Several former Aloha Airlines employees have called for Hawai'i residents to boycott go! airlines, blaming the Arizona-based company for starting an airfare war that led to Aloha's demise.

Aloha pilot Mike Uslan proclaimed on the airline's final flight from Maui Monday night that people should send their business to former rival Hawaiian Airlines, and "Don't fly go!"

A Web site, dontflygo.com, has been around for about two years, asking people to not patronize the upstart carrier.

But if an unscientific poll taken yesterday at Honolulu International Airport is any indication, the impassioned pleas to boycott go! may be falling on deaf ears. Many passengers said their first choice would be Hawaiian, but they wouldn't hesitate to switch to go! if they can get a cheaper fare or better flight time.

Ernelle and Louis Gonzales were trying to catch a flight home to Kaua'i yesterday afternoon after flying from Las Vegas Monday night. The couple and their son were at a Hawaiian counter, hoping to turn their worthless Aloha tickets into standby passes.

Ernelle Gonzales said her allegiance has been with Hawaiian and Aloha, but she also has flown on go!. With Aloha gone, Gonzales said more people will eventually have to fly go!.

"It was either Hawaiian or Aloha, Aloha or Hawaiian," she said. "But as time goes on, you're gonna have to take go! because the Superferry doesn't come to Kaua'i. We only have flying as an option."

Louis Gonzales said people shouldn't blame go! for Aloha's problems because he feels the 61-year-old airline had years to address its financial woes.

In June 2006, go! began service in Hawai'i with $39 one-way tickets on all interisland flights. At the time, Aloha and Hawaiian were charging about double that.

Aloha officials have accused go! of selling tickets at below cost in an effort to drive Aloha out of business.

Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of go!'s parent, Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group, said by phone yesterday that go! did not want Aloha to go out of business.

"There were many other outcomes that we would have preferred" over the closure of Aloha, Ornstein said.

Ornstein also defended his company's actions in Hawai'i, saying that "go! entered the market providing terrific service and low fares, and we have fulfilled our promise to the people of Hawai'i. We remain committed to those principles.

"We understand the frustration and the fact that Aloha employees are upset, but we feel that their anger is misdirected."

Aviation historian Peter Forman said he believes the call for a boycott is a "redundant activity" because, he contends, many residents already dislike go!.

"The vision of the laid-off Aloha employees is still in Hawai'i travelers' minds and for this reason, at least for the near term, many will be avoiding go! because of their knowledge of go! airlines' active involvement in the destruction of Aloha Airlines," Forman said.

But he pointed out that the busy spring break travel period is over and the full impact of a boycott may not be felt until the summer begins.

"It's going to be a little slow until summer and if there is a crunch on available seats it will take place this summer," Forman said. "If capacity is short enough, then people will be forced to fly go!."

Nohealani Ching, 19, said she prefers go! to Hawaiian. Ching arrived at the go! terminal late yesterday afternoon to catch her flight to Kaua'i. She said she was a loyal Aloha customer, but will now fly go! whenever she can.

"I fly whatever is the cheapest," said Ching, who doesn't believe the boycott will be effective.

She noted, "go! and Hawaiian. That's all I have. But if I have to, I'll go with go! I just don't like Hawaiian."

Loyal Aloha customer Thea Love of Hale'iwa isn't likely to fly go! anytime soon. Love was in line yesterday to book a flight to Maui after canceling her credit card charge for tickets on Aloha.

"I don't know anything about a boycott," Love said. "I've always flown Aloha. I've never even heard of go!."