A. Kam Napier

Born and raised on Oʻahu, I’ve been very fortunate to have built a career as a writer and editor right here at home.

Most recently, I was Editor-in-Chief of Pacific Business News for 10 years, from April 2014 to August 2024. Before that, I worked at Honolulu Magazine for 19 years, the last eight of which I served as editor, leading the publication to General Excellence Awards from the City and Regional Magazine Association. Along the way, I’ve accumulated a box full of award plaques from the Hawaiʻi Publishers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaiʻi Chapter and more for my articles on everything from architecture to zoology, as well as for my column writing — my first love in journalism going back to the Cane Tassel, the school paper of Waipahu High School. As a freelance writer, I’ve appeared in the Honolulu Weekly, Hawaiʻi Business Magazine, Hana Hou! and Honolulu Civil Beat.

Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed to be a part of local publications with long and distinguished histories. Honolulu Magazine, for example, dates back to 1888, when it was founded under a royal charter by King David Kalakaua. With Aloha State Daily, I’m thrilled at this opportunity to be the first editor of something Hawaiʻi hasn’t seen in years — a new news publication! One that is independently owned and locally operated.

Our goal is to inform, delight and surprise you. In our journalism, we will strive for true neutrality, telling you what happened, not what to think or how to feel about what happened, believing that the best journalism comes from curiosity and intelligence. There is a place for strong, opinionated voices at ASD, and you’ll find them among our regular columnists and community voices pieces.

Hawaiʻi has some big challenges, which we’ll cover from the perspective of how they impact you. Hawaiʻi is also full of amazing people doing incredible things and we’re looking forward to telling you their stories, as well. The Islands are full of inspiration and, of course, Aloha!

SPJ Hawai‘i 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards: First Place, Best Overall News Site, for “Aloha State Daily,” by the ASD Newsroom in the Internet Division; First Place, Column Writing or Blog/News, “Pipikaula Corner,” in the News Media division, open to all print and digital; First Place, Breaking News Reporting, “Tsunami warning canceled,” ASD Staff; Third Place, Data Journalism Story or Series, “Hawai'i education then and now: A 50-year view on soaring costs and declining enrollment"; Third Place, Editorial Opinion, “Pipikaula Corner: Making elections elections again.”

A. Kam Napier can be reached at kam@alohastatedaily.com.