Veteran reporter leaving TV for HSTA
JAMM AQUINO/ MAY 23, 2012
Keoki Kerr
Longtime broadcast news reporter Keoki Kerr will leave Hawaii News Now April 8 for a position with the Hawaii State Teachers Association.
Kerr is to become a communications specialist with the teachers’ union, handling internal and external communications, a position vacated by Teri Tanaka last year.
“I think it’s time for something new and different in my life,” he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “I’ve been a (television) reporter for 25 years and have gotten a lot of experience and skills that I can put to work, working for a community organization like this … working to advocate for students and teachers is a noble calling, just like being a journalist.”
Kerr’s broadcast news career began at KGU-AM 760 when he was a junior at Punahou School in 1983. Among other news, he covered Frank Fasi’s re-election as Honolulu mayor in his defeat of incumbent Mayor Eileen Anderson in 1984.
The union notified its members this morning, and Hawaii News Now issued a memo to staff Thursday evening.
News director Mark Platte lauded Kerr’s “stellar work” on stories relating to problems at the Hawaii State Hospital, among other coverage.
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HSTA President Corey Rosenlee welcomed Kerr, in a statement, noting his “reputation as a fair and accurate reporter on issues that impact our community, combined with his personal commitment to building volunteers, mentoring young people and coordinating community events will be valuable to our organization.”
40 responses to “Veteran reporter leaving TV for HSTA”
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Good for him, good guy!
I agree. He also is very ethical and upfront in interviews. He never tried to slide in trick questions and always outlined exactly what he was going to ask me.
agree..Kerr is the best reporter out there IMO. Honest, fair, thorough and compassionate. I am sorry to not have him reporting. Maybe he can really do some good for HSTA. We shall see.
allie, I agree, but a communications socialist doesn’t make policy he’ll just be a robot for the Union. Then all ethics go by the wayside–unfortunately.
I agree. He said he would work for the students and teachers but who is he kidding, who is paying his bills? He will just be a mouthpiece for this government union…remember folks both sides of the negotiating team on labor contracts have a handfull of lawyers behind them; so they should be well versed with the state and the US constitutions. HSTA is notorious in making deals with constitutional question in their negotiated contracts…in the end they get their pay raises and THE REAL TAX PAYERS get the short end of the stick…it is time to end government unions. Say this to a public teacher: “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
Hit the nail on the head.
South76 – “HSTA is notorious in making deals with constitutional question in their negotiated contracts” What does that mean? What in the world are you talking about? It would be so refreshing, if just once, you could write something that is both truthful and makes sense.
Klastri – obviously he refers to HSTA agreeing to drug tests to get a raise, then reneging on the promise after receiving it. They were contractually obligated and gave the taxpayers the middle finger. One could say they negotiated in bad faith with the state, intending to renege on their promise all along. They have no honor, they get what want by “contributing” to the politicians and the democratic party of Hawaii.
saywhatyouthink – Obviously? So the “notorious” constitutional issue – whatever that means ‘ was just made up and you know that? So you know the details of the contract language surrounding drug testing? The lying on here is amazing. No one here knows anything. Nothing.
South76 – “Say this to a public teacher: “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”” The words of someone who made it a point to learn absolutely nothing while in school, and who reviles scholarship and learning. Of all the ridiculous things you have written, this one is at the top of the list.
How about agreeing to drug testing then backing down Klastri!
marcus – You aren’t a lawyer and apparently haven’t discussed this case with one, so I’m going to lose you. Sorry. No one can sign a contract with an illegal provision – not even the state. After the contract was signed, it became clear following a legal review that no collective bargaining unit could subject its members to a clearly illegal search that did not have probable cause or even reasonable suspicion attached to it. Attorneys representing individual teachers, including my firm, advised clients to refuse. The state had no recourse, since the provision was not enforceable under the law, and the state knew, or should have known, that fact. It doesn’t matter that a majority agreed to it – it only matters that the contract provision was not permitted. The state could test only teachers who also held commercial driver licenses – a class that at the time was always subject to random drug testing. If you think that’s “backing down” (whatever that means) then you don’t understand contract law.
I don’t even read that hateful trolls comments, and you shouldn’t either.
