Hawaii Business Wins National Best Magazine Honor – Again
This year’s award for best regional business magazine comes after we won the same prize for our work published in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024
For the fifth time in nine years, Hawaii Business Magazine has been selected as the best regional business magazine in the country, beating magazines from much larger markets such as Dallas, Florida and the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
The honor was announced Tuesday at the Alliance of Area Business Publishers’ annual awards ceremony, held this year in Wilmington, North Carolina, during AABP’s summer convention.
Hawaii Business also won five other awards for work published in 2025: first–place gold for Best Profile of a Person or Company, second-place silver for Best Explanatory Journalism, Best Use of Multimedia and Best Ancillary Publication, and third-place bronze for Best Overall Design.
In naming Hawaii Business as the best magazine, the judges from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism wrote: “With people-centered stories and creative design, Hawaii Business focuses on the big issues facing the state — and looks forward not back. A piece about toxic bosses stood out as a combination of investigative reporting and information about the law, while a story about women who save lives was a different take on looking at the business world. This is a publication that clearly understands its community and how to serve them.”
The gold for best profile of a person or company was for the July 2025 feature “He Served His Country. His Country Ordered Him to Leave.” on Sae Joon Park by HB managing editor Ken Wills.
“The typical business profile might explain how a business person has made or lost millions, but this story is not typical,” the judges wrote. “Deep reporting fuels a complex tale of a young immigration attorney and his client – a Purple Heart recipient who made the difficult decision to self-deport to South Korea. Good storytelling need not always be pleasant; important stories like this one let readers feel the impact of national policies.”
The silver medal for best explanatory journalism was for the November 2025 feature “Meet the Early AI Adopters in Our Schools” by contributing writer Ann Auman.
“This story stands out for the number of voices it brings to bear on an important topic in an important setting: AI in schools,” the judges wrote. “Drawing on extensive teacher interviews, this two-part story paints a clear yet sober picture of AI’s potential as a classroom collaborator within a structure of ethical use.”
Hawaii Business won its first award ever in the multimedia category. The magazine was awarded silver for best use of multimedia for the “I.C.E. Map.”
“This interactive map is an outstanding example of community journalism that invites the audience and community at large to meaningfully participate in the reporting,” the judges wrote. “The map is dynamic and user-friendly, offering a public service while also explaining the larger impact of intensified immigration enforcement on a local economy.”
The silver for best ancillary publication was for a section “Celebrating Our 70th Anniversary” by editor-chief Steve Petranik, creative director Jeff Sanner, writers Ann Auman, Kathryn Drury Wagner, Noelle Fujii-Oride, Maria Torres-Kitamura, Vicki Viotti and Beverly Creamer, and photographer Aaron Yoshino. The magazine was founded in 1955 and is the nation’s oldest regional business magazine.
“A thoughtful retrospective explores the deep connections between business and community over time,” the judges wrote. “Historical imagery and archival materials provide meaningful context, while contemporary stories add relevance and immediacy. Each feature is designed with care, creating a varied yet cohesive reading experience. Timelines and visual storytelling elements guide readers through key moments, while compelling narratives bring emotional weight and local significance to the forefront. The result is a well-crafted and meaningful celebration of both history and impact.”
Jennifer Ablan, current editor-in-chief, said the awards affirm the power of great multimedia journalism and the importance of community impact amid widespread retrenchment across the news media industry.
“Our editorial, creative and digital teams have been deliberate in crafting storytelling that informs, engages and creates meaningful impact for our communities,” she says.
Ablan and Wills joined Hawaii Business in the middle of 2025, taking over from Petranik and managing editor Cynthia Wessendorf. Wills attended the awards ceremony and convention on behalf of Hawaii Business.
“Our stories were recognized by peers from business publications across the U.S. and Canada as agenda-setting journalism that adds to a national dialogue on important trends,” Wills says. “We take seriously our obligation to shed light on the very real impact that government policies have on Hawaiʻi businesses and residents. For instance, the interactive I.C.E. Map on our website is one service we provide to the business community to help owners, employees and customers make informed decisions.”
In awarding the third-place bronze for Best Overall Design to Hawaii Business, then-creative director Jeff Sanner and photographer Aaron Yoshino, the judges wrote: “Bright, engaging design captures a strong sense of place through vibrant color and expressive imagery. Photography highlights people in action, creating energy and authenticity across features, while page designs consistently integrate color in ways that feel purposeful and cohesive. Layouts are clean and highly navigable, with thoughtful use of simple shapes and lines to guide the reader.”
