{"id":217531,"date":"2025-06-17T15:05:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T01:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=217531"},"modified":"2025-06-18T09:32:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:32:31","slug":"2025-pele-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/17\/2025-pele-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Kapi\u02bbolani CC<\/abbr>, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu students shine at college advertising awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]
\"Retro
Sweet Tooth Dessert House by Emiri Miyaji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> students received top honors for their creative excellence at the 2025 Pele Awards<\/a>, a statewide competition hosted by the American Advertising Federation<\/a> (AAF<\/abbr>) Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> to celebrate outstanding achievement in advertising and design.<\/p>\n

Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College\u2019s New Media Arts (NMA<\/abbr>) program earned 13 of the 16 awards presented in the college division this year. Students from Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, and UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu<\/span> earned awards across categories, including packaging, editorial design, logo development, interactive media, and illustration.<\/p>\n

Best of Show<\/h2>\n
\"Sweet
Sweet Tooth Dessert House by Emiri Miyaji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among this year\u2019s honorees, Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> student Emiri Miyaji received College Best of Show, the top award in the college division, for her branding and packaging project, Sweet Tooth Dessert House<\/a>. This marks the eighth time a Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a beginner designer, building confidence can be tough, so having my work recognized by industry professionals I admire was truly an honor,\u201d Miyaji said. \u201cThis 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\u2014whether through travel or simply appreciating everyday signage\u2014sharpened my design instincts and gave me a rich pool of ideas to draw from during brainstorming.\u201d<\/p>\n

National award<\/h2>\n
\"Black
S. Neil Fujita\u2019s Visionary Fusion by Hanna Shibata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to student recognitions at the state level, Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> student Hanna Shibata received a national AAF<\/abbr> award in the category of online and interactive website (desktop or mobile) for her project S. Neil Fujita\u2019s Visionary Fusion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs 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,\u201d said Shibata. \u201cI also believe it’s a testimony to the quality of education the NMA<\/abbr> program that Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across the UH<\/abbr> System<\/h2>\n
\"Woman's
Confidence<\/em> by Tiffany Liu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n
\"Bottles,
Ululani’s Shave Ice Rebrand by Atash Imanverdi<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n

Karen Brizendine, a 2013 graduate of Kapi\u02bbolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, was also honored with the AAF<\/abbr> Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa School of Cinematic Arts student Tiffany Liu earned two bronze Pele Awards for her short film Confidence<\/em><\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Atash Imanverdi, a student at the UH<\/abbr> West O\u02bbahu<\/span> Academy for Creative Media earned a silver Pele Award in the Logo Design category for Ululani\u2019s Shave Ice – Rebrand<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Group
From left: Alysha Cayabyab, Jackie Choy, Angelica Palilio, Gabby Abbey, Amy Rhee, Michael Fiocco, Jason Cutinella (NMG Network), Cassidy Stolarek (Eleven 17 Creative), Emiri Miyaji , Tiffany Liu, Vivian Bui, Hoang Ho, Atash Imanverdi, Hanna Shibata, Paul Lam (Pele Awards Chair) (Image credit: Melissa Lum)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2025 Pele Award Recipients<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]\n

Emiri Miyaji<\/strong> (Pele Gold & Best in Show)
\nProject: Sweet Tooth Dessert House<\/a>
\nMedium: Packaging
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College
\nWinner of $1,500 cash scholarship from the NMG<\/abbr> Network & Eleven 17 Creative Scholarship Program<\/p>\n

Angelica Palilio<\/strong> (Pele Silver)
\nProject: Araw<\/a>
\nMedium: Packaging
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Alysha Cayabyab<\/strong> (Pele Bronze)
\nProject: Book Trilogy Covers<\/a>
\nMedium: Cover\/Editorial Spread or Feature Series
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Tiffany Liu<\/strong> (Pele Bronze)
\nProject: Confidence<\/em><\/a>
\nMedium: Cinematography
\nUniversity of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> M\u0101noa<\/p>\n

Tiffany Liu<\/strong> (Pele Bronze)
\nProject: Confidence<\/em><\/a>
\nMedium: Television Advertising – Single
\nUniversity of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> M\u0101noa<\/p>\n

Amy Rhee<\/strong> (Pele Silver)
\nProject: Fin & Tin<\/a>
\nMedium: Packaging
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Gabriella Abbey<\/strong> (Pele Bronze)
\nProject: Frenzi Seafood Festival<\/a>
\nMedium: Collateral Material – Special Event Materials
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Hoang Ho<\/strong> (Pele Bronze)
\nProject: Megalace Boot<\/a>
\nMedium: Illustration
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]\n

Hanna Shibata<\/strong> (Pele Gold)
\nProject: Musica Sake<\/a>
\nMedium: Packaging
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Michael Fiocco<\/strong> (Pele Gold)
\nProject: Puerto Escondido Logo<\/a>
\nMedium: Logo Design
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Amy Rhee<\/strong> (Pele Gold)
\nProject: Purrch – Mobile App<\/a>
\nMedium: Online\/Interactive: App (Mobile or Web-Based)
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Hanna Shibata<\/strong> (Pele Gold)
\nProject: S. Neil Fujita\u2019s Visionary Fusion<\/a>
\nMedium: Online\/Interactive: Website (desktop or mobile)
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Emiri Miyaji<\/strong> (Pele Gold)
\nProject: Sweet Tooth Dessert House<\/a>
\nMedium: Logo Design
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Jackilyn Choy<\/strong> (Pele Gold)
\nProject: The Tapeworm Is In<\/a>
\nMedium: Cover
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Vivian Bui<\/strong> (Pele Bronze)
\nProject: This is Love by Phoebe Judge<\/a>
\nMedium: Cover\/Editorial Spread or Feature Series
\nKapi\u02bbolani<\/span> Community College<\/p>\n

Atash Imanverdi<\/strong> (Pele Silver)
\nProject: Ululani\u2019s Shave Ice – Rebrand<\/a>
\nMedium: Logo Design
\nUniversity of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>\u2013West O\u02bbahu<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Students earn statewide recognition for design, media, branding and digital storytelling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[112,105,549,1056,1646,63,774,1037,71,9,59],"class_list":["post-217531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-academy-for-creative-media","tag-art","tag-creative-media","tag-digital-media-arts","tag-graphic-design","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-marketing","tag-new-media-arts","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-manoa","tag-uh-west-oahu","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=217531"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":217619,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217531\/revisions\/217619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=217531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=217531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=217531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}