In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we wanted to highlight the unique stories of some of our incredible SkyWest team members.

Beau P. – TUS First Officer CRJ

Beau P. was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and is grateful for the way his family and multicultural heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian) have helped shape who he is today.

Growing up, Beau was surrounded by the aviation industry because his parents were flight attendants. After their encouragement to take a discovery flight, he knew he also wanted to pursue a career in the skies.

Beau has always felt deeply connected to his island roots through participating in traditional practices like Lo’i Kalo and helping to cultivate the land and preserve the native plants and animals.

“When you grow up on a small island, you think you know it like the back of your hand. But once I saw it from the air, it completely changed my perspective,” Beau said. “I saw the island in a way I had never seen it before. That was when I got bit by the aviation bug, and I knew I needed to do this as a career.”

After completing his flight training at the University of North Dakota in Phoenix, Beau said he was drawn to SkyWest because he wanted to be part of the best in the industry.

“SkyWest was at the top of my list because its training program and reputation for safety are second to none,” Beau said. “When you are part of it firsthand, you realize that it is so successful because it attracts the best and is the place where everybody wants to be.”

Beau has enjoyed his SkyWest career and deeply appreciates the company’s family-oriented values because they align with his background.

“Family is a huge component of the Hawaiian culture, and it is something I looked for when starting my airline journey,” Beau said. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of an airline that has instilled such a strong family atmosphere where I always feel supported.”

Kolby M. – SEA First Officer ERJ

From a young age, Kolby knew she wanted to become a pilot. Her family, a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino ancestry, has lived in Hawaii for many generations. Growing up, Kolby’s home rested on top of a hill in Honolulu, Hawaii, giving her a perfect view of the international airport. Watching the planes take off and land helped her visualize her future and sparked her childhood dream of pursuing a career in aviation.

In high school, Kolby interned with Island Air and she decided she wanted to fly hopper and cargo flights between the islands. After going through flight school at Central Washington University she began applying to the airlines.

After weighing her options, Kolby concluded SkyWest was by far the best choice for her because of our superior training program, crews, and extensive route coverage.

“SkyWest training is the best place for you to be if you want to continue to grow and excel in your professional career,” Kolby said.

Throughout her aviation journey, Kolby says she has tried to incorporate the aloha spirit into each of her flights and loves giving visitors to the island tips on the best places to eat and activities to do.

“Growing up in Hawaii, they taught us to show the aloha spirit to everyone you meet, which means we care about one another and treat everybody like family,” Kolby said. “I try to be a warm and welcoming presence on board for all my crews and passengers.”

Kolby says she has had a wonderful experience at SkyWest and especially enjoys the quality of life that SkyWest provides and the caliber of the incredible crews she gets to work with each day.