Klastri, who are you kidding. HSTA reneged on negotiated drug testing for pay raiases. Your HSTA induced spin ain’t working. HSTA and DOE are the reason Hawaii has the highest rates of private school attendance. HSTA is wise to hire one news reporter who might actually want to run a negstive expose on them that might stick. Kerr will be nothing more than a public spinner trying to always put HSTA in a positive light. Don’t fault him for that, have to go where the money is.
Kerr will not be able to justify the 1000 man hours per year worked by the teachers while the rest of the U.S. work force routinely works 200 hours per year for the same pay!
Correction. 2000 man hours per year vice 200 manhours per year!
I suppose you think that lying helps the case you have manufactured. The figures you incorrectly cite have been debunked over and over again. And then over again. But failures who don’t know any better keep using the same false data.
That’s funny.
Sad to leave on a hollow note. Would have been better to forthrightly say quality journalism under Mark Platte is impossible rather than to pretend.
LOL you mean Mark Platte, who, when trying to leave a stink comment on one of Dave Reardon’s columns re Norm Chow, did so with poor grammar?
Good luck in your new endeavor. I think you will do good in whatever you undertake.
Good luck Keoki. You’ve always been great. But HSTA really?
Oh, I thought maybe was going be Nestor Garcia. Punyeta!
Here is an excellent example of a waste of monies by a union esp. the HSTA. Geezus, its an educational union so why must they hire an outside specialist when any one of their workers should be able to communicate to the public and this goes for all the State Depts. w/communication experts hired from the news and tv media…….just a waste of monies….the directors of each dept. should be able to communicate their issues or whatever but bureaucracy being what it is, these newscasters continually are employed by the State and City. Now, there definitely has to be a communication expert that speaks for Gov. Ige….when ever he talks, its an embarrassment as the top executive in the State…….oh, well…..life goes on….cheers!!
Bottomline: TV stations don’t pay much.
would it be students first then teachers ? OR IS IT” WE MAKE MORE.”. TEACHERS PSA; OR we CAN EARN MORE …
HSTA works for the Teachers! Thats their job!
Hey check it out, someone willingly joined the hsta and not because paid politicians having to force membership. He’s already being treated better than the teachers. Good luck, wish you much success.
I never had ever thought that HSTA ever had an internal and external reporter all these years…MIA all these past years? It is my hope that there will be “communication” now. Congrratulations Mr. Kerr!
Rumor is that his editors didn’t want him to make waves that might annoy the powers that be. But that is the job of the press. Plantation mentality strikes again.
Keoki, you are one of the best (if not THE best) investigative reporters we have in Hawaii. It’s a loss that you are moving on, but the goal of growing and developing new areas for yourself is always a good goal. I question the HSTA as a choice to go to (and in my eyes it’s a huge step down for someone with your talents), but I assume that there is much more than meets the eye and that you are making the best choice for yourself – and for society. Thanks for all your years of extremely good reporting, and I look forward to seeing all of the significant contributions that you will make from here on.
i conkerr
Another one bites the dust to go over as a more cushy “communications specialist” for the union industrial complex. No more chasing stories and working a beat.
Pretty soon the only tv reporter in town will be an ethically challenged former politician.
What does “union industrial complex” mean in your mind? Does it mean anything, or did you just put together random words?
Ble$$ed be the spin doctors. Parents take note. $pin doctoring can be quite lucrative in Hawaii.
The HSTA pays more than a TV station? Communicating the HSTA’s line is more interesting than investigating issues? Wow!
One has to wonder just how much the HSTA is compensating Mr. Kerr. As it is, those in broadcast journalism get paid quite handsomely, especially for long-time veterans such as Mr. Kerr. Good luck, Keoki. Gonna miss you, although I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of you.
There is much we don’t know about his move. More pay? Blowing whistles? Slow down? Getting older? 9-5? Etc. Good luck Keoki! We still love you!
Hush money????
If there was a reporter in Hawaii designated as “hard-hitting”, it would be Keoki Kerr. Although I might not agree with some of your views, Mr. Kerr, I nonetheless respect you as such a reporter that this state so very much needs. With that, it’s more than interesting (ironic?), that you’ve chosen a union-based position as an exit ramp. All the best, you’ll no doubt do well. But really, down the road I (and undoubtedly many others in the state?) can see you as the 60 Minutes of Hawaii (maybe 65 Minutes, you know, Hawaiian time….).