July 22, 2005 HONOLULU - At last night's Koa Anvil Awards dinner - "Oscar night" for local public relations professionals - the Hawaii chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Hawaii) announced the winners of its annual Koa Anvil and Koa Hammer awards, recognizing public relations excellence in Hawaii. There were 40 winners announced from nearly 80 entries submitted from around the state in various award categories.

McNeil Wilson Communications won the Best in Show Award for its Kaua'i Family Adventure Press Trip work with the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau. This is the second year in a row that McNeil Wilson has earned the distinction for its work.

Shawn Nakamoto, APR, communications services manager for Kamehameha Schools, was named the Gregg W. Perry Public Relations Professional of the Year, recognizing the major contributions she has made to the public relations profession in the course of a distinguished career.

Song Choi, marketing and communications director for The Contemporary Museum, won the Hokupa'a Award, presented to an outstanding practitioner with less than five years' experience in the field of public relations.

PRSA awarded its annual PRSA-Hawai'i/Roy Leffingwell Scholarship to Ashley Pias, a senior at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. A Kamehameha Schools graduate, she currently works as an intern at McNeil Wilson Communications.

Koa Anvil Winners

Entry: Christening/Debut of the Pride of Aloha
Company: Communications Pacific for NCL America
Category: Events/Observances (7 or fewer days)
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Hawai'i Arts Season
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau
Category: Integrated Communications
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: McDonald's Keiki Safe Haven
Company: Communications Pacific for McDonald's Restaurants of Hawai'i
Category: Reputation Programs
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Don't Dump on Hawai'i
Company: Hastings & Pleadwell
Category: Public Service
Subcategory: Government

Entry: Kaua'i Family Adventure Press Trip
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for Kaua'i Visitors Bureau
Category: Events/Observances (7 or fewer days)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Geckos in Paradise
Company: Communications Pacific for Kapi'olani Health Foundation
Category: Events/Observances (more than 7 days)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: HECO Newsbytes
Company: Corporate Communications Department, Hawaiian Electric Company
Category: Internal Communications
Subcategory: Business

Koa Anvil Awards of Excellence

Entry: 3rd Annual World Children's Day
Company: Communications Pacific for McDonald's Restaurants of Hawai'i
Category: Events/Observances (7 or fewer days)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: McDonald's Brings Bob Greene to Honolulu for Marathon Race Day 10K
Company: Communications Pacific for McDonald's Restaurants of Hawai'i
Category: Events/Observances (7 or fewer days)
Subcategory: Business

Entry: 2004 Honolulu Triathlon
Company: Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Inc.
Category: Events/Observances (7 or fewer days)
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Aloha Live! Hawaiian Music Concert Tour
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau
Category: Marketing Consumer Products
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board "Focus on the Economy" Columns
Company: Current Events for Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board
Category: Community Relations
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Hawai'i's Energy Future
Company: Corporate Communications Department, Hawaiian Electric Company
Category: Integrated Communications
Subcategory: Business


Individual Koa Hammer awards were presented for public relations "tools" as follows:

Koa Hammer Winners

Entry: Bank of Hawai'i Journal
Company: Alan Tang, Olomana Marketing
Category: Special Purpose Publication
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Hilton Waikoloa Village Red Bull Incentive Sales Video
Company: Current Events for Hilton Waikoloa Village
Category: External Video Program
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Big Island Visitors Bureau's Big Ten Public Relations Initiative
Company: Current Events for Big Island Visitors Bureau
Category: Research/Evaluation
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Company Brochure
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications
Category: Brochures (3 or more colors)
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Victoria Ward Centers Urban Village Redevelopment
Company: Communications Pacific for Victoria Ward, Limited
Category: News Releases
Subcategory: Business

Entry: JW Marriott Brand - TravelAge West Front Page/Article
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for Marriott International
Category: Media Relations
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Goodwill Annual Report
Company: Alan Tang, Olomana Marketing
Category: Annual Report (3 or more colors)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters
Company: Becker Communications, Inc. for Bishop Museum
Category: News Releases
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Polynesian Cultural Center's 12th Annual World Fireknife Dance Competition
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for Polynesian Cultural Center
Category: Media Relations
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Girls Rule!
Company: Piia Aarma and Candice Johnston, Pineapple Tweed PR & Marketing
Category: Video-Television PSA
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Naupaka: A Lifestyle Magazine for Waikoloa Beach Resort
Company: Becker Communications, Inc. for Waikoloa Beach Resort
Category: External Magazine (1 or 2 colors)
Subcategory: Businesss

Entry: Malamalama Magazine
Company: Creative Services, University of Hawai'i
Category: External Magazine (3 colors or more)
Subcategory: Government

Entry: A Tribute to Harold B. Estes Event Program
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for USS Missouri Memorial Association
Category: Special Purpose Publication
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Department of Education's REACH Brochure
Company: Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Inc.
Category: Brochures (1 or 2 colors)
Subcategory: Government

Entry: Kamehameha Ho'oulu Hawaiian Data Center Brochure
Company: Alan Tang, Olomana Marketing
Category: Brochures (1 or 2 colors)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Big Island Visitors Bureau Meeting Planner Brochure
Company: Big Island Visitors Bureau
Category: Brochures (3 or more colors)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Hawaii Superferry Media Kit
Company: Barbara Heckathorn, Communications Pacific
Category: Media Kit/Press Kit
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Blue Cart
Company: Hastings & Pleadwell
Category: Video-Television PSA
Subcategory: Government

Koa Hammer Awards of Excellence

Entry: Hilton Waikoloa Village "Thirty Three Chefs" Cookbook
Company: Hilton Waikoloa Village, Current Events
Category: Special Purpose Publication
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Kamehameha Schools Annual Report "Na Pua a Pauahi"
Company: Nadine T. Lagaso, Kamehameha Schools
Category: Annual Report (3 colors or more)
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: IPEG - Kapi'olani Telesurgery to Reach Doctors Worldwide
Company: Jennifer Bowers/Starr Wedemeyer, Communications Pacific
Category: New Releases
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Introducing the Kapi'olani Breast Center
Company: Jennifer Bowers/Starr Wedemeyer, Communications Pacific
Category: Media Relations
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Hawaiian Airlines 75th Anniversary
Company: McNeil Wilson Communications for Hawaiian Airlines
Category: Media Relations
Subcategory: Business

Entry: Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board "Focus on the Economy" Columns
Company: Current Events for Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board
Category: Global Communications
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Big Island Visitors Bureau's Big Ten Public Relations
Company: Current Events for Big Island Visitors Bureau
Category: Media Relations
Subcategory: Nonprofit

Entry: Bank of Hawai'i News
Company: Alan Tang, Olomana Marketing
Category: Internal Newsletter (1 or 2 colors)
Subcategory: Business


PRSA-Hawai'i, chartered in 1947, was one of six founding chapters of PRSA. The Society is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals, with nearly 20,000 members representing business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms, and not-for-profit organizations.


Media Contact:
Melissa Malahoff-Kamei
Phone: (808) 221-6439