2022 Hawaii Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism July 18, 2023 Generations Ballroom Japanese Cultural Center 2454 S. Beretania St., fifth floor The contest was judged by the SPJ chapters from East Tennessee and Greater Cincinnati. The Hawaii chapter in turn judged their contests. Here are the winners by Division: ALL MEDIA A101 Column Writing or Blog/News First Place Eric Stinton “Eric Stinton” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: “Very well done pieces that lay out the information for readers on key education issues. The author doesn't demand people agree with him. He presents things to let people make up their own minds. Good job.” Second Place Kelii Akina, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii "President's Corner" Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Nice writing style on topics which can appeal to almost any reader on the islands. Good insight into the major issues presented.” Third Place Denby Fawcett “Denby Fawcett “ Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Good writing on topics that appeal to a wide range of islands residents. Keeping things very local is a very nice touch." A102 Column Writing or Blog/Features or Sports First Place Eric Stinton “Eric Stinton” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: "1. Eric Stinton’s writing is smooth and inviting. Readers can relate to his column topics, which also can bring emotion based on events such as the suicide of a student at his school. He also offers some history in his columns, providing insight and context to readers." Second Place James Charisma “Afterthoughts” Honolulu Magazine A103 Government Reporting First Place Nick Grube “U.S. Rep Kai Kahele” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “1. Honolulu Civil Beat’s coverage of Congressman Kai Kahele goes to the very heart of why journalism is our country’s fourth estate. How can one of Hawaii’s two representatives not represent his constituents in Washington? It became clear as Civil Beat delved into his voting record and employment documents that the representative was not engaged with fellow lawmakers in D.C., which leads to the question of how effective any lawmaker can be when in absentia. Good job of exposing an issue that should be of interest to all citizens." Second Place Paula Dobbyn “Out Of Bounds? NBA Star Kevin Johnson Pushes Hard As Point Man For Hawaii Energy Project” Honolulu Civil Beat Third Place Blaze Lovell “Hawaii Bribery Investigation” Honolulu Civil Beat A105 Health Reporting First Place Allyson Blair, Jon Suyat “Hawaii's Healthcare Crisis: Over Capacity and Understaffed” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: "Terrific overview of a problem facing cities and states all over the country. Amazing access for the crew to put the viewer ‘in’ the hospital. Good research, shooting and writing." Second Place Anita Hofschneider “Journey To Care” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Very thorough and interesting five articles detailing various vital aspects of kidney dialysis and kidney transplants. Impressive research presented through the eyes of those experiencing kidney issues.’ Third Place Robbie Dingeman ‘Subject to Change’ Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "Very well done and interesting overview of mental health issues, treatment and solutions on how to provide more services to more people. Nice work!" Competition Comments: “Tremendous work here. Multiple entries could have been judged the winner.” A106 Science Reporting First Place Thomas Heaton, Nathan Eagle “Ticking Ecological Time Bombs: Thousands Of Sunken Ships From World War II Are Rusting At The Bottom Of The Pacific” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Intriguing and thorough report on a topic most people might not consider a problem. The numbers of the problem are staggering. The solutions are evasive. But the exposure of the problem is one way to mobilize efforts to effect change. Good work.” Second Place Cassie Ordonio “How To Keep Hawaii's Rarest Plants From Disappearing? Freeze Them” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Fascinating story about preserving the plants of Hawaii. An eye-opening story about a technology that is becoming more and more useful. Nice job.” Third Place Cynthia Wessendorf "November 2022 - Wildfires on the ‘Hawaiian Savanna’ “ Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: “The dangers of wildfires pose a serious to people and property. Shining light on the issue through possible solutions is a great public service.” A107 Data Journalism Story or Series First Place Noelle Fujii-Oride “May 2022 - Here's Which Ethnic Groups Make the Most Money in Hawaii” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: “1. Hawaii Business provides insightful information about its many ethnicities, especially the examination of income trends. Also of high interest are the education and employment numbers. The article is a great example of how media can find data treasures in the Census Bureau’s voluminous information." Second Place Noelle Fujii-Oride “November 2022 - Comparing Paychecks to Living Costs Hawaii Business “ Hawaii Business Third Place Noelle Fujii-Oride "April 2022 - The Gender Pay Gap Narrowed, Then the Pandemic Arrived" Hawaii Business A108 Sports Reporting First Place Eric Stinton “One For The Team” Eric Stinton Judgge’s Comments: "Who doesn't love a story about an underdog not given a chance at success, but comes out on top. That's why this entry stands out. You feel success in the making throughout the entire read. Then, the medals come and the cycle is complete. Good profiles of the surfers and coaches and how they interact with one