Kainoa Carlson

Everyone has a different moʻolelo about how they landed their dream job—each moʻolelo with its own beginning and end, and I’d like to think mine is just getting started.

Born and raised in Kāneʻohe, family, faith, education and sports were all major tenants in my life. In between hastily rushing from church to basketball games, I realized that my family had made a commitment to support me in all of my passions—both on and off the field.

Their investment would eventually segue to my attendance at Punahou School where I would letter in football, basketball and wrestling. Following graduation, I decided to further my academic career at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and was able to earn a spot on the football team. As a Running-Back on the Hawaiʻi Warrior football team, it was an honor to run through the tunnel at Aloha Stadium and represent both my family and state. When my playing career was over, I realized that my love for sports was intrinsic and would never leave. This insatiable passion would form the basis of my career—sportscaster.

In the fall of 2014, I got the call that would change my life. Hawaii News Now gave me the opportunity to join their production team as a content technician. I had finally got my foot in the door.

For the first year and a half, my job was to roll the teleprompter as a part-time news technician for Hawaiʻi News Now. It was hard to break into the industry and consequently had to work a second job to keep my belly full, but it was never about the money—only the goal.

I wanted to become a sportscaster and would set forth on a path to take any opportunity I could get…and so I did.

Now after four years of serving in a variety of capacities from editor to photojournalist at Hawaiʻi News Now, I am so blessed to step into this new position as sportscaster. I am looking forward to delivering and celebrating the talents, accomplishments and highlights of our tremendously talented state. Mahalo for being co-authors in this next chapter of my life and the moʻolelo of our island home.