The Honolulu Advertiser captured 13 first-place awards in the 2007 Excellence in Journalism Awards of the Hawai'i Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The Advertiser's first-place awards included business reporting, long-form feature writing, online spot news reporting, breaking news reporting, column writing/features, government reporting, health reporting, cartoon, informational graphics, news photography, feature photography, investigative reporting and special section.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin captured 10 first-place awards, including the top public service award. Other awards included spot news reporting, general news/enterprise reporting, online general news reporting, news page and feature page design, column writing/news and sports reporting.

The awards also honored a professional whose life ended tragically on the same day the ceremony was held. First place in the photo essay category went to Sergio Goes for his work in Honolulu Magazine titled "Celebrations."

Goes was last seen free-diving with a group on Friday afternoon; his body was recovered just after 11 a.m. today by a rescue crew. (See related story on Page B1.)

KITV had the most first-place awards in the television category with four, while KGMB9-TV had three. The top television award in public service went to KHNL News 8, which had two total awards. KHON2 News had one award.

The contest has 52 categories, covering print, broadcast and online media.

Winners of the Society of Professional Journalists, Hawai'i Chapter, 2006 Excellence in Journalism Awards, awarded Friday night:

DAILY NEWSPAPERS

Business reporting: Jim Dooley, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Funeral Trusts Take 30 Percent Off Top.

Spot news reporting: John Berger, Helen Altonn, Robert Shikina, Alex Da Silva, Gary Chun, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Don Ho's Death Coverage."

General news/enterprise reporting: Craig Gima, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Sythan's Journey."

Feature writing/short form: Lee Imada, The Maui News, "Mr. Kuraya's Prologue."

Feature writing/long form: Michael Tsai, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Their Spirit Carries Them."

News page design: Mike Rovner, Charlene Robinson, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "The Drowning of Hawaii."

Feature page design: Jacquelyn Carberry, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Just Beachy."

INTERNET

Online spot news reporting: Advertiser staff, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Don Ho Farewell."

Online general news reporting: Craig Gima, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Burma Stories & Videos."

MAGAZINE

Business reporting: Cathy Cruz-George, Hawaii Business, "Big Spenders, Global Investors Shake Up Hawaii's List of Wealthiest Landowners."

Industry or trade reporting: John Heckathorn, Honolulu Magazine, "30 Years at the Table."

Profile: (tie) Scott Radway, Hawaii Business, "The Story of Big Mike: Mike Harrah is a daredevil and a developer."

Ronna Bolante, Honolulu Magazine, "Movin' on Up."

Feature writing/short form: Thelma Chang, Spirit of Aloha, "Mo' Betta' Waikiki."

Feature writing/long form: Dennis Hollier, Spirit of Aloha, "Home Is Where the Hulihuli Is."

Page design: Darrell Ishii, Spirit of Aloha, "The New Photography in Hawaii: The Islands, Reinterpreted."

Magazine cover, Wes Funai, Hawaii Business, "Fight Club."

NON-DAILY NEWSPAPER

Business reporting: Chad Blair, Pacific Business News, "Not So Picture Perfect."

General news/enterprise reporting: Christine Cabalo, Hawaii Marine, "Exercising for two at Semper Fit."

Feature writing: Joe Udell, The Hawai'i Herald, "The Magical Reno Weekend."

Community reporting: Christine Cabalo, Hawaii Marine, "Teacher leaves on a good note."

Non-daily page design: Christine Cabalo, Hawaii Marine, "Killer Waves."

OPEN PRINT

Column writing/news: Cynthia Oi, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Under the Sun."

Column writing/features: Christie Wilson, The Honolulu Advertiser, "About Women."

Government reporting: Jim Dooley, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Elevator Checks Lagging."

Breaking news reporting: William Cole, Dan Nakaso, Lynda Arakawa, Will Hoover, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Army's Worst Day."

Health reporting: Rob Perez, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Suicide Pleas to Tripler Fail."

Sports reporting: Paul Arnett, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Paula Creamer."

Arts and entertainment writing: Rick Chatenever, The Maui News, "Swooning at the Hui."

Editorial opinion: Jim Kelly, Pacific Business News, "A Hawaii-style shafting."

Editorial cartoon: Dick Adair, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Don Imus."

Illustration: Matt Mignanelli, Honolulu Magazine, "Sour Poi Awards."

Informational graphic: Gregory Taylor, Minette McCabe, Jon Orque, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii Superferry.

News photography: Jeff Widener, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Goodbye Alexander."

Feature photography: Bruce Asato, The Honolulu Advertiser, "USS Oklahoma."

Sports photography: Jamm Aquino, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Roosevelt Clinches East."

Photo essay: Sergio Goes, Honolulu Magazine, "Celebrations."

Special section: Mike Gordon, Beverly Creamer, Wayne Harada, Russell McCrory, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Wonderful World."

Investigative reporting: Rob Perez, The Honolulu Advertiser, "Good Causes, Flawed Process."

Public service reporting: Susan Essoyan, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "Hidden Wounds."

RADIO

Feature reporting: Wayne N. Yoshioka, Hawaii Public Radio, "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Center, Tripler Army Medical Center."

STUDENT

News writing: Alyssa S. Navares, Ka Leo O Hawai'i, "Security violates federal crime log law."

Feature writing: Diane S.W. Lee, The Honolulu Advertiser, "She's a real doll."

Broadcast reporting: Alyssa S. Navares, Ka Leo O Hawai'i, "Health experts to examine dance studios."

TELEVISION

Government reporting: Keoki Kerr, KITV, "Smoking Violators Go Unpunished."

Business reporting: Gary Sprinkle, KITV, "University of Hawaii Business Development."

General news/enterprise reporting: Stephanie Lum, Duncan Armstrong, KHNL News 8, "Mount Everest Doc."

Feature reporting: Marisa Yamane, KHON2 News, "Obesity Battle Prompts School Changes."

Investigative reporting: Tim Sakahara, Taizo Braden, Mike Cherry, Robbie Reich, KGMB9-TV, "Dorm Security: An Open Door?"

Series reporting: Stacy Loe, Mike Cherry, KGMB9-TV, "Trip to Indonesia."

Videography: Stuart Ishikawa, KITV, "Skate dog."

Documentary: Pamela Young, KITV, "Season of the lion."

Special news program: Staff, KGMB9-TV, "Don Ho Remembered."

Public service reporting: Leland Kim, Joseph Aikala, KHNL News 8, "Hawaii's Medical Crisis."

ON THE WEB

Society of Professional Journalists, Hawaii Chapter: www.hawaiispj.org