another." Second Place Peter Von Buol “Life in the Fast Lane” Hana Hou! Judge’s Comments: "Reading this well-done story provides insight into a sport unknown to many. I love how the characters are developed with success, failure and a never-give-up spirit. Good story." Third Place Eric Stinton “A Boxing Club For Troubled Youth Gets New Life In Kalihi” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: "There's a lot to be learned from the past generation -- especially in boxing. This story tracing the rise, fall and rise again of a local gym that teaches about boxing and life. Nicely done!" A109 Arts/Entertainment Writing First Place Cassie Ordonio “A Tale Of 2 Monarchies: Queen Elizabeth's Death Stirs Up Mixed Feelings In Hawaii” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Excellent story. Keep up the great work! “ Second Place Ryann Coules “October 2022 - UH Stages Award-Winning Plays Completely in 'Olelo Hawaii” Hawaii Business Third Place Christina O'Connor “Winning is just the beginning” Pacific Business News A110 Editorial Opinion First Place Patricia Tummons "Big Island's Housing Policy: Troubled, Confusing, Ineffective" Environment Hawai'i Judge’s Comments: "Environment Hawai‘i takes on the structure that's responsible for creating affordable housing in a big way: It doesn't mince words about a complicated system that appears to be corrupt. As a contest judge living on the mainland, I've always heard that housing is expensive on the Big Island, or Hawaii as a whole. The editorial confirms that notion — the lack of affordable housing will drive other rents higher as well — and points out that the system must be fixed. This is a good explainer piece for readers." Second Place Civil Beat Editorial Board “Civil Beat Editorials” Honolulu Civil Beat Third Place A. Kam Napier “Hawaii's PUC makes historic move toward regulating the public” Pacific Business News A111 Editorial Cartoon/Illustration First Place David Swann, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Grassroot Institute Cartoon Government Taxes and Laws Series Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: "The bright colors, The attention-getting figures. The joke which is easily understood with a first glance. Those things combine to make this a winning entry." Second Place Kelsey Ige, Xochitl Cornejo “December 2022 - Native Birds in Jeopardy” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: “Love the creativity in this image. Only some sort of malfeasance that is significant can result in this kind of imagery. There is no doubt of the message here.” Third Place John Pritchett “John Pritchett: Rule The Roost” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Soothing and subtle, the image of these birds is a perfect companion to the article The colors and the layout of the artwork is terrific" A112 Informational Graphic First Place Steve Petranik, Kelsey Ige “August 2022 - BOSS Survey” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "1. Surveys of business leaders often are interesting because most of us either work for a business or own a business. Hawaii Business’ BOSS survey offers what leaders are thinking, and this one was especially timely with its questions on the COVID-19 pandemic." Second Place Steve Petranik, Kelsey Ige “December 2022 - BOSS Survey” Hawaii Business A113 News Photography/Videography First Place Allyson Blair, Jon Suyat “Oahu's Most Elite Lifeguards Expand Their Reach” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “Very nicely done package. Every aspect of the story focused on the impact to water lovers. Great photography -- especially the close-up shot. Terrific editing -- especially with the natural sound pops. Informative and a true winner.” Second Place David Croxford “Eruption” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Terrific shot of the lava flow and the impact of the flow. The colors and textures in the shot are incredible. There are so many small areas to examine for detail. Good work." A114 Feature Photography/Videography First Place Nathan Eagle “Toxic Time Bomb” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “The photograph is mesmerizing. The colors. The history. Who was in that plane? What happened? Time taking its toll on the wreckage. So much to see here. Well done!” Second Place Aaron K. Yoshino “44 Insanely Good Dishes” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: “The food look great. The photographs make it look spectacular. Good lighting. Good staging. Terrific!” Third Place PF Bentley “Eyes of the Kanaka” Hana Hou! Judge’s Comments: “This is a powerful shot. The intensity of this chef shines through. The use of black and white photography makes it extremely good. Nice job!” A115 Sports Photography/Videography First Place Perrin James ”The Fisher King” Hana Hou! Judge’s Comments: "Captivating entry! Terrific shot capturing the light from above to send the eye directly to the divers. Nice work on seeing the opportunity for the shot and nicer work to actually capture that moment in time. " A116 Photo/Video Essay First Place PF Bentley ”Eyes of the Kanaka” Hana Hou! Judge’s Comments: “Spectacular work causes the images to literally jump off the pages. The impressive poses show the reality of life through weathered faces and a grand eye for detail.” Second Place Arto Saari ”Country Road” Hana Hou! Judge’s Comments: “A fun-loving look at the people and places along a single country road. Great images showing the variety of life along the way for both young and old. “ Third Place Eugene Tanner ”40 Under 40” Pacific Business News Judge’s Comments: “An incredible amount of work went into capturing the true spirit of these individuals who are the leaders of the future.” A117 Headlines First Place Noelle Fujii-Oride, Janis Magin Meierdiercks, Kathryn Drury Wagner, Chavonnie Ramos Hawaii Business – Headlines Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "1. Hawaii Business’ headlines draw in the reader with clear language on the subject matter of the stories, and the subheds/decks provide further explanation about the content. Although the design of the headlines or the story package could not be considered in judging, Hawaii Business also integrated the headlines well into the package." A118 Best Explanatory Journalism First Place Eric Stinton “Is There A Way Out Of Hawaii's Housing Crisis?” