Hawaiian EDVenture named best promoter of Island culture

By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer

Eighteen businesses that celebrate Hawai'i — in everything from landscaping to Web sites to jewelry — have won the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau's Kahili Awards in the culmination of the annual "Keep It Hawaii" program.

The grand prize, or "Best in Show" award, went to the Hawaiian EDVenture Program, a collaboration between the University of Hawai'i-Hilo and Destination Hilo.

Yesterday's winners came from O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island in the biggest competition yet for the bureau.

"This year all previous records were broken," said Tony Vericella, the bureau's president and chief executive. "We had 136 entries in 18 categories."

The purpose of the program is to inspire businesses to perpetuate Hawaiian culture.

To honor a company that has made a long-term commitment to Hawai'i, the bureau presented its third special Pomaika'i Award to Hilton Hotels Corp.

Top Kahili Award winners and their categories:

• Attractions: Maui Nei — A Journey Through Lahaina; Bishop Museum at Kalia.
• Architecture: Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa — Kalia Tower.
• Accommodations: House of Fountains B & B — Hale O Ka Wai.
• Events: Na Mele O Maui; Outrigger Waikiki — Spooky Tales Festival.
• Historic: Po'ipu Beach Foundation — Koloa Heritage Trail; Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education — King Kamehameha I Restoration.
• Internet: Alternative-HI.com — Hawaii Culture.
• Landscaping: Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo — Kuhio Beach Improvement.
• Literary arts: Renata Provenzano — A Little Book of Aloha.
• Media print: Hawaii Magazine — Historic Issue.
• Performing arts: King's Guard.
• Products: The Rainbow Collection — Hawaiian Jewelry Collection.
• Programs: Hawaiian EDVenture Program — 'Ohana Aloha
• Retail: Na Mea Hawaii Store — Things Hawaiian in Lahaina.
• Special: Honolulu Academy of Arts — George Ellis.
• Visual arts: Outrigger Wailea Resort — Feather Lei Collection.