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Is It Fridge Worthy?

Growing up, you knew you had created something special when mom or dad proudly displayed it on the refrigerator. In that spirit, we’re looking for advertising and design gems that stand out and leave a lasting impression. Join us by entering this year’s 2024 Pele Awards competition and find out the answer to the age-old question: “Is it fridge worthy?”

About the Pele Awards

The Pele Awards have been a part of Hawaii’s advertising and design community for more than 40 years. The Pele Awards is one of fifteen National District Competitions for the American Advertising Awards (also known as the ADDYs). The Pele Gold winners in all national categories are sent to the National Finals of the American Advertising Awards Competition to represent District 13. It’s designed to recognize excellence in advertising and design in the State of Hawaii for the past calendar year.

The 2024 Pele Award Judges Professional & College 

Beth Hambly

Creative Director, McCann - Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

Bio

Beth Hambly is an award-winning art director/creative director with over 20 years of experience at some of Detroit’s best advertising agencies. She’s spearheaded extensive campaigns across multiple channels: TV, print, digital, branded content, and social as well as re-branding and design efforts for large-scale, corporate identity systems. Demonstrating leadership through proven results-oriented creative development, Beth has managed and inspired creative teams to deliver strategic and emotionally resonant work that also successfully achieve brand goals.

 Beth launched bespoke programs like Ford’s Bronco Wild Fund and the brand’s military program, Proud To Honor, that have brought engagement across multiple platforms. She’s collaborated with media and agency partners to generate innovative content series like the Ford Hall of Fans and even helped launch the world’s first pickup truck emoji. 

 Currently, Beth is at McCann Detroit as creative lead on Lockheed Martin and a senior contributor for The Bissell Pet Foundation and Shoe Carnival. Prior to that, she was at VMLY&R serving as Group Creative Director for Ford’s Branded Content Group leading several key partnerships: The NFL, Kentucky Derby, and Bronco’s ambassador program. Before that, she was with GTB as Creative Director for Ford Truck where she oversaw and created brand communications for both consumer and commercial truck operations across the US market. Her extensive client portfolio includes, but is not limited to Ford, Lincoln, Jeep, Lockheed Martin, Bissell, United Way, Hush Puppies, Little Caesars Pizza, Detroit Red Wings, Microsoft, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Coleman, and the Michigan Humane Society.

 Beth’s work has been featured in Archive, Ad Age, and Creativity. Her work has been honored with numerous awards such as Cannes, Clios, New York Festivals, British Design & Art Direction, and more.

Work | Mysite (bethhambly.com)

David Mesfin

Creative Director, Innocean USA

Huntington Beach, California

Bio

A Creative Director with 15+ years of experience with award-winning integrated campaign background including Super Bowl, FIFA, NFL, and global launch campaigns.

Creative designer with skills leading project teams. Managing key accounts and creating global partnerships to increase brand awareness through traditional, digital, social, and experiential marketing campaigns. Experience collaborating with C-suite leaders from Genesis, Hyundai, Discord, Honda, Network Associates, Sony, Adidas, Oakley, Toyota, Isuzu, Farmers Insurance, Neutrogena, La-Z-Boy, Mandalay Bay, Coldwell Banker, LA Phil, AT&T, and Los Angeles Master Chorale to communicate their company’s vision through creative and marketing. Consummate experience in creative direction, conception, art, and graphic design, user experience, event coordination, emerging media, and leadership. Fluent in English, Amharic, and Greek.

Awards: Super Bowl Sliver: Best of AdMeter Commercials over 25 years; One Show; Cannes; Clio; Webby; EFFIE; Communication Arts; Google Creative Sandbox; OC and LA ADDY; DIGIDAY; TED | Ads Worth Spreading; American Advertising Federation; FWA; The A-List Hollywood Awards; IAB Mixx; and Graphis.

Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture. Director, writer, and producer of a full feature independent documentary film that delve into the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing and aquatic culture from Africa to the Americas.

Co-Chair of Innocean Worldwide diversity council. Establish the first charter, mission, and objective, build an equitable and instructional environment.

Associate member of IADAS (The International Academy of Digital Art and Science). The IADAS was established to help drive the creative, technical & professional progress of the internet and evolving forms of digital media. Presented by The Academy, The Webby & The Lovie Awards recognizes excellence in digital creativity, establishing best practices on a yearly basis, and thus pushing the standards of web development continually higher.

Mentor/Advisor ONE School an intensive portfolio program designed to teach creative skills required to work at the world's top ad agencies.

