The Hawaii senator spoke at a luncheon Wednesday at Honolulu International Airport.

More than 150 Aloha Airlines Cargo employees came to Wednesday's event.

Sen. Inouye praised former workers, saying the deal for Saltchuk to purchase the cargo operation, was finalized because of their commitment.

"After the two day close up and then you had two weeks of work without any pay, just on a promise of the pay, that convinced Saltchuk. That you were really an Ohana. That this was a family affair," said Sen. Daniel Inouye, (D) Hawaii.

Sen. Inouye said although the entire airline couldn't be saved, he holds hope someday a passenger operation might be revived.

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