Founders

Lynn, a graduate of the prestigious Pratt Art Institute, and Ed, an entrepreneur and a man passionate about travel, were high school sweethearts and married in 1951. By 1959, they opened their first retail travel agency, Pleasant Travel Service in Point Pleasant, NJ. Three years later, they moved their family business to the West Coast to better serve the destination of Hawaii.

Their business enterprise grew dramatically over the next four decades, as these travel industry pioneers expanded to destinations around the world, generating over $500 million a year in sales. In 1998, the Hogans sold Pleasant Holidays, LLC to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

That same year, Lynn and Ed established The Hogan Family Foundation; a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the entrepreneurial spirit through the creation and operation of educational, civic-minded, and humanitarian programs designed to encourage a more productive and contributory society.

Today, the Hogans stay busy with their Foundation and their companies, including Pleasant Travel Service, Pleasant Aircraft Leasing, Royal Lahaina Development Company, and Royal Lahaina and Royal Kona resorts. Ed also serves on numerous advisory boards, including those at Chaminade University in Hawaii and Gonzaga University in Washington, from which both Lynn and Ed received honorary doctorate degrees.

Over the years, the Hogans have been publicly recognized for their many accomplishments by more than 30 governmental, civic, philanthropic, and educational organizations. In 1987, the Hawaii State Senate named Ed “Mr. Tourism Hawaii.” He was Travel Agent magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1990. Ed and Lynn were inducted into the Hall of Fame by the American Society of Travel Agents in 1993 and entered the Travel Industry Association’s Hall of Leaders in 1999.

The Hogans continue their active lifestyles with business and charitable endeavors and through their world travels.