Many may recognize Paula Akana KSK’80 from her 35-year career as a reporter and anchor with KITV Island News. From delivering the news of the day to rich stories about Hōkūle‘a and Merrie Monarch, storytelling has always come naturally to Akana.
“I think I’ve always been inquisitive or niele,” Akana said. “I like asking questions, finding out what’s going on and trying to help people.”
She began honing her skills as a journalist when she was a student at KS Kapālama on the Ka Mō‘ī newspaper staff. She pursued this passion at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and landed an internship with KITV. At the broadcast station, Akana relied on her connection to Hawaiian culture to inform her work in the newsroom.
“I think my Hawaiian identity has helped me immensely in covering the stories of our lāhui and in helping others in our newsroom to understand our culture and who we are as a people.”
Her advice for young ‘ōiwi looking to become a journalist? Don’t be afraid to ask questions and stay true to your story.
“If you want to be a journalist, then to me, the sky’s the limit. There are so many stories about our amazing culture and the people in our lāhui that not only need to be told, but they deserve to be told. I think the younger generation should start telling those stories now.”
Akana now focuses on sharing Hawai‘i’s history through her new role as the executive director of ‘Iolani Palace, where she strives to protect and preserve the site for future generations. She feels a heavy kuleana to mālama the palace because it’s “a living, breathing piko of our culture.”
Looking forward, Akana and the team at ‘Iolani Palace hope to showcase Hawai‘i’s history with guests through the eyes of the aliʻi who walked its halls. She reveres leaders like the Kamehameha dynasty, King Kalākaua, Queen Kapi‘olani, Queen Lili‘uokalani, Queen Emma, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, and others who made great strides in bringing innovation, technology, health care, education and more to the people of Hawai‘i.
“When I look at aliʻi as leaders, I think it's exciting to share that our aliʻi were different from any other leaders around the world. Our aliʻi were amazing leaders because they were servant leaders.”
Drawing inspiration from these powerful examples of ʻōiwi leaders, Akana is excited to see the next generation rise to help the lāhui navigate the tough issues Hawai‘i faces moving forward.
“I think as long as future generations, don’t forget who we are and where we came from. I think that's the most important thing that we know – where we came from and where we can go.”
