Kevin Dayton on a trash run (Photo courtesy)
Sing with me, “Kevin Dayton is going back to the reporter’s life. Oh, once a reporter always a reporter, Kevin Dayton! It’s a reporter’s life for he. Kevin Dayton, Kevin Dayton!”
When Mayor Billy Kenoi was first elected and announced that he was swooping up three of the island’s top journalists — Bobby Command, Hunter Bishop and Kevin Dayton — I was most shocked that Dayton was crossing the line from hack to flack. Command, well, I knew what life was like at West Hawaii Today, and Bishop, I knew his struggle to get his job back with the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and the little pay involved in blogging. But Kevin, the Big Island correspondent for the then-Honolulu Advertiser? I could not believe he was willing to cross over. Then the Honolulu Advertiser folded into the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and we saw reporters lose jobs, and I thought, wow, Kevin made a good call for his family by joining the County of Hawaii when he did.
As the mayor’s executive assistant, Dayton has done a superb job of keeping us regularly informed with press releases. And he has shown a genuine interest in the community’s welfare, showing up for public meetings and even rolling up his shirt sleeves to do trash runs for the group he help form, Opala In Paradise. He and his wife even take in foster kids. The guy (and his wife Mahealani) deserve an award for being too cool for words, really.
Now we learn that Dayton is bailing the County of Hawaii and heading back to journalism. He is going to cover transportation issues for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Impressive. I did not see that one coming. I applaud Dayton, of whom I am a huge fan, for returning to the career that I love and for loving it so much himself he is willing to leave the plush life of a County job. I’m sure there are going to be those who wonder whether he sees the beginning of the end of his boss’ mayoral tenure. I really don’t want to focus on that at this point. I would like to celebrate the fact that journalism is by no means dead, and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has swooped up one of their very best writers from the past in order to continue to deliver us the news. Mahalo to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and congratulations to you, Kevin. I look forward to reading your byline again.
October 23rd, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Kevin was an outstanding aide to the Mayor. He listened to any one and actually followed up. While I
glad he is doing what he wants i am selfish and wish he had stayed in government.
October 23rd, 2011 at 6:28 pm
congrats, Kevin!
October 23rd, 2011 at 7:21 pm
I appreciate the hard work that Kevin has done under Mayor Kenoi and I personally appreciate the fact that he asked Tiff and I to help spearhead the Opala in Paradise Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/Opala/
I hope having Kevin in this position will give much needed State attention to Highway 130!
What sucks… is that if we want to read what Kevin has to say… is we will have to PAY to do it!
October 23rd, 2011 at 7:38 pm
*Thank effin GOD!* The world, and especially Hawaii, has too few good reporters for them to be stuck in a Hilo County job. Every time I heard “Kevin Dayton” and “Mayor’s office” it made my skin crawl. Good luck Kevin! Journalism is dead, but the world will always need concise, objective and rational writers. Peter Sur gets my vote for best print journalist on the island right now and I certainly look forward to seeing Kevin’s name back in print.
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Kevin is a great reporter, his stint in county government will give him a priceless perspective going back into journalism.
October 24th, 2011 at 10:18 am
Thank you all so much for the kind comments, and especially my OIP buddy Tiffany.
Just one clarification, or comment: I believe Mayor Billy Kenoi is doing an excellent job under extremely difficult circumstances, and I am completely confident that his political career is just beginning. He has achieved remarkable things in spite of an awful economy, and his accomplishments have been largely ignored or overlooked.
I figure I can say that today because I don’t start my new job until tomorrow. That’s how I feel about it, for anyone who was wondering.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
KD wrote: “I figure I can say that today because I don’t start my new job until tomorrow.”
What would prevent kd from saying what he wants tomorrow?
A restriction on posting on a blog and/or on what can be said?
You have about 8 hours to respond…
October 24th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Newsworthy transportation issues on this island?
ya betcha…
October 26th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Kevin:
Thanks for the incredible time together. We’ve experienced something that few people will ever get to do, that is affecting the lives of our neighbors in a positive way. We’ll always be brothers, forever!
Love
Bobby Command
October 27th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Wish we could clone you Kevin. Thanks for the great job in the Mayor’s office, and best of luck in the new position.