Our Own ‘Black Book’
Here’s the scoop on the editorial team at Hawaii Business.
Each year for the past five years, we’ve asked the top executives of Hawaii Business Top 250 companies to tell us something about themselves. We’ve compiled their answers for our “Black Book,” an annual directory that tells you a bit (a lot, actually) about the men and women who guide our largest companies.
This is not an exercise in vanity. Anyone who has ever done business in Hawaii knows that it is often relationships that help shape opportunities. Relationships are extremely important in Hawaii, and not just in business. You are doing business at your peril if you try to ignore the power of relationships in this state.
That said, we thought it was appropriate (and probably long overdue) to share background information on the men and women who bring you this magazine every month. These are the writers and editors who produce the stories about business in Hawaii.
They are a diverse group, representative of the diversity of our state and business community.
We have journalists who have reported from the far corners of Southeast Asia, and journalists who have paddled kayaks through the mangrove forests of Yap. We have journalists who are conversant in Japanese, and others who have reported from Japan.
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It would be difficult to find a more ethnically diverse editorial team in the state. Their backgrounds include Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Hawaiian and Caucasian. We’re proud of this diversity, not to mention talent.
Tom Chapman
Editor-at-large
b. Oct. 8, ’37; Minneapolis, MN educ. U of Oregon, BA, journalism; U of Iowa, MA, journalism exp. Emphasis Hong Kong Ltd. (world’s largest publisher of inflight magazines), founder, partner and editor-in-chief, (’70-98); various journalism and publishing positions in Asia and the U.S. mainland clubs: Hong Kong Foreign Correspondence Club com. bd. Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, board of directors • Reading, writing, photography, golf and travel fam. Hiromi; 2 children
David K. Choo
Editor-at-Large
b. July 26, ‘62; Honolulu, HI educ. St. Louis School; U of Hawaii, BA, English and political science; American U, MFA, creative writing exp. Communications Aide, Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, ‘99; Free-lance travel writer, (‘97-99); Managing Editor, Hana Hou! Magazine, ‘97; Managing Editor, Pacifica magazine, (’94-97) • Golf, movies, gardening fam. Wife, Cyd; baby on the way • Hawaii Publisher’s Association Pai Award for sportswriting (twice); Avion Award for inflight magazine of the year, first runner-up; Honolulu Magazine Fiction Contest Grand Prize winner
Cathy S. Cruz
Editor
b. April 19, ’75; Tamuning, Guam educ. The American School in Japan, Tokyo, Japan; U of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism, BA, magazine journalism exp. Editor, Guam Business magazine, (’98-00); Editor, Hospitality Guahan magazine, (’97-98); Weekend magazine, department editor, Jan.-June ’97; Latte magazine, reporter, ’96; Pacific Daily News, reporter ‘95 • Volunteering at the Humane Society Hawaii and Waikiki Friendly Neighbors; working out fam. parents, Tokyo; sister, U of Oregon, journalism major • Small Business Administration, Small Business Journalist of the Year, Guam,’00
Michelle Isidro
Public Records Reporter
b. June 22, ‘75; Philippines educ. Honolulu Community College, U of Hawaii at Manoa
exp. Paralegal at Leu & Okuda, (’95-00); current position for one year • Reading, movies, surfing the net fam. mother and brother, both in Honolulu
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch
Television/New Media Editor
b. July 22, ‘64; Honolulu, HI educ. Roosevelt HS, Honolulu, HI, '82; U of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, journalism '86 exp. Hawaii Business, Managing Editor ('99-'00), Senior Editor (’98-99); Office of the Lt. Gov., Communications Coordinator, ('98-99); KAT Productions, owner/producer/writer ('95-98); Hawaii Public Television, Executive and Senior Producer/Director for News and Public Affairs, ('91-95); KGMB-TV, Reporter, ('86-91) clubs Noelani School PTA Board; E-list member; Hope Chapel Kaneohe member • family time, reading, Jazzercise fam. husband, David, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rendezvous Tours, Owner/Vice President, ST Sports; 3 children • National Press Foundation Fellow, '99; Freedom Forum Asia Fellow,'96-97; CPB-WGBH Fellow, '93
Jacy L. Youn
Assistant Editor
b. Oct. 29, ’74; Lihue, HI educ. Kapaa High School, Kauai, HI; U of Denver; U of Northern Colorado, BA, Journalism/minor in writing exp. Assistant Editor, Hawaii Business magazine (‘00-present); Associate Editor, Hawaii Business magazine ‘00; Freelance writer, Honolulu Weekly (‘98-00); Staff writer, Filipino Chronicle (‘98-00); Guest service rep., Outrigger Hotels and Resorts (‘98-00); Editorial Assistant, H3O magazine (‘97-98); Staff writer, The Mirror (‘94-96) clubs Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce • Traveling, surfing, canoe paddling fam. mom, Oahu; dad, Kauai; 3 brothers and 1 sister
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