HONOLULU, January 16, 2004 -- Hawaiian Airlines announced today that Kirk Smith, a veteran of travel marketing in Hawaii, has joined the company as senior director of advertising and promotions.
He started work December 15 and is responsible for managing Hawaiian's day-to-day promotional activities locally and the markets it serves in the western U.S. and South Pacific.
Smith most recently spent the past six years at Starr-Seigle Communications in Honolulu. He was an executive vice president supervising the agency's advertising and promotional activities for Hawaiian and all other travel-related accounts.
He fills the position at Hawaiian previously held by Hattie Dixon, who retired in June 2003. To ensure that the airline maintained continuity with its marketing and promotional activities throughout 2003, Smith had been dividing his time and work responsibilities for the past six months between Hawaiian and Starr-Seigle.
He has been a sales and marketing executive of Hawaii travel for more than 32 years, and has an extensive background in developing creative and comprehensive multi-media programs targeting travel audiences in Hawaii, and in markets on the mainland U.S. and internationally.
Before joining Starr-Seigle in 1997, Smith was involved in various facets of travel marketing, including advertising and sales of wholesale tour packages, promoting historical visitor attractions, and marketing of resort hotel and condominium properties statewide.
A native of California, Smith moved to Hawaii in 1966 to attend the University of Hawaii and study fine arts. He left the university after three years to pursue a career opportunity in marketing and promotions.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines is recognized as one of the best airlines in America. Business travelers recently surveyed by Condé Nast Traveler rated Hawaiian Airlines as having the best in-flight service and meals of any U.S. carrier. Hawaiian was recently ranked fourth best in the nation overall by Travel + Leisure.
Founded in Honolulu 74 years ago, Hawaiian Airlines is Hawaii's largest and longest-serving airline, and the second largest provider of passenger air service between Hawaii and the mainland U.S. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more mainland U.S. gateways than any other airline. Hawaiian also provides approximately 100 daily jet flights among the Hawaiian Islands, as well as service to American Samoa and Tahiti.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (AMEX and PCX: HA). Since the appointment of a bankruptcy trustee on May 16, 2003, Hawaiian Holdings has had no involvement in the management of Hawaiian Airlines and has had limited access to information concerning the airline.
Additional information on Hawaiian Airlines is available at www.HawaiianAir.com