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: “Well-researched and well-written overview of the housing problem. All angles are covered and the writing style breaks things down into layman's language. Good job.” Second Place Robbie Dingeman “Ola i ka Wai: Water is Life” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "Clean drinking water is a basic resource that's is being threatened in Hawaii. Not only does this report lay out the problems, but focuses on solutions of how to solve them. Nicely done." Third Place Stewart Yerton, Jessica Terrell “Struggling To Get By” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Everyone can relate to issue outlined in this excellent series of reports. Housing, child care and other key issues for quality of life are explored in-depth with a focus on efforts being made to bring about change." A119 Special Section First Place Lynn Kawano, Peter Tang “Inside Saguaro Prison” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “Nicely produced segments showing a cost-saving alternate for Hawaii corrections officials. The focus on rehabilitation programs was especially pertinent to give inmates second chances once they're released.” Second Place HONOLULU Magazine Team ”Seeking Happiness” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "Very interesting and out-of-the box compilation about a topic that's elusive for so many people. Loved the individual profiles on the various ways people find happiness -- particularly the cancer patient who won't give up on life." Third Place Eugene Tanner, Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros, Stephanie Salmons, Sophia Compton, Christina O'Connor “40 Under 40” Pacific Business News Judge’s Comments: “Tremendous effort at recognizing the next generation of leaders for Hawaii. Nicely written profiles of the 40 individuals and the photography of each along a central theme worked well. A120 Investigative Reporting First Place Christina Jedra “Red Hill Military Fuel Crisis” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Excellent series exposing long-standing problems at Red Hill. The key point here is while there is awareness of the issue, solutions are slow in coming, even though the health and safety of the public is at risk. Nice work. Worthy of a first place award.” Second Place John Hill “Hawaii v. Parental Rights” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Shocking revelation that the laws are being ignored and officials are slow to move in correcting the problem. The series was particularly poignant in the way the topic was presented through the eyes of those involved on a daily basis.” Third Place Patricia Tummons “Abuses in the Affordable Housing Policy of the Big Island” Environment Hawai'i Judge’s Comments: "Tremendous deep dive into a topic affecting cities around the country. Having people in power allegedly scamming the system not only undermines confidence in government and the development industry, it hurts people who truly need affordable housing." A121 Best Independent Journalist (not supported by an organization) First Place Scott Yunker Scott Yunker -- Kauai Freelancer Judge’s Comments: “1. Scott Yunker’s entry of five stories was a good representation of not only newsy stories but also topics of interest to people beyond Hawaii. Well done.” (BIG BLUE TROPHY) A122 Public Service Reporting First Place Mahealani Richardson, Peter Tang, Brenda Salgado "HNN Investigates: Red Hill, One Year Later” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “The key to a successful story is documenting the impact on people. That's exactly what this series on Red Hill does. The human emotion is raw and real for the mother whose family became ill and then became an activist. The human emotion is raw and real for the water system direction. You can feel the weight of the problem on these folks and others as solutions are sought. Fine job by all involved!” Second Place Sophia McCullough, Catherine Cruz, Sabrina Bodon “Confused about the timeline for the Red Hill fuel storage facility and contaminated water? Read this.” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: “Incredible effort at creating a very important timeline showing how long people were in danger from contaminated drinking water. The audio clips strategically placed at various key points added to the value of this project. Well done!” Third Place Thomas Heaton “UXO: Lethal Legacy” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Hidden dangers. Continued human tragedies. Thorough reporting with a personal point of view makes this series extremely important. Solutions are tough to come by, but increasing awareness is a terrific first start." DAILY NEWSPAPER D101 Spot News Reporting First Place Colleen Uechi “Maui public corruption” Maui News Judge’s Comments: "Thorough reporting on a complex court case. The reporting relied on more than what was made available in trial and included comments from nearly every relevant person. Coming into this story blind, I feel like I have a solid grasp on what happened and, to the extent we’re