Renee Apiki Awana
About Renee Apiki Awana
Renee Apiki Awana serves as the Managing Director of Product Development at Hawaiian Airlines, where she has worked since 2013. She specializes in creating unique onboard experiences that reflect Hawaiian culture through menu strategies, inflight entertainment, and service procedures.
Work at Hawaiian Airlines
Renee Apiki Awana has served as the Managing Director of Product Development at Hawaiian Airlines since 2013. In this role, she focuses on enhancing the onboard experience for passengers. Awana develops menu strategies that emphasize the culinary flavors of Hawaii by collaborating with local chefs and dining experts. She also oversees inflight entertainment products, aiming to optimize revenue while ensuring a high-quality customer experience. Additionally, Awana manages global catering operations across 18 kitchens, ensuring budget alignment and quality control.
Education and Expertise
Renee Apiki Awana has a diverse educational background. She studied at Kamehameha Schools, where she completed her high school education with honors. Awana then attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from 1985 to 1990. She later pursued studies in Mass Communication at Utah State University for one year. Awana's educational experiences have contributed to her expertise in product development and marketing within the airline industry.
Background
Before joining Hawaiian Airlines, Renee Apiki Awana held significant roles in marketing. She worked at ICON Health & Fitness as a Marketing Supervisor from 1995 to 2004, where she gained valuable experience in product promotion and brand management. Following that, she served as the Vice President of Marketing at Mobi PCS from 2005 to 2013. These positions helped her build a strong foundation in marketing strategies and product development, which she now applies in her current role.
Achievements
In her role at Hawaiian Airlines, Renee Apiki Awana has implemented various initiatives that enhance the onboard experience. She has developed inflight service procedures that reflect Hawaiian hospitality, ensuring consistency and quality through collaboration with flight attendants. Awana also utilizes local brand partnerships to design soft goods that enhance the authenticity of the Hawaiian experience for passengers. Her focus on quality control and budget alignment in global catering operations further demonstrates her commitment to excellence in product development.