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RTFOTO: Where are you employed?
Walter: KHNL
NEWS 8 and K5 the Home Team
RTFOTO: What do you do?
Walter: I
anchor the 5pm News on NBC 8 and the 9 o'clock News on K5.
RTFOTO: What is your ethnic make-up?
Walter: My
father is Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian. My mother is Hawaiian,
Portuguese, Spanish and Irish.
RTFOTO: Where are you originally from?
Walter: I
grew up in Kailua... on Oahu.
RTFOTO: Describe yourself in 3 words?
Walter:
hard-working, ambitious, friendly.
RTFOTO: Who was or is your mentor?
Walter: It
changes from time to time because it depends on what my goals are.
RTFOTO: What was your first paying job?
Walter: I
was in high school at the time. I got a body shop commercial and a
Pearl Ridge Center commercial in the same month.
RTFOTO: What inspired you to become a journalist?
Walter: I
have a friend who has anchored the news in various cities across the
country for more than ten years. He would always tell me, "you should
do what I do. I think you'd be great." So I decided to go back to
school and pursue an education and career in journalism. My first
degree is in Business Administration.
RTFOTO: How would you describe your style?
Walter: I
never really thought about it. I guess I would say I always try to make
sure I have a classic and professional appearance, and add a little bit
of aloha to my delivery.
RTFOTO: How many years have you been
doing what you do?
Walter: I've
hosted television and radio programs in other countries for more than
ten years now, but as far as TV news -- I'm pretty new at it. I'm
coming up on my first anniversary in October.
RTFOTO: If you could do one thing
different growing up, what would that be?
Walter: I
would have gone after my dreams at a younger age.
RTFOTO: What drives you to continue doing what you do?
Walter: Simple... I love what I do.
RTFOTO: If you weren't a news anchor, what would you be doing?
Walter: Working
hard to become one.
RTFOTO: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Walter: I've
learned, putting it out there for everyone to hear, is like a double
edged sword. It's good because I think you need to own what your goals
are ... And declaring it, is the first step towards making it a
reality, however, in this business (show business, enertainment, etc.)
when you start declaring what you want, or where you want to be, some
people can't help but want to stop you from getting there. So I tend to
keep those goals to myself. Besides I think it's much more important
for ME to be clear on where I'm headed-- rather than letting everyone
else know.
RTFOTO: How many hours per day do your work?
Walter: 8
or 9.
RTFOTO: What is a good day like for you?
Walter: When I
don't have to tell everyone at home about someone dying.
RTFOTO: What embarassing moment have
you had in your career?
Walter: Do
you think I'd really tell you. If you didn't see it, why would I
embarass myself more, by telling people who don't know about it?
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RTFOTO: What would you
say is the most difficult part of your job?
Walter: Getting time off. The news rolls on Holidays too
-- and you can't just "call in sick" whenever you want to.
RTFOTO: What was your most happiest moment in your career?
Walter: I've had several, but they all revolve around
people writing in and telling me a story I worked on changed
their life.
RTFOTO: What makes you different from your peers?
Walter: I don't really worry about stuff like that, because
to me, it doesn't matter. I focus on constantly improving
every aspect of myself. I treat my profession like a
business. I am the product, and I always want to improve
that product.
RTFOTO: Who would you say is the hottest artist on the market today and who do you see becoming tomorrow?
Walter: Besides Russell Tanoue, hmm. There are so many.
RTFOTO: Who is your
favorite artist?
Walter: Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli, and Ermengildo Zegna.
RTFOTO: Name some of the celebrities you have worked with or entertained?
Walter: Ben Affleck, Julie Moran, Ali Landry, James Ingram.
RTFOTO: If you could pick any city to live in other than the city you are currently in, what city would that be and why?
Walter: Paris. I've lived there before and loved it.
RTFOTO: What advice can you give to aspiring journalist?
Walter: Grow thick skin. You'll need it.
RTFOTO: What is your message to teens today?
Walter: Whatever goal you can see in your head -- you can
hold it in your hands.
Do everything you want to as soon as you can. You don't
want to have any regrets.
RTFOTO: If you had the power to change the world, what would you do?
Walter: I hate that question. Because we all have the
power to change the world -- Even if it's a little bit each
day.
RTFOTO: What was your experience working with Russell Tanoue?
Walter: It was great now -- as well as the first time I
shot with him 15 years ago. I think he was 10 at the time.
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