is free to create online if you don't already have one, and a Hawaii address. Once you sign up, next month we will email you the first quarterly discount code that is good for 10% off a neighbor island booking, or 20% if you are also a Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard card member, for travel starting Jan 8. There are no blackout dates. Additionally, all members will receive a free checked bag anytime they travel neighbor island – and that includes surfboards, a golf bag, or other sports equipment."