able to know, why it happened.” Second Place Dakota Grossman, Matthew Thayer “Lahaina fire” Maui News Judge’s Comments: “Helpful reporting on a fire that caused concern and flashbacks to the 2018 fire. The mixture of interviews of both residents and fire officials was useful. I thought the ending note about the 30-foot L and it being unharmed was a nice touch.” Third Place Lila Fujimoto, Matthew Thayer “Jury finds Brown guilty of Monsalve's murder” Maui News Judge’s Comments: "Simple and to the point. Story includes plenty of detail and background on the trial and the circumstances surrounding it. It’s a news story, a solid news story. It’s not fantastic, but gets the job done." D102 General News/Enterprise Reporting First Place Melissa Tanji, Matthew Thayer" “Vietnam veteran photo mission” Maui News Judge’s Comments: "Fascinating story about one woman's passion. Her more than a decade long effort to document those killed in the Vietnam War is inspiring, The newspaper has played a key role in her quest, chronicling her efforts through the years. Strong storytelling brings Janna Hoehn passion to the page." Second Place Colleen Uechi “Filipinos on Maui differ on Marcos legacy” Maui News Judge’s Comments: "Great local piece about the election in the Philippines, showing how the complicated history of the Marcos family is reflected in local voters in Hawaii in the Filipino immigrant community." Third Place Melissa Tanji “Ukrainian student finds refuge on Maui “ Maui News Judge’s Comments: "Good local angle story on the war in Ukraine. This strong people story uses one woman’s connection to a Hawaii family and her family’s flight from Ukraine just before the war broke out to tell a story of the overarching upheaval, fear and terror of the war." D103 Feature Writing/Short Form First Place Ryan Ozawa "Libraries can be gateway to esports, tech careers" Hawaii Bulletin Judge’s Comments: “Very informative read about the intersection of gaming and library partnership. Writer does a good job of covering a range of topics.” Second Place Ryan Ozawa “Local coworking grew despite work-from-home pandemic” Hawaii Bulletin Judge’s Comments: “Writer took a clever approach to open story to draw writer interest.” Competition Comments: “Excellent overall work.” D104 Feature Writing/Long Form First Place Melissa Tanji “Beach erosion” Maui News Second Place Dakota Grossman, Matthew Thayer “Battle against little fire ant” Maui News Third Place Robert Collias “Maui baseball legend retires” Maui News INTERNET I101 Online News Reporting First Place Kirstin Downey “It's A Nightmare': Feral Pig Population Explosion Rattles East Honolulu Neighborhood” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “An engaging and thoroughly reported examination of the causes and impact of an exploding feral pig population.” Second Place Marcel Honore "Honolulu Rail Whistleblower: Tracks, Wheels A Maintenance Nightmare And Potential Safety Issue" Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “A well-written look at possible concerns with an expensive rail system. Makes technical issues clearly comprehensible.” Third Place Paula Dobbyn “Hawaii Is The Only State Not Seeking Federal Buyouts To Move Residents Away From Floods” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “A good analysis of how a complex set of programs and incentives have combined to make it difficult for homeowners threatened by rising sea levels to sell or move.” I102 Online Feature Reporting First Place Marina Riker "It's Hard To Make Ends Meet On Maui, Even If You Live In Your Car" Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “One couple to explain a broader issue. Strong writing. Good details. Strong photography. Strong narrative storytelling.” Second Place Ben Angarone “From A Sleepy Surf Shop To A Muckraking Mag: One Woman's North Shore Odyssey” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Two stories in one. Covers a lot of her life. Reader gets to know her personally.” Third Place Marina Riker “How One Hawaiian Family Battled In Court For 20 Years To Reclaim Ancestral Land” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: “Very informational. Important subject. Strong focus on one family to tell a broader story.” I103 Best Multimedia Presentation First Place April Estrellon, Christina Jedra “Game: How Long Does It Take To Get A Permit From Honolulu?” Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "Civil Beat's ‘Game: How Long Does It Take To Get A Permit From Honolulu?’ is a creative way to traverse the byzantine process of getting a building permit in Honolulu. How does anything get built in this city? The related article ""Efforts To Reform Honolulu’s Troubled Permitting Office Face An Uphill Battle. Here’s Why"" is a detailed look at the problems of the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting and what is being done (or not done) to fix it. But the ""Game"" lets you follow in the Kafkaesque path of the hapless person just wanting to build a new home. It makes the issues highlighted in the article real and the city's responses even more frustrating. This Civil Beat package shows how a creative game with a simple intuitive interface and supported by in-depth reporting can be a brilliantly effective journalistic tool to explain a complex subject matter. I hope they explore this type of multimedia journalism further." Second Place Lynn Kawano, Jonathan Jared Saupe Homicide at Hawaii Loa Ridge Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “Great storytelling (and a compelling story) in this long-form video.” Third Place HONOLULU Magazine Team “Seeking Happiness” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "Beautifully shot short vignettes of the