As I prepare for my family’s annual trip to Hawaii I can’t help but think of the thousands of Alaska residents who are doing the same right about now.
Each year around this time the annual winter exodus from the 49th state to the 50th state occurs and the land of Aloha gets a boost from its northern neighbors. Growing up in Hawaii it seemed a way of life that during the winter Alaska residents invaded the state and in the summer thousands of island locals headed north on fishing expeditions and to whale watch.
The winter exodus from Alaska is so profound that Alaska Airlines offers a special charter during the months of December-February that carries 150 passengers each day everyday. In six short hours Alaska residents who typically endure brutal temps (think 60 below zero not factoring in the wind chill) and limited sunlight during the winter are transported to a tropical paradise where the temperature rarely dips below 70 degrees and the sun beats down on sandy shores for nearly 12 hours each day.
Alaska Airlines’ planes feature lei-bedecked Eskimos painted on their tails, though with average January temperatures hovering around 8 degrees its not as if the carrier needs to advertise much to fill its planes.
Many Alaskans say they travel to Hawaii for the same reasons as residents of the continental United States–great people, a wonderful atmosphere with no need for a passport, no hassles with money changing, and no 16-hour plane ride required.
Still, according to Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Alaskans make up a tiny fraction of the total number of visitors to Aloha State each year. But they stay longer on average than visitors from any other U.S. state — 13.04 days, according to figures from 2006.
Wonder how many people from Alaska we’ll meet on our next trip home.
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