TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Ad 2 Honolulu keeps raking in national awards

NOBODY uses the word four-peat, but Ad 2 Honolulu just keeps doing it.

That play on the word "repeat" has appeared in the Star-Bulletin six times, five in Sports and once in a previous Buzz column that also starred Ad 2 Honolulu.

This time, it has won its fourth consecutive Club of the Year Award from the American Advertising Federation.

On the Net: » www.accessurfhawaii.org » www.ad2honolulu.org

Ad 2 Clubs, comprising advertising professionals 32 and younger, can enter the national competition in up to eight categories and the club with the highest score, wins.

"We had entered six of eight and won first place in five," said co-President Natalie Cook, director of marketing services at Olomana Marketing LLC.

It took first-place in education, communications, public service, programs and membership. It also won second place in the club management category -- garnering a high enough score for the overall honor.

Again.

It has given Cook time to ponder what the local club's secret is.

"I think it's the value that we bring to our members," she said. "We listen to what they're looking for and align programs to their needs," giving them "tools they're going to take with them throughout their careers."

The Club of the Year announcement means Ad 2 Honolulu goes to the annual AAF convention next month already a winner. However, there's another award members hope to bring back to Hawaii.

The Hawaii club had won national Ad 2 honors four years running, for annual pro-bono marketing campaigns, but came in second last year to a Wisconsin club, Ad 2 Madison.

The isle team's entry this year is a campaign for AccesSurf Hawaii. AccesSurf is a nonprofit that helps people, especially children with disabilities, enjoy ocean activities with specially made kayaks, surfboards and other water gear.

"By the time June comes around, we're hoping to have great results to report," Cook said.