Hawaii Publishers Association
Hall of Fame Awards

The Hawaii Publishers Association Hall of Fame Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Hawaii and the print media industry throughout their careers. 

The Board of Directors selects inductees from nominations made by HPA members.  Since our association's inception in 1986, six people have been named to the HPA Hall of Fame. It has been an honor to work with them during the years. We celebrate their contribution to excellence!

CARL ‘KINI POPO’ HEBENSTREIT
INDUCTED INTO HPA HALL OF FAME 

Trade Publishing Company’s own Kini Popo was inducted into the Hawaii Publishers Association Hall of Fame, September 13, 2007. The ceremony was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikiki, and attended by a good-humored audience who cheered the honoree. Later they were entertained by Larry Lanning (Hardware Hawaii), Carlton Kramer (Hilo Hattie) and Jon Rasmussen (Cutter Ford) discussing aspects of magazine advertising.

In his brief thank-you speech—four minutes exactly, as planned--Kini kindly donated to HPA President Scott Schumaker one of the most bizarre objects he has acquired over the years—a real WWII torpedo (defused). This battered, nine-foot black tube, appropriately inscribed with names and comments, has graced Trade’s lunchroom since 2004. It is what one might politely describe as a conversation piece. Pictures of the event can be seen on our HPA Photo Album page.

The gift was accepted wryly with a heart-felt offer to return it. Kini magnanimously declined. The HPA Hall of Fame was launched in 1986 to honor those who have made notable contributions to Hawaii publishing. Kini is a worthy recipient. His service to the industry covers more than half a century. He is a past president of the Hawaii Publishers Association, winner of the Hawaii Advertising Federation/ American Advertising Federation Silver Medal (the highest  honor—there’s no gold medal), and in 2005 was featured among Honolulu Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Citizens of the past 100 years.

Carl Hebenstreit arrived in Hawaii in 1952 with $200 in his pocket and a degree in Drama. His first job was as morning disc jockey on KGMB radio, then as a newscaster on the new medium of television. His warm personality and dramatic flair soon led to his own show—the first locally produced variety program in Hawaii. His co-host was a chimpanzee, though that didn’t last long. The chimp wanted top billing. But the show continued into the 1960s, with guest stars including Elvis Presley, Liberace, Ed Sullivan and others.

Soon afterward Kini went into publishing—a 50-year love affair, as he describes it, that still continues. His exploits along the way are legendary. Perhaps the best known is a famous walk around Oahu with journalist Bob Krauss, no money or credit cards allowed. Kini has built Trade Publishing into the successful company it is today, with a range of quality magazines and an appreciative readership throughout the islands.

Previous HPA Hall of Fame Winners

David Benz
Tongg Publishing Co.

George Mason
Pacific Business News

Ethel Murphy
Hawaii Business Publishing Co.

Thurston Twigg-Smith
The Honolulu Advertiser

 Warren Stone
Stone Publishing Co.

Charles Fern
Kauai Garden Island

Jim Wilson
Hawaii Tribune-Herald