Jennifer Ablan, a 1996 graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and former editor of the student newspaper Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi, has been hired as the new editor-in-chief of Hawaii Business Magazine. Ablan returns to Hawaiʻi with 28 years of experience in business journalism to the role.
“I’m deeply honored to be joining Hawaii Business Magazine
Ablan joins the magazine from Pensions & Investments, an international money management publication, where she served as editor-in-chief and chief content officer. Her prior roles include U.S. assistant managing editor at the Financial Times, U.S. investments editor at Reuters for more than a decade, and columnist at Barron’s, where she penned the popular Current Yield column. Her journalism career began at
UH Mānoa, where she credits her early inspiration and mentorship to journalism professor Ann Auman.
“I took Prof. Ann Auman’s classes and I worked hard to get my best stories in front of her,” said Ablan. “She recommended me to her husband, who was then an editor at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. He gave me my first experience in a real newsroom. That changed the trajectory of my life.”
That editor was Steve Petranik, who was named Hawaii Business Magazine editor-in-chief in 2009. She now succeeds him following his retirement.
“It’s full circle for me,” said Ablan. “I always stayed in touch with Steve and Prof. Auman.”
A proud Radford High School alumna, Ablan said she is committed to continuing the magazine’s legacy of in-depth reporting on issues that matter to Hawaiʻi’s business community, including global developments like the U.S.-China tariff war that impact the local economy.
“For 70 years, Hawaii Business has been the resource for our local business community,” said Susan Eichor, aio CEO. Hawaii Business is owned by aio Media Group. “With Jennifer’s deep understanding of business reporting combined with her roots and ties to our islands, Hawaii Business will continue to play that role and work hard to maintain that trust with Hawaiʻi businesses. And we truly couldn’t be happier to bring a ‘local girl’ home after years of working on the continent.”
Hawaii Business Magazine has earned more than 100 national and state awards over the past five years, including recognition as the best regional business magazine in the country three times in that span.
