Tuli Fruean is the new local station manager for Hawaiian Airlines and he started July 6 replacing former station manager Mitzie Semo who has relocated to Hawai’i, says Hawaiian spokesperson Ann Botticelli.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Botticelli says Fruean served as Samoa Tuna Processors Inc., safety, health, security and training manager since the beginning of 2014 and concurrently as restaurant and marketing manager for McDonald’s 2000 (the local McDonald’s franchise).

Fruean’s airline experience includes 13 years with Delta Airlines in San Antonio, Texas, and during his time there, he served as station manager as well as performance leader and deputy manager, said Botticelli, adding that Fruean moved back to American Samoa in 2010 after spending several years on the mainland.

“We are very excited to have him on our team in Pago Pago,” Botticelli said via email from Honolulu. “We are also happy to have Mitzie Semo moving here to Hawai’i and the Island of Maui, where she will serve as assistant station manager.”