Mentor/Coach of 4A's Foundation MAIP (Multicultural Advertising Intern Program)  is a fellowship specifically for college/graduate school students of color looking to become a part of the advertising industry.

http://innoceanusa.com/
https://davidmesfin.squarespace.com/luxinthedetails

Kelly McGuckin

Creative Director, FCB-Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Bio

Kelly is an accomplished Creative Director at FCB Chicago with a career spanning 12 years in the industry. She has impacted global brands such as Chevrolet, Manchester United, Citibank, Kleenex, Cottonelle, Kaiser Permanente and Bubly. Her work has been recognized at Cannes, One Show, D&AD and the Effies. Kelly's expertise lies in giving brands a distinct voice and visual identity that resonates on a deeply human level. As a strategically-minded creative, her work propels brands to the forefront of consumer minds while consistently exceeding business expectations.

Hailing from her hometown in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kelly has traversed various creative hubs, having worked in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit. Her most recent project, "The Banned Book Club” was recognized by President Obama and exemplifies her commitment to championing intellectual freedom while safeguarding everyone's right to read. She is a passionate advocate for creativity with a cause.

Outside the office, Kelly finds joy in hitting the slopes, embarking on trail walks with her pup, indulging in spine-tingling cinema and cherishing quality time with friends and family.


Kelly McGuckin – Art Director
FCB North America | Home

Rodrigo Butori

Creative Director & Founder, Plastic Fisherman

Miami, FL/ Los Angeles, CA

Bio

I believe in creativity as a transformational force.

It can turn a moment into a memory, a message into an invitation, a product into an opportunity, and a brand into a change agent.

Creating something new taps into a core human desire to build, grow, and improve ourselves and our communities. Whether we express it through visuals, writing, or sound is not the main point; what truly matters is putting it to good use.

From my early advertising days in Brazil to Los Angeles, and then Miami, I have led teams and departments ranging from a few teams to dozens of eager creative minds working for global blue-chip brands, startups,

local businesses, and non-profit organizations.

To me, creativity is more than just a skill set, award shows, or a career choice. It's a way of life, a belief that we can continuously strive to improve things in our unique ways. That's why, a few years ago, I started Plastic Fisherman, a global educational project dedicated to bringing awareness to the dangers of marine plastic pollution and inspiring action through creativity, art, and circularity. Today, Plastic Fisherman is present in nine countries, and our impact can be felt in schools and beaches worldwide.

This is my way of giving back to the ocean - a cornerstone of my life - using what I've learned in the advertising industry. It is my goal to continue doing so, helping other brands and organizations better express their mission and make not only customers but fans.

For a creator, there's no better reward.
rodrigobutori.com
Plastic Fisherman

Will Chau

Global VP of Creative & Design, Whole Foods Market

Austin, Texas

Bio

Will is the Global Vice President of Creative and Design for Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas. Since joining in 2018, Will has grown the brand’s creative department to fifty art directors, writers and designers. Across all consumer touch points from packaging design, outdoor, tv campaigns, paid social and video, in-store signage and site design, all work is now created in-house under Will’s leadership.

One of the team’s crowning achievements was the rebranding of the entire line of 365 by Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market private label package designs, both of which totaled over 3,500 individual package designs. A large portion of the rebrand was created during the global pandemic, where designers and writers collaborated on physical packaging designs while working entirely remotely.

Prior to joining Whole Foods Market, Will spent over twenty years as an Art Director and Creative Director at creative agencies along the west coast and in Austin. His client experience includes BMW, Southwest Airlines, Kia Motors, Kohler, Goodyear, Zales, and Columbia Sportswear.

With recognition from One Show, Communication Arts, Cannes, Graphis and others, Will still considers his most rewarding experience as the founder of The Austin Creative Department, an advertising and design portfolio school that he ran from 2011-2020. With the purpose of providing an affordable alternative to private and four-year colleges to underserved students, the school provided tuition-free scholarships to students in Austin and beyond. In 2015, prior to the days of Zoom and online education, Will’s proudest moment was a scholarship student who Skyped into class weekly from Lagos Nigeria. That student went on to have a career in design after three classes.

https://will-chau.com/
https://www.wholefoodscreative.com/

Dan Marvin

Creative Director, Hart

Toledo, Ohio

Bio

Dan is a creative director and writer who loves what he does. Not many people can say that about their career, and he doesn’t take that for granted.

He’s into weird, original thinking that's grounded in a concept and built on an insight. His experience includes a lot of automotive work, but not what’s typical in the category. The Apple Pie Hot Dog he helped create for Chevrolet is a good example of thinking that on the surface seems bizarre but is strategically sound. He recently started at Hart, a brand transformation agency in Toledo, OH. And he’s looking forward to making big noise from a small market.  

This ad life has taken Dan from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago to Detroit to Austin and back to Detroit. Somewhere along the way, he and his wife had two amazing kids. Outside of advertising, Dan is a children’s book author and has two published books, But I Don’t Eat Ants and If Dinosaurs Had Hair. He also loves basketball and tries to play his role as a creative director like a point guard – looking to get others shots while still looking for his own, but never letting those two goals interfere. (He loves basketball metaphors, too.)

https://www.hartinc.com/
https://www.bookofdan.com/

Nominate Your Favorite
Ad Person Today!