seven people in this ‘Happiness’ package. A lot of effort went into each of these and it shows in every way." I104 Best Overall News Site First Place Staff Honolulu Civil Beat Honolulu Civil Beat Judge’s Comments: "It's no wonder Civil Beat has been named ‘Best Site’ in this contest 11 years in a row; it's an outstanding site. The one-sentence take is robust, deep local coverage with a clean and beautifully visual website design. Local coverage is enriched with data visualizations, in-depth guides, a large opinion section including a cartoonist, and investigative pieces. Visuals -- photography and graphics -- help make this site a joy to explore. Surprising lack of interest on videos. Most recent seems to be from mid-October? Podcasts also don't seem to be a focus. Love the focus on open and transparent government with the ‘Let the Sunshine In’ initiative. Making this a front-and-center topic is a great idea. With many areas of the U.S. ‘news desserts,’ Hawaiians should be proud they have one of the best local news sites in the country as a news and information source. This one is hard to beat -- anywhere." Second Place PBN Staff Pacific Business News Pacific Business News I105 Best 1-Person Online Features Site/1-Person Features Blog First Place First Place Malika Dudley Life's Swell Malika Dudley Judge’s Comments: "This was an ambitious effort last year with a blog, vblog and podcasts combining highly personal experiences with parenting and life tips. The combination of Life's Swell content and the Communication Podcast connected with Malika Dudley's audience. She shows how to engage with people with niche content. Well done website." Second Place Ryan Ozawa Hawaii Bulletin Hawaii Bulletin Judge’s Comments: "If you're into ‘Island innovation,’ then I'm sure you are reading Ryan Kawailani Ozawa's Hawaii Bulletin, the email newsletter with a site on substack. It's coverage plus conversation lead by its connector-in-chief. Born of a short-lived Facebook effort, I can see this newsletter growing in importance in Hawaii's tech community if it can develop a sustainable funding model." MAGAZINES M101 Business Reporting First Place Noelle Fujii-Oride “October 2022 - Child Care is a Labor of Love” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: “1. Hawaii Business delves into the world of child care and offers readers a detailed look into the differences in child care and the complexity of salaries in the industry. The sourcing is extensive and provides both excellent data and real-world comments from those affected by trends and policies in Hawaii’s child-care system. Second Place Ryann Coules September 2022 - ESOP Hawaii Business M102 Industry or Trade Reporting First Place Noelle Fujii-Oride, Janis Magin Meierdiercks “Hawaii Business - Real Estate coverage” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "All three entries in this category are excellent, but this series of stories about Hawaii's housing market and home buying/selling/building trends stands alone. Great use of data and numbers to tell compelling stories, backed with interviews with both buyers/sellers and real estate professionals. Nice work!" Second Place Martha Cheng “Food & Dining” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: “Really good reporting and writing on the food scene in Hawaii. It's always smart to focus on the people behind the food while also showing amazing food photography.” Third Place Noelle Fujii-Oride “October 2022 - Child Care is a Labor of Love” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "Really well done series about the child care industry in Hawaii and the people who work there despite the relatively low pay. The workers are doing a labor of love, as the headline says, but so is the writer." M103 Profile First Place Martha Cheng ”Bone by Bone” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "Excellent access to the main subject and his allies and detractors. Tough subject, but you did a great job focusing on Ayau's humanity throughout this story. You also did a great job balancing the different viewpoints without taking a side, though you clearly respect Ayau." Second Place Eric Stinton “One For The Team” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: "Wonderful description to make the reader feel like we were there with the surf team. Fun, interesting story!" Third Place Catharine Lo Griffin ’December 2022 - CEO of the Year’” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "It can be difficult to get beyond a CEO's all-business exterior, but you managed to include Yonamine's life story very well." M104 Feature Writing/Short Form First Place Robbie Dingeman “Honolulu City Signs” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "What a lovely little read this was! This story is interesting, well-sourced, features compelling quotes, and shows some good storytelling flair. My favorite line, about the vintage sign from the Hubba Hubba strip club, demonstrates that flair: ‘The dancer remains—although her light isn’t always on—but the kicks stopped when the club closed.’ Nicely done! " Second Place Ryann Coules “September 2022 – ESOP” Hawaii Business Third Place Ryan Ozawa “To Honor the Past and Elevate Hawaiian Culture and Values” Hawaii Bulletin M105 Feature Writing/Long Form First Place Eric Stinton “Breaking Ground” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: "Writers who can conjure up details like this – ‘ Inside the venue you’re blasted by Richter-scale bass and the smell of enough Red Bull to defibrillate your heart’ -- create a vibrant, feel-like-you're-there vibe that makes a story impactful and memorable. Eric Stinton seamlessly and skillfully alternates between fast-moving narrative passages and explanatory context in this compelling long-form piece. He teaches readers key lingo of the break-dancing world without bogging down the story with too much insider talk, inviting readers into this world that many of them probably know nothing about. His readers are in good hands! This was a delightfully fun read. I think I'll use it as an example next semester in my university feature writing class! :)" Second Place Noelle Fujii-Oride “October 2022 - Child Care is a Labor of Love” Hawaii Business Third Place Eric Stinton “Tropical Storm” Eric Stinton M106 Body of Work- Single Writer First Place Noelle Fujii-Oride “Noelle Fujii-Oride” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "An excellent reporter and writer who does a great job humanizing her business insight. Her stories are a wonderful mix of diving deep into the numbers/statistics/charts of a business topic with insightful interviews, always showing that behind every business (and business story) is a person." Second Place Robbie Dingeman “Robbie Dingeman” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: “An amazing variety of writing that provides a real window into daily life in Hawaii. Her Reviving Downtown and Chinatown piece is one of the best stories I've read about how a city struggles with fallout from the pandemic.” Third Place Eric Stinton “Eric Stinton” Eric Stinton Judge’s Comments: "A solid collection of writing that finds the story behind the story, especially of the surf competitors and the breakdancer. Both of those pieces in particular went very deep when other writers might have stopped after a few anecdotes." M107 Overall Page Design First Place Christine Labrador, James Nakamura, Kayla Rivera “HONOLULU Magazine” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: "Love the variety of design elements in the cover packages and the feature well, along with the consistency across sections and departments from issue to issue. Really nice work!" M108 Best Single Feature Layout First Place Christine Labrador, Stacey Makiya, Aaron K. Yoshino "We Belong” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: “Wow. Wonderful use of photography and cohesive design elements. Close winner in a very competitive category.” Second Place Kelsey Ige, Aaron Yoshino, Christian Kahahawai, Michelle Mishina, Josiah Patterson "March 2022 - 20 for the Next 20” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "It can be hard to present these ‘top 20’ lists without the end result looking like a list, but this design is superb. Love how the write-ups and photos are presented in multiple ways across the various page spreads." Third Place Kelsey Ige “October 2022 - Child Care is a Labor of Love” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: "Nice variety to the design, photos, sidebars and data charts. Makes a lot of information feel like a cohesive package." M109 Magazine Cover First Place Perrin James ”The Fisher King” Hana Hou! Judge’s Comments: "Amazing photo, love the minimalist design. Very striking, really draws you in." Second Place James Nakamura, Aaron K. Yoshino "Who Gets the Family Home?” Honolulu Magazine Judge’s Comments: “Appreciate the work that went in to making this small house and the environment. Really solidifies the headline and story angle.” Third Place Kelsey Ige, Aaron Yoshino "November 2022 - Wildfire Epidemic Cover” Hawaii Business Judge’s Comments: “Love the effort to find a field of dry grass and background that rises to drive home the headline and story angle.” N101 Business Reporting First Place Christina O'Connor “On the Menu: Rising Costs” Pacific Business News Judge’s Comments: “This story does a great job of highlighting the innovations restaurants owners have made to survive and also looks ahead to future challenges.” Second Place Christina O'Connor ”Technology Roundtable” Pacific Business News Third Place Kelsey Kukaua-Medeiros, Stephanie Salmons, A. Kam Napier "A sudden change of plans” Pacific Business News N102 News Page Design First Place First Place Marissa Motas ”Ka'ahele A Lono” Molokai Dispatch Judge’s Comments: “Ka'ahele A Lono: The designer utilized a lot of photos in an attractive and readable way. The design is clean and eye catching. Typography is also clean and readable. Second Place Jake Stevens "The Topic of Cancer" Pacific Business News Third Place Marissa Motas “Year in Review” Molokai Dispatch ND101 General News/Enterprise Reporting First Place Catherine Cluett Pactol “Molokai Decides Its Own Energy Future” Molokai Dispatch Judge’s Comments: "This ‘talker’ explored soaring energy prices during the mini-energy crisis last year. It explains the causes of the price hikes and how long it might last (a few months). A good read, but the piece could have had more context, including: quotes from people affected; how much more Hawaiians pay for energy than the U.S. average (the highest in the United States); the cost of the average monthly residential electric bill or residential rates per kW. It did emphasize how much electric bills would go up but didn't include the contest of the average monthly residential electric bill. It highlights a topic people were talking about and added to the conversation." ND102 Feature Writing First Place Olivia Peterkin “Why Jordan Lee started Keep it Kaimuki” Pacific Business News Judge’s Comments: “Keep it Kaimuki shows the strength of businesses coming together to effect real change and help preserve livelihoods.” Second Place Catherine Cluett Pactol “Misaki's Celebrates a Century in Business” Molokai Dispatch Judge’s Comments: "Great read about the history, preservation and changes of a community landmark." Third Place Jack Kiyonaga “Kuleana in Action at Homelani Cemetery” Molokai