I would say this the most accurate perspective. Micro, keep in mind we also hired a lot of older F/O's. When HA started hiring they hired all different ages in most of the classes. As far as 18 - 24 NEO's not being growth, I would have to disagree. They will replace some 767 flying I'm sure, but add many more routes. Inter-island will still be busy despite more outer island direct flights. My take is Ohana will only grow in markets that a 717 never would have flown anyway. If anything they will help feed mainline. I KNOW I KNOW, this is the thinking that let the cat out of the bag on the mainline and created the RJ debacle. I don't see that happening here at all. Inter-island will always be heavily traveled and require large A/C on the routes we use the 717 and Inter-island is too core to our pilot group to ever consider giving that up.
As far as commuting goes, seems to me there are numerous options that are easy from the west coast, you can even pair up with another pilot and split a pairing that would allow you to originate your flight on the west coast. I don't think your concerns about losing the 12 in a row are valid. We have always protected that. If it's any consolation the head of the negotiating committee and some members are commuters. I'm guessing the "new" MEC will be open and responsive to pilot input. They will be coming in as fresh blood.
But essentially, we have some quick upgrades and some of them are, in fact young. But we also have a lot of pilots that started here in their 40's or 50's. The a/c we have on order means a lot of hiring, the fact that our classes are filled with with pilots of all different ages means there shouldn't be the stagnation that hiring a whole class of fairly young pilots causes down the road when the inevitable slow downs come.