A Star-Advertiser Vending Machine in Waikiki
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently announced the formation of a Waikiki Bureau, to be headed by veteran journalist Allison Schaefers. We contacted Ms. Schaefers, and she was gracious enough to take time from a very busy schedule to grant us an interview.
WW: How did the idea to start a Waikiki bureau come up, and how long has it been in the making?
AS: The excitement surrounding the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a high-level summit that will bring heads of states from 21 economies to Waikiki in November, was definitely a factor in the opening of the Waikiki Bureau. The opening also signifies the Star-Advertiser’s commitment to making sure that its readers are well-informed about what goes on in the state’s economic engine and how those developments affect their own lives. We’ve been planning this bureau since the beginning of the year, but we just opened the office in late March. Our coverage is a work in progress and will continue to evolve based on the needs and desires of our readers.
WW: What are the goals of the Waikiki bureau? What kind of reporting can we expect to see?
AS: We want to be the definitive source for Waikiki news. Coverage will range from business stories to features and news stories about the people that live, work and visit Waikiki. When you think about it, Waikiki is really the backyard for everyone in Hawaii. Since the district is ground central for tourism, it influences global perceptions of Hawaii and provides the bulk of the state tourism revenue and tax collections that are tapped across all islands. What happens in Waikiki affects nearly everyone in this state in one way or another so we want to provide substantive reporting that interests and informs readers.
WW: In the Star-Advertiser we read that the Waikiki bureau wants to be "the voice of Waikiki." What does this mean to you, and how will you accomplish this?
AS: Waikiki always has made tourism news; however, it has sometimes been overlooked when journalists are collecting fodder for stories about real isle people and topics that concern them. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is invested in Waikiki and we want to be good neighbors by making sure that we provide a forum for all voices in the district to be heard.
WW: What's your own background in Waikiki and Waikiki reporting?
AS: I have covered state tourism for eight years often focusing on Waikiki. I have gotten to know many of the leaders and workers in the district’s hospitality industry and now am looking forward to meeting more residents and guests. Last year, I completed a reporting package that looked at the impact of homelessness on tourism in Waikiki. The piece earned a national reporting award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) who selected it as one of the best explanatory journalism pieces submitted for the their 2010 best in business contest.
WW: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
AS: When I was a little girl, my mother told me to find a career that I liked and then it would never seem like work. She knew a lot about this topic because she too was a journalist... I grew up playing in newsrooms and learning about accountability as the fruits of her labors were discussed around town and at our dinner table.
I’ve been working as a paid journalist for about 23 years and I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I consider it a privilege to work for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and for all of our readers.
Our industry has suffered in recent years, but I still believe that I, and the young people who are coming after me, will have a future in this profession. The way that we deliver the news may change with the times, but our job continues to be important.
I’m proud to work for a newspaper owner, David Black, who is still bullish on print journalism and believes that newspapers continue to be a vital part of the democratic process. I’m thankful to work for editors who care about quality and alongside colleagues who give it all that they’ve got day after day.
Professional Biography of Allison Schaefers
Allison Schaefers, a three-time national award-winning reporter, covers Hawaii tourism and Waikiki for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.(photo courtesy Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
She joined Oahu Publications Inc. in 2003 as part of the business reporting staff of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and stayed on after its consolidation with The Honolulu Advertiser. Prior to this, Schaefers was a staff writer for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla. where she covered the Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach beat. Earlier, Schaefers served as News Editor for the Camden County Tribune.
Schaefers has worked alongside the White House Press Corps during President Barack Obama’s many Hawaii visits. She has been published by the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.
She has been honored three times by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW). This year her explanatory package on the impact of Waikiki homelessness on tourism was named among the best works in business among American journalists, as was her feature about the iconic Coco Palms. Last year, she was recognized by SABEW for her breaking news coverage of the last sugar haul at the now closed Gay & Robinson sugar mill on Kauai. Schaefers also has won more than 20 state journalism awards for writing, editing and photography.
An honors graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, Schaefers has earned several professional and academic scholarships. Last year, she reported from China after being selected as a prestigious Jefferson Fellow at the University of Hawaii’s East West Center. In 2006, she reported from Cambodia during a partner fellowship with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and East West Center. She also has studied journalism in Italy and England, where she completed a project on journalism ethics.
Schaefers can be reached at (808) 218-6718 or by e-mail at aschaefers@staradvertiser.com. She would welcome story ideas about Waikiki.
The Waikikiki Wanderer Comments
We were delighted to see the Star-Advertiser open a Waikiki desk, not because we feel the media have neglected Waikiki, but because we think that the additional focus on our district will be a positive factor in helping Waikiki move into the future. We're also glad to see recognition of the oft-overlooked fact that 20,000 people call Waikiki home. More than just a storied tourist destination, honest-to-goodness Hawaiian residents do populate Waikiki in numbers that surprise visitor and kama`aina alike.
The Star-Advertiser's commitment to Waikiki is further underlined by their appointment of a senior, award-winning journalist to run the new bureau.
We especially appreciate Ms. Schaefers' statement that "What happens in Waikiki affects nearly everyone in this state in one way or another ..."
This is something not often acknowledged or even realized by many Hawaiian residents, who know Waikiki is a major tourist center but don't understand the economic influence the district exerts. We too like to think that what's good for Waikiki is good for Hawai`i.
We wish Ms. Schaefers and the new Waikiki Bureau much success. Waikiki faces many challenges, but if we all work together the future can be a bright one. Having the Star-Advertiser on board with this effort will give a great boost to Waikiki.
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