Growing up in Waikiki, there was always someone coming and going. Beyond the many visitors that arrive and depart daily, the people who move to Waikiki to carve out a life for themselves in paradise would always seem to come and go as well. Some people would end up relocating to a different part of the island, some would leave Hawaii to seek their fortunes elsewhere and others would heed the call of home, usually thousands of miles away from Waikiki. My dad called Hawaii the “Land of Goodbyes”, especially for those who live there.  The conclusion of 2016 brought another goodbye, and this one by far the most difficult and impactful one. Our Company founder, mentor and more personally – my father, Wayne Overman, said his final farewell to Hawaii and entered the ultimate Paradise, Heaven, on December 5, 2016. My brother Joseph and I were blessed beyond measure to have someone like him as a father, friend, business partner and example in life. In our humble opinion, he was as unique and special a person as Hawaii is a place, although we may be a bit biased! We rest assured, without a shadow of a doubt, that Dad is with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in eternal peace and paradise. He enrolled in the Ultimate Vacation Plan many years ago and shared it on our website for all who cared to read it. I encourage you to take a moment to read it for yourself if you have never done so. Joseph and I, as well as the rest of the Aloha Hawaiian Vacations Team, are honored to be able to continue his legacy and help people experience the most beautiful place on Earth – Hawaii! I would like to dedicate this blog post to Dad’s memory by sharing his mission and vision for Aloha Hawaiian Vacations, as well as a little bit about him as a person.  Below is an excerpt about Dad from our Website (in some of his own words):

Wayne founded Aloha Hawaiian Vacations as a young man – and has enjoyed the company’s growth from a regional business – to an international Company – which is today a world leader in Hawaii tourism. He designed and developed America’s first non-tour All-Inclusive Hawaii Vacation Package. “Good Quality With Good Value And Service” is his motto. He also owns a Hawaii tourism consulting firm.

Wayne is a seasoned world traveler – and has seen 93 countries. His travels have taken him around-the-world seventeen times cumulatively. He says, “I have traveled the entire world to see if there is any place to match the glory of Hawaii – and there is none! Hawaii is God’s gift to the world and mankind, and is probably a tiny glimpse of what Heaven is like.”

He holds a degree in Business Administration and was also working toward a degree in Engineering – which he left to attend an East Coast Bible College after becoming a Christian. Wayne believes travel is one of life’s best educations – and agrees with former US President John F. Kennedy’s quote, “I learned more in one summer traveling abroad than I did in all my years at Harvard University.” However, Wayne also believes that the study of God’s Word trumps all forms of education. He challenges the young people he mentors to read a chapter of Proverbs each day to receive wisdom from above. He volunteers his time as a Hawaii church leader and has also served his country in the military.

Wayne says that his greatest life accomplishment was raising his two awesome children (Haven and Joseph) who are now leaders of Aloha Hawaiian Vacations. He also believes we are to share that which God has blessed us with – and his family financially supports three Waikiki churches, the annual Resurrection Sunrise Services held on Waikiki Beach, world missions, plus many mainland Christian ministries; and his family also cares for many children-in-need worldwide. Wayne gives “all glory to God – for ALL.”  – Haven Overman Bollinger

 Earl Wayne Overman, May 31, 1949 – December 5, 2016