麻豆传媒

University of Hawai?i students received top honors for their creative excellence at the , a statewide competition hosted by the (AAF) Hawai?i to celebrate outstanding achievement in advertising and design.

Kapi?olani Community College’s New Media Arts (NMA) program earned 13 of the 16 awards presented in the college division this year. Students from Kapi?olani CC, UH 惭ā苍辞补, and UH West O?ahu earned awards across categories, including packaging, editorial design, logo development, interactive media, and illustration.

Best of Show

Among this year’s honorees, Kapi?olani CC student Emiri Miyaji received College Best of Show, the top award in the college division, for her branding and packaging project, . This marks the eighth time a Kapi?olani CC New Media Arts student has won this award, and the second consecutive year the college has earned the title. Miyaji also received Pele Gold for the same project and a $1,500 scholarship through the Nella Media Group Network and Eleven 17 Creative Scholarship Program.

“As a beginner designer, building confidence can be tough, so having my work recognized by industry professionals I admire was truly an honor,” Miyaji said. “This project was my final submission for school, and with complete creative freedom, it was a joy to create. My habit of closely observing the world around me—whether through travel or simply appreciating everyday signage—sharpened my design instincts and gave me a rich pool of ideas to draw from during brainstorming.”

National award

In addition to student recognitions at the state level, Kapi?olani CC student Hanna Shibata received a national AAF award in the category of online and interactive website (desktop or mobile) for her project .

“As an experienced designer who decided to challenge myself and expand my creativity in different disciplines, it is humbling to hear that my achievement is recognized at such a high level,” said Shibata. “I also believe it’s a testimony to the quality of education the NMA program that Kapi?olani CC provides. Learning at the New Media Arts program was an eye-opening, inspiring experience for me. The faculty was supportive, and my cohort was great people to work with.”

Across the UH System

Karen Brizendine, a 2013 graduate of Kapi?olani CC, was also honored with the AAF Hawai?i 2025 Extra Mile Award for her contribution to the local advertising and media industry as a freelance animator, motion graphics editor and visual effects artist.

UH 惭ā苍辞补 School of Cinematic Arts student Tiffany Liu earned two bronze Pele Awards for her short film , which she wrote, directed, produced, and edited. The film, which follows a hip-hop dancer confronting her insecurities just before an international dance showcase, was recognized in the Film/Video & Sound and Elements of Advertising categories.

Atash Imanverdi, a student at the UH West O?ahu Academy for Creative Media earned a silver Pele Award in the Logo Design category for .

2025 Pele Award Recipients

Emiri Miyaji (Pele Gold & Best in Show)
Project:
Medium: Packaging
Kapi?olani Community College
Winner of $1,500 cash scholarship from the NMG Network & Eleven 17 Creative Scholarship Program

Angelica Palilio (Pele Silver)
Project:
Medium: Packaging
Kapi?olani Community College

Alysha Cayabyab (Pele Bronze)
Project:
Medium: Cover/Editorial Spread or Feature Series
Kapi?olani Community College

Tiffany Liu (Pele Bronze)
Project:
Medium: Cinematography
University of Hawai?i 惭ā苍辞补

Tiffany Liu (Pele Bronze)
Project:
Medium: Television Advertising – Single
University of Hawai?i 惭ā苍辞补

Amy Rhee (Pele Silver)
Project:
Medium: Packaging
Kapi?olani Community College

Gabriella Abbey (Pele Bronze)
Project:
Medium: Collateral Material – Special Event Materials
Kapi?olani Community College

Hoang Ho (Pele Bronze)
Project:
Medium: Illustration
Kapi?olani Community College

Hanna Shibata (Pele Gold)
Project:
Medium: Packaging
Kapi?olani Community College

Michael Fiocco (Pele Gold)
Project:
Medium: Logo Design
Kapi?olani Community College

Amy Rhee (Pele Gold)
Project:
Medium: Online/Interactive: App (Mobile or Web-Based)
Kapi?olani Community College

Hanna Shibata (Pele Gold)
Project:
Medium: Online/Interactive: Website (desktop or mobile)
Kapi?olani Community College

Emiri Miyaji (Pele Gold)
Project:
Medium: Logo Design
Kapi?olani Community College

Jackilyn Choy (Pele Gold)
Project:
Medium: Cover
Kapi?olani Community College

Vivian Bui (Pele Bronze)
Project:
Medium: Cover/Editorial Spread or Feature Series
Kapi?olani Community College

Atash Imanverdi (Pele Silver)
Project:
Medium: Logo Design
University of Hawai?i–奥别蝉迟 O?ahu