Ad Person Of the Year

2023 AD 2 HAWAII PERSON OF THE YEAR

MICHAEL CHOE

Social Media Specialist, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC CO.

Bio

Michael Choe has served Ad 2 Hawaii as chair of the public service, membership, and communications committees and as the secretary. Since his involvement in 2017, Michael has helped Ad 2 Hawaii receive various awards, created the ADvise mentorship program, and assisted in revitalizing “Signature Socials” to boost membership engagement.

Michael graduated with an English degree from UH Manoa, followed by a memorable two-year teaching experience in Korea. He came back to Hawaii where he dabbled in freelancing, worked with Frolic Hawaii, and was eventually hired as a social media specialist for Hawaiian Electric. Recently in his spare time, Michael has been exploring new hobbies, attempting escape rooms, and pursuing a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

AAF-HAWAII 2023 EXTRA MILE AWARD

GERARD ELMORE

VP of Film, NMG NETWORK

Bio

Gerard is a creative producer/director/editor/cinematographer.  He is the vice president of film at NMG Network, responsible for developing branded content, editorial videos, commercials and films. He has shot, directed and produced a number of award-winning commercials and he is a 2022 Sundance Institute Producer Intensive Fellow.  He produced, directed, and served as the director of photography for Ka Huaka'i: The Journey to Merrie Monarch, a feature length documentary produced in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines, that was included in Brand Storytelling 2022, a sanctioned event of the Sundance Film Festival.  Gerard serves as the executive director for 'Ohina, an artist collective that nurtures, cultivates, and showcases Hawaiʻi filmmakers and their films.  Through ʻOhina, he has produced a number of short films that have been distributed nationwide, including Kālewa & Other People, which are now a part of the Criterion Collection.  He is also a governor on the regional EMMY® AWARDS board (The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences SF/Northern California).

AAF-HAWAII 2023 AD PERSON OF THE YEAR

BRIAN WATANABE

Executive Creative Director, MVNP

Bio

For over twenty years, Brian has been wearing out laptop keyboards as a copywriter, creative director, and storyteller at ad agencies in San Francisco, Detroit, New York, and his hometown of Hawaii. His clients have included AT&T, Mastercard, Wendy’s, and some of Hawaii’s biggest brands, including the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian Airlines, McDonald’s Hawaii, and Servco Pacific. 

Brian has worked on projects that have won awards from the American Advertising Awards, Telly Awards, Communication Arts, and the Pele Awards. His writing work won an Emmy for Hawaiian Airlines with NMG Network, and a Silver Telly for Kamehameha Schools as a writer and director.

Brian is also a produced screenwriter, the Education Director of the ‘Ohina Filmmakers Lab, a former AAF Hawaii board member, and a former Faculty Lecturer teaching screenwriting at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu. He’s at his happiest when he’s coming up with big ideas, listening to 80’s music, watching movies, and laughing with his kids.

AAF-DISTRICT 13 2023 SILVER MEDAL AWARD

RIC NOYLE

Ric Noyle. Photo Productions

Bio

Known as one of the premier photographers in the Pacific Rim, Ric is an island artist with a global perspective, serving a diverse international clientele from his home base in Honolulu.

Ric has excelled in photography’s most demanding genres, people, lifestyle, resorts food and aerial photography. Bringing a fresh eye and a unique approach to each one.

Ric Noyle, born in Cape Town, South Africa, has resided in Honolulu, Hawaii for the past 45 years.

He has gained an unsurpassed reputation for quality and dependability. Both for his strong technical skills with light and composition and his ability to capture the emotions, beauty and intensity of his subjects.

Need sets built, locations, casting, permits, equipment rentals, make-up, hairstyling, food displays? No problem. He does it all!

Ric has worked with the Department of Education for years, not only with PhotoCon but also visiting schools for their career days, as well as working with the faculty and staff also.  He has given workshops for Photo Clubs and anyone who has requested his help.  He has volunteered his services for many various groups around town to take group photos or document an event for them.

He has worked with Aloha United Way, Kupuna Aikido, Goodwill Hawaii, and various others.  And each job that comes in, whether it is paid or unpaid, it is always handled the same with 100% of Ric’s effort.TBA

Past Ad People of the Year Winners!

Save the Date

All “Professional” work entered in the 2024 Pele Awards Competition must have first appeared in media between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. 

All “College” work entered in the 2023 Pele Awards Competition must have been created between January 1, 2023, and February 28, 2024.

Please see the 2024 Pele Information Guide for specific entry rules, guidelines, and categories.

ONLINE CALL FOR ENTRY ACCEPTANCE
November 28, 2023 11:59PM HST
FINAL ONLINE ENTRY DEADLINE
February 29, 2024 11:59PM HST
ALL PAYMENTS DUE
March 06, 2024 4PM HST
PELE AWARD JUDGING
March 5-31, 2024