"This anniversary, like most anniversaries, is a chance to look back and see how far we've come," Dunkerley said. "It's also a particularly sweet anniversary because it hits at a time when the industry's going through great turmoil."

Hawaiian will emerge from bankruptcy under new ownership following a Jan. 25 court hearing, just as Hawaiian's competitors are focusing low-priced fares at Hawai'i's hot tourism market.

Many of Hawaiian's 3,300 employees who attended yesterday's ceremony, however, preferred to revel in the moment and sing a boisterous rendition of "Happy Birthday" to their airline.

"It's wonderful," said Ku'ulei Mercado, a 35-year Hawaiian employee. "I'm so excited to be part of this history-making event."

Mercado and a handful of employees put together a square, 77-inch quilt made up of pictures spanning Hawaiian's 75-year history. Hawaiian officials yesterday unveiled the quilt, framed in a mahogany stand made by Mercado's husband.

The quilt will travel to Hawaiian's stations as part of the year-long anniversary.

"A lot of retirees are here reminiscing," Mercado said. "Oh, now everybody's eating. ... This is really a wonderful day."

While other employees were celebrating, Hawaiian's pilots were making plans to form an informational picket line at the inter-island terminal today from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Half of Hawaiian's 300 pilots are scheduled to take turns walking the picket line. The other half will be flying Hawaiian planes, said Capt. Jim Giddings, chairman of the Hawaiian Airlines unit of the pilots union.

The pilots are angry over company proposals they say would require pilots to pay for increased expenses, such as medical benefits. Any pay raises also would have to come from cutting the number of pilots, according to Giddings.

Hawaiian officials want new contracts in place with the company's labor unions before the Jan. 25 court date and have said a tentative deadline for the pilots for mid-December, Giddings said.

"We want to show publicly our concern over the approach that the company has taken consistently in negotiations with us," Giddings said. "The deadline that they've set for us is a month away and we've seen very little progress."

Late yesterday, Hawaiian announced that it reached a tentative agreement with the Transport Workers Union on a new contract for Hawaiian's dispatchers.

The agreement, which must be ratified, would take effect when Hawaiian exits bankruptcy.

"We're pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement with the TWU," said Josh Gotbaum, Hawaiian's bankruptcy trustee. "In order to exit Chapter 11, Hawaiian needs agreements with each of its unions. Our goal is to negotiate fair contracts that allow Hawaiian to get out of bankruptcy and stay out. The TWU agreement is an important first step."

Hawaiian's pilots specifically decided not to picket yesterday during Hawaiian's 75th anniversary.

"Our perspective is that we are Hawaiian Airlines and this is our anniversary," Giddings said. "We're celebrating an amazing achievement for any airline, particularly for Hawaiian Airlines. We congratulate our fellow employees and we thank the public and our customers for their support over the years. We really don't want to do anything to take away from that message."