Dispatch Judge’s Comments: “First rule of local news is tell local stories and connect a community. Well done.” Competition Comments: “Good reads in all entries.” ND103 Community Reporting First Place Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros “Maui Means Business 2022” Pacific Business News Judge’s Comments: " ‘Maui Means Business’ is a good overview of economic issues with excellent use of quotes from the panel members. A well-done piece. " Second Place Catherine Cluett Pactol “Molokai Bovine TB Outbreak” Molokai Dispatch Judge’s Comments: “Factual and thoroughly informative on a complex topic.” Third Place Sophia Compton “West Oahu Means Business 2022” Pacific Business News Judge’s Comments: “Good way to present information with story broken up into individual profiles. “ R101 General News/Enterprise Reporting First Place Sabrina Bodon “Kauai residents want on-island inpatient substance abuse treatment options for their keiki” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: “Excellent reporting and use of voices to describe the frustration of a community. A story that people in every state of the U.S. can relate to and a perfect piece for public radio.” Second Place Savannah Harriman-Pote “Final coal shipment marks 'end of an era' for Hawaii energy industry” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: "A comprehensive look at Hawai'i's last coal plant, the reach and history of the coal industry in the U.S, and what it means for Hawai'i's energy future. Relevant to the nation, not just Hawai'i. " Third Place Kuuwehi Hiraishi “Kauai taro farmers champion measure that could change water lease process across Hawaii” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: “Great use of one farm as a snapshot of the state's relationship with farming and water issues.” Competition Comments: "This is some of the best local reporting happening in the nation. All three of these stories are worthy of national broadcast and attention. Well done, HPR!" R102 Feature Reporting First Place Jayna Omaye “Community leaders work to expand opportunities for inclusive paddling and ocean sports” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: "A perfect piece for public radio that is definitely relevant nationwide, not just in Hawai'i. " Second Place Kuuwehi Hiraishi “Keaukaha youth represent hometown at world championship of canoe paddling in England” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: “Good use of sound in exploring the experience of these young paddlers. “ Third Place Sabrina Bodon “Honolulu wins Little League World Series” Hawaii Public Radio Judge’s Comments: “Good reporting and a very interesting piece. “ S101 Student News Reporting in Any Media First Place Nathan Bek “Electric Vehicles Are On The Rise In Hawaii. Can Charging Infrastructure Keep Up?” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Important topic. Good reporting and use of a person to exemplify a larger problem.” Second Place Sage Yamashita “Win for Culinary Contestant” Molokai Dispatch Judge’s Comments: “Great underdog story. Good use of narrative story telling. Keeps the reader captivated.” Third Place Mae James “Campus Happiness “ University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Nice contrast between campus beauty and campus happiness.” S102 Student Feature Reporting in Any Media First Place Victoria Budiono “The Honolulu Fish Auction Celebrates its 70th Anniversary” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Great anniversary story. Good use of historical context. Well written.” Second Place Alicia Lou “The Archeology Of Smell: Behind This UH Professor's Ongoing Quest For Cleopatra's Perfume” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Important story and nice hook with Cleopatra's perfume.” Third Place Tanner Haworth “Coach Rich Hill strives to reach the Hawai'i baseball summit” Ka Leo O Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Very nice profile.” S103 Student Spot News in Any Media First Place Savannah Williamson, Gabriela Cervantes , Camille Loker , Isabella Ternes "Abortion Rights: Local Impact” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Protest photo with action. Photographer captured a moment.” Second Place Taumana Caicedo Rapu “People Stories: Parkour on Campus?” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Caught moments. Framing could have been tighter. “ Third Place Amanda Dick “Fire burns through apartment near Lower Campus” Ka Leo O Hawaii S104 Student Investigative Reporting in Any Media First Place Linsey Dower “This New Downtown Driver Testing Site Has The Highest Failure Rate On Oahu” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Great lead. Strong narrative. Kept me engaged as a reader. Good use of open records to get data.” Second Place Maria Cid Medina “Lawmakers Call For More Transparency Over Police Activities” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Important topic. Good reporting and writing.” Third Place Loreal Walls-Jaime “The Coronavirus Pandemic Caused An Uptick In Eating Disorders” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Good use of people to tell the story. Well written. Well reported.” S105 Student Video News First Place Lydia Tristan “Prison Plants “ University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Strong story telling. Good interviews. Important public service story.” Second Place Jordyn Poyo “Kahoolawe Research & Restoration” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Strong visuals. Important topic. Good interviews.” Third Place Jordyn Poyo “Maunakea Stewardship “ University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Good reporting on a controversial topic. Strong visuals.” S106 Student Photography First Place Isabella Ternes “Perspectives in a Stadium” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: "Creative essay on a ‘place.’ Good variety of imagery. B&W makes in stronger." Second Place Kees Horn “Wahine Sailing Series “ University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “Covered the event well.” Third Place Olivia Fitch “Thanksgiving Day” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comments: “Great moment. Strong emotion. “ S107 Best Multimedia Presentation First Place Gabriela Cervantes "'I love my clients feel connected and vice versa,'" University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “This stood out with a strong interview. Good story telling. Excellent imagery. “ Second Place Nevan-Isaiah Pak, Shelby Mattos, Alysha Manalo-Canoy "Who Says Video Games Can't Pay the Bills?” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “The audio reporting was the strongest part of this entry. Page was well done. Photos needed captions.” Third Place Amanda Dick, Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine, Hi'ilawe Neves "Flawless Tricks” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “Good first-person story telling. Good use of historical photos in conjunction with contemporary photos. “ S108 Informational Graphics First Place Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine “MINA Service Learning” University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “Great animation showing how fields are formed.” Second Place Hi'ilawe Neves “Helu P? “ University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “Fascinating to show the moon phases.” Third Place Elyce Hastings “Sports Betting in Hawaii “ University of Hawaii Judge’s Comment: “Strong animation to illustrate the story.” TELEVISION T101 General News/Enterprise Reporting First Place Mahealani Richardson, Peter Tang "Tainted Water at Red Hill - One Year Later” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: "Clean water is essential to human life. When a mother realized the tap water was hurting her family, she spoke out at great personal risk for her career. Good job of telling a complex story through the eyes of people being impacted. Nice work in capturing how Navy changed its tune during the investigation." Second Place Allyson Blair, Jon Suyat “Hilo Medical Center: Over Capacity and Understaffed” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: "Terrific package documenting a serious problem not only in Hawaii, but all over the nation. Incredible video. Well written with a focus on the impact on people. " Third Place Marisa Yamane, Bert Yoshishige “Residents fight to save Waialua ag land” KITV4 Judge’s Comments: "There's nothing like a ‘Not In My Back Yard’ fight to rally residents. This one is classic with evidence pointing to a developer seemingly violating the rules for agricultural land. Nice work." T102 Feature Reporting First Place Marisa Yamane, Bert Yoshishige "Victoria's Story” KITV4 Judge’s Comments: "The key to storytellng that touches the heart is digging deep into a person's background and surprising viewer with a little known fact that helped shape their success. This is one of those stories. Good setup. Good reveal. Impactful story. Well done. " Second Place Brigette Namata, Calvin Bagaoisan "Whiz Kids: 14-year-old creates 'Big Boy Sweets' “ KHON2 Judge’s Comments: “Smart. Confident. Only 14. Wow! NIcely written and produced story about an entrepreneur in the making. Good job.” Third Place Lynn Kawano, Peter Tang "Celebrating Hawaiian Culture from Behind Bars “ Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “Love the effort that went into making this story relevant to all sorts of viewers. Good topic. Well told. Good script. Excellent shooting and editing.” T103 Spot News Reporting First Place Rick Daysog, Davis Pitner “' ‘Everything is dead:' Suit claims Parker Ranch was responsible for massive 2021 wildfire” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “A nice follow-up - and powerful to hear from a family impacted by this fire.” Second Place Gina Mangieri, Justin Kanno "Main highway threatened by lava” KHON2 Judge’s Comments: “A really clever angle on this story - but gets a bit bogged down by being too long.” Third Place Sam Spangler, Filipo Tuisano "Lava flow stops threatening major Big Island Highway” KHON2 Judge’s Comments: "I wanted to see the view from the viewing area - otherwise, this is important updates for people." T104 Investigative Reporting First Place Allyson Blair, Jon Suyat “Pinky's Hempire” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “A thorough investigation that got results. Creative shooting and editing as well.” Second Place Lynn Kawano, Peter Tang "Officers accused of causing near fatal crash” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “Really good digging to get this video - and not buy into the police line on this crash. Great accountability.” Third Place Rick Daysog “State lawmakers bribery investigation” Hawaii News Now T105 Series Reporting/Documentary/Special News First Place Mahealani Richardson , Peter Tang, Brenda Salgado "HNN Investigates: Red Hill, One Year Later" Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comments: “This is really important reporting that's getting results - and deeply personal and emotional. A really good watch.” Second Place Colette Fox, Pamela Young, Kathy Muneno, Reiss Kaneshiro “Washington Place: Hale o Na Alaka'i KHON2 Judge’s Comment: “A beautifully shot and edited piece.” Third Place "Lynn Kawano, Peter Tang "Inside Saguaro Prison” Hawaii News Now Judge’s Comment: “Really interesting reporting - thanks for the legwork and the travel to tell these stories.”