Former TV Journalist Rod Antone named Maui Communications Director

(Posted by Wendy Osher, Supporting information courtesy Mayor-Elect Arakawa transition team)

Former television and award-winning print journalist Rod Antone was appointed as the new Communications Director for the County of Maui under Mayor-Elect Alan Arakawa’s incoming administration.  As County Communications Director Antone will be the Administration’s primary liaison to the media and will work closely with Arakawa and top Administration officials.  In his new capacity, Antone will serve as spokesman for the county and will coordinate all communication with the public and media.

Rod Antone. Photo Courtesy Mayor Elect Arakawa Transition Team.

Antone spent most of his career working as a reporter at various statewide media outlets including KHON Channel 2, KHNL Channel 8, and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Since leaving the islands in 2006 he has also worked in public relations, campaign consulting and marketing.

“I am very pleased that someone with Rod’s experience is joining us,” said Arakawa. “His knowledge of the media and communications will help us make the county more accessible for everyone,” said Arakawa.

“When interviewing Rod, the Transition Committee concluded that Rod will be an indispensable and valued member of our Administration,” said incoming Chief of Staff Herman Andaya Jr.   “He has a very thorough understanding of the relationship between the media and local government.  We look forward to working closely with him in the months and years to come,” said Andaya.

Since returning to Maui this summer, Antone has worked as a communications consultant for Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. while also accepting writing assignments from the Maui News, the Honolulu Star Advertiser, and Maui No Ka Oi Magazine.  In addition to his position as Communications Director, Antone will also be teaching an introduction to news reporting course and serve as a business communications lecturer at the University of Hawaii, Maui College next semester.  Besides teaching at UH Maui College, Antone will also serve as a staff advisor for Ho’oulu, the soon to be reestablished college newspaper.

“Next year will be very busy for me but I am happy to finally be able to return to Maui and be a part of the Arakawa team,” Antone said. “Maui County has a lot of important issues to deal with and the public deserves to be well informed every step of the way,” said Antone.

Antone started out his journalism career as a reporter at KHON in 1996. From there he worked at KHNL, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and later the Yakima Herald Republic in Washington State.

When his family moved to New Mexico in 2008, Antone was hired as Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce and from there went on to work for AJF & Associates in 2009 as part of their political consulting team in Hungary for the European Union elections.  In between campaign jobs, he also worked as a media consultant for two public relations firms in Albuquerque.

Ryan Piros. Photo courtesy Mayor Elect Alan Arakawa Transition Team.

Antone was born and raised on Maui and grew up in Paia. He is a 1990 graduate of Maui High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast News from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Assisting Antone, serving as the Assistant Communications Director, will be Ryan Piros who is presently the vice president and Program Director for a Maui-based radio station.

(Posted by Wendy Osher, Supporting information courtesy Mayor-Elect Arakawa transition team)

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