It’s The People

My first assignment for MidWeek was in 2002 when I reported on children’s etiquette classes at Lisa Rose’s Tea Room in Nuuanu. It actually was a test to see if I could meet MidWeek‘s standards to be a contributing writer. Guess I made the cut because there have been more than 250 cover and feature stories since then. It’s a gratifying journalistic journey.

I never know whom or what the subject will be. Editor Don Chapman calls with an assignment, and we go to work. I could be interviewing a bank president, dance teacher, famous chef, hardworking educator or FBI agent. The intrigue and spontaneous encounters never stop.

But how else would I meet and tell the stories of people who are making a difference in our community? To be given access and hours of time with fascinating individuals from all walks of life is stimulating. To hear their stories and find the relevance for readers stirs my soul.

Ink flows in my veins. My father, the late Donald Young Kang, was the editor-publisher of a newspaper for the American-Korean community in the 1930s and ’40s. My writing for MidWeek allows me to pay tribute to his memory while celebrating the achievements of luminaries in our community.

MidWeek thrives because it does good-news journalism. I’m proud to be part of that.