That's the Pele effect.
When you join the passionate pursuit for a Pele, everything starts to resemble a trophy. The Great Pyramids. Sailboat sails. Nacho chips. All Pele Gold. But there is only one true Pele Award – the pinnacle of excellence in Hawai‘i advertising and design. So if triangles are suddenly everywhere you look, it’s a sign: Pele season is here.
See a triangle! Snap it! Post it!
Share your finds of Pele-shaped objects in the wild by posting and tagging #PeleAwards. When you’re Pele-obsessed, those iconic triangles pop up everywhere.
Enter Now through March 1, 2025.
Due to Admin Issues, we are re-opening call for entries website
from now till March 4, 2025 11:59PM (HST)*
*Professional & College Entries Only
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.
2025 Pele Judges
PANCHO GONZÁLEZ
Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Inbrax
Santiago, Chile
ANGELA KING
Group Creative Director, Trailer Park Group
Los Angeles, California
GARY PASCOE
EVP & Executive Creative Director, Doner Advertising
Detroit
NOK SANGDEE
VP/Creative Director, FCB-Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
FIEL VALDEZ
VP Creative, Ritual
Culver City, California
PETER VATTANATHAM
Creative Director, ServiceNow
Los Angeles, California
2025 Ad Person Of the Year
2025 AD 2 HAWAII PERSON OF THE YEAR
JADE LUN
Founder, Jade Agency Hawaii
AAF-HAWAII 2025 AD MAN OF THE YEAR
ADRIAN WALKER
Creative Director & Copywriter, Anthology Finn Partners
AAF-HAWAII 2025 AD WOMAN OF THE YEAR
LINDSAY SCHEDLER
Managing Director - West Coast, MVNP
AAF-HAWAII 2025 EXTRA MILE AWARD
KAREN BRIZENDINE
Animation, Motion Graphics & Visual Effects, Freelancer
AAF District 13 2025 Silver Medal Award
KRISTINA LOCKWOOD
Vice President & General Manager, KHON2
Ad People of the Year Winners!
2025 PELE AWARDS SHOW
WHEN
Saturday, May 10, 2025
WHERE
Elks Lodge #616 - Waikiki — Second Floor Ballroom
EVENT PROGRAM
5 PM — No-Host Cocktails • Pele Awards • Finalist Viewing
6 PM — Show & Dinner • No-Host Cocktails
10 PM — End
**update 04.14.2025**
Sold out – Taking waiting list now
Save the Date
All “Professional” work entered in the 2025 Pele Awards Competition must have first appeared in media between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.
All “College” work entered in the 2025 Pele Awards Competition must have been created between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.
Please see the 2024 Pele Information Guide for specific entry rules, guidelines, and categories.
- ONLINE CALL FOR ENTRY ACCEPTANCE
- November 15, 2024 11:59PM HST
- FINAL ONLINE ENTRY DEADLINE
- March 1, 2025 11:59PM HST
- ALL PAYMENTS DUE
- March 07, 2025 4PM HST















