Eight-time Olympic medal winner Apolo Ohno appeared at SeaTac Airport last Friday and signed an Alaska Airlines airplane with his picture on the side.

Afterward the Seattle native greeted all of the passengers on the plane, giving them a lei and getting his picture taken with them.

The signing was part of an Alaska Airlines promotion inviting the public to enter for a chance to win a Hawaiian vacation for two with the celebrated short-track speed skater and most decorated U.S. winter Olympian in history.

The "Follow Apolo to Hawaii" sweepstakes continue through April 15, at followapolo.com/.

Five winners and their guests will join Ohno in June for a Hawaiian vacation, that includes roundtrip tickets to Maui on Alaska Airlines, a private luau with Ohno and luxury accommodations for four nights and five days at the Grand Wailea on Maui.

"What better way to celebrate the most decorated U.S. winter athlete in history than to give fans the chance to say 'congratulations' from Maui," said Greg Latimer, Alaska's managing director of brand and product marketing.

Winners will be announced at www.followapolo.com/ in late April.

Latimer said the sweepstakes is the airline's way of celebrating Ohno's success in Vancouver.

To mark the occasion, Alaska Airlines and Ohno today unveiled a specially-themed Boeing 737-800 adorned with a larger-than-life image of the celebrated short-track speed skater.

The unique design features Ohno, wearing a Hawaiian lei, skating across the aircraft's fuselage and invites travelers to "Follow Apolo to Hawaii."

Alaska began service to Hawaii in October 2007. With its new service from San Jose and flights between Sacramento, Calif., and Maui starting March 26, the airline offers 73 flights a week to four Hawaiian Islands.

A native of the Seattle area, Ohno has been the top U.S. short-track speed skater since 2001.

The youngest-ever U.S. short-track speed skating champion at age 14, Ohno is a 12-time U.S. national champion, 23-time world champion and eight-time Olympic medalist.

Source: Alaska Airlines