Katie Helland
I’m excited to help bring a brand new source of news to the state. In my coverage, I look forward to sharing stories that will help you plan fun things to do for date nights and spend family time in Hawaiʻi. I also hope to share stories about the people behind events and organizations, as well as their interests in music, hula, film, comedy and more.
I started working at the city newspaper when I was still in high school through summer internships. Since then, I have worked for the community newspaper in my college town, as well as The Santiago Times when I lived abroad in Chile. Most recently, I worked for Pacific Business News in Honolulu.
At ASD, I can’t wait to talk story, which is how reporters hear some of the best news tips! Hawaiʻi has such an incredibly rich culture. And for me, it is home.
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; and First Place, Headlines, by Katie Helland, Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros, and Stephanie Salmons for "Listen to the Mike Love song people quit their jobs over."
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
Latest from Katie Helland
Opera singer Ta’u Pupu’a stars in film with Hawaiʻi premiere
This NFL defensive lineman’s career took a noteworthy turn when he decided to become an opera singer. Now that story is captured in the short film “The Platform,” which will have its Hawaiʻi premiere this week.
Katie HellandOctober 27, 2026
When music meets ʻohana: In tune with the Lau family
Anne and Milton Lau have organized slack key guitar festivals across Hawaiʻi for more than 40 years. The festival founders share how three generations of family celebrate the tradition of kī-hōʻalu, or slack key guitar, and keep a musical tradition alive.
Katie HellandOctober 24, 2026
Street art soon on display at Bishop Museum
Ready to dive into how modern street art and hip-hop culture got started? Tickets are now available online for a special exhibit called “Under/Ground" by World Wide Walls, which opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Bishop Museum.
Katie HellandOctober 23, 2026
What to know about HIFF 2026
The Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, which starts this week, features 84 films, including 34 world premieres, and new cinema from the Islands, Asia, the Pacific and around the world. HIFF’s new executive director Jean Lee shares what she's most excited about.
Katie HellandOctober 22, 2026
Movies, music and more: your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu
Ready to plan the weekend? From the start of the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival to Spooky Season highlights, here are some of the events happening on Oʻahu on Friday, Oct. 23, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25.
Katie HellandOctober 21, 2026
Battle of the Bands is back
Three Indie/alternative rock groups will compete in HI93 Hawaiʻi’s Local Hits’ Local Break, Battle of the Bands on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Catch the music live at Secret Spot Honolulu in Waikīkī.
Katie HellandOctober 19, 2026
