Our History
Founded in 1947, PRSA Hawaii is one of six founding chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The chapter’s mission is to build value, understanding, and the demand for public relations professionals in Hawaii.
PRSA Hawaii Chapter is committed to advancing the standards of the public relations profession and supporting students and young practitioners who are developing skills in the field. Professional development seminars, informational forums, skills workshops, and monthly luncheon programs are offered to over 300 public relations professionals and students across the state.
PRSA Hawaii is a vibrant organization comprised of an active nucleus on Oahu, a progressive affinity group on Maui, and about 100 members across the state. The organization also mentors a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at the University of Hawaii.
The Hawaii chapter is one of 117 chapters grouped into 10 geographical districts. PRSA Hawaii is part of the Western District, which includes chapters from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii and Nevada. Visit the PRSA Western District website for more information.
Past Chapter Presidents
1950 Clarence L. Hodge
1951 A. Nelson Prather
1952 William A. Simonds
1953 Roy J. Leffingwell, APR
1954 William A. Norwood
1955 Joyce O. Roberts
1956 Joyce O. Roberts
1957 Jack M. Fox
1958 A. Nelson Prather
1959 Vince Ridge
1960 Kleber R. Miller
1961 Thomas Nickerson
1962 Ben Hyams, Jr.
1963 Robert A. Mitchell
1964 Seabron B. Calhoun
1965 Robert G. Alderman
1966 Bobbye L. Hughes
1967 Van H. Beazlie, APR
1968 Jeri L. Bostwick, APR
1969 David W. Eyre
1970 Frederick Y. Smith
1971 John Cavanaugh, APR
1972 William H. “Doc” Stryker, APR
1973 Harold W. Sundstrom, APR
1974 John Spaulding, APR
1975 Noelle S. Baker, APR&
1976 Roger H. Coryell
1977 Edward H. Anderson
1978 Vincent G. “Jerry” Panzo, APR
1979 Robert T. Guard
1980 Robert O. Costa, APR
1981 Sharon R. Weiner, APR
1982 Philip H. Kinnicut
1983 Mark E. Zeug, APR
1984 Robert H. Ozaki
1985 Paula R. Rath
1986 James M. Boersema, APR
1987 Alfred B. Rodriques
1988 Richard N. Zwern, APR
1989 Craig Miyamoto, APR, Fellow PRSA
1990 Brian A. Blevins, APR
1991 Maya Leland, APR
1992 Ralph T. Kam, APR, Fellow PRSA
1993 Barbara Bianchi, APR
1994 Scott Shirai, APR, Fellow PRSA
1995 Louis Torraca, APR
1996 B.J. Whitman, APR, Fellow PRSA
1997 Stafford Kiguchi, APR
1998 Shawn Nakamoto, APR
1999 Eve Holt
2000 Nathan Hokama, APR
2001 Melissa H.J. Chang, APR
2002 Howard E. Daniel, APR
2003 Donda D. Spiker, APR
2004 Duke Gonzales, APR
2005 Amy Hennessey, APR
2006 Nancy Daniels, APR
2007 Sara Platte, APR
2008 Janet Crawford, APR
2009 Kristen Bonilla, APR
2010 Nathan Kam
2011 Moani Wright-Van Alst
2012 Melissa Malahoff-Kamei
2013 Rebecca Pang
2014 Huy Vo
2015 Erica Yamauchi
2016 David Pettinger, APR
2017 Jennifer Armstrong, APR
2018 Jocelyn Collado, APR
2019 Keith DeMello
2020 Mondy Jamshidi Kent
2021 William Nhieu
