Hawaiian Vacations.

• Author: OSWALD, LORI JO
• Position: Interview with marketing director Dee Buchanon - Interview

Hawaiian Vacations provides the only direct, regularly scheduled flights between Alaska and Hawaii. Soon the company will offer four flights per week. Pictured is an outrigger at O'ahu.

With winter barely here, some Alaskans are already dreaming of escaping the white stuff. And for many northerners, that means taking a 5.5-hour flight to the sands and sun of Hawaii via Hawaiian Vacations, which provides the only direct, regularly scheduled flights between Alaska and Hawaii.

Instead of greeting the morning with shoveling snow and heating cars, they'll be jumping into the warm surf for a wake-up call or doing aerobics on the beach with 50 other happy tourists. Instead of ending the day with safety checks of windows, doors and faucets to make sure nothing freezes during the night, they'll be sipping Mai Tai's at the Reef on the Beach in Waikiki. Instead of watching another Jackie Purcell weather report of "snow, snow and more snow," they'll be watching Don Ho or Society of Seven, followed by a stroll down Kalakaua Avenue.

With the coming winter in mind, Alaska Business Monthly brings you an interview with Hawaiian Vacations Marketing Director Dee Buchanon, who discusses the company's success and future plans.

Hawaiian Vacations is a tour company that charters airplanes to provide air service. The charter flights are currently operated by Hawaiian Airlines. The DC-10 aircraft departs from Honolulu at approximately 11:55 p.m., arrives in Anchorage at 6:40 a.m., where the plane is serviced for the return leg back to Honolulu, which departs from Anchorage at 8:35 a.m.

ABM: What changes has Hawaiian Vacations seen in the last year?

Buchanon: In 1999, Hawaiian Vacations operated three flights in the winter and two flights in the summer. In 2000, Hawaiian Vacations added a few flights to meet demand in spring and fall, and increased the marketing efforts for Alaska-bound travelers. In the first quarter of 2001, Hawaiian Vacations will operate four flights per week for the first time in company history.

ARM: What are some of the company's near-term future plans?

Buchanon: In 2001, Hawaiian Vacations plans to increase its marketing to Alaska-bound travelers from Hawaii and other global markets. Honolulu is a natural gateway for Alaska-bound travel from the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. As a part of this marketing effort, Hawaiian Vacations will also release their "Fire & Ice Vacations" plan. This will allow people to experience Alaska and...