Steve Uyehara
Sunrise News Anchor
Honolulu, HI
The first question I usually get is "what time do you guys get in every morning?"
And I almost always hear a groan when I tell someone that we usually arrive at the station by 3am.
To be honest, you get used to it. The hardest part is waking up. Once we get in, we feed off each other's energy and the morning starts to flow.
Sunrise has been one amazing ride, and it's even led to so many opportunities outside the station.
During my career with Hawaii News Now I've been to Rome for the canonization of St. Damien, New Orleans for the Warriors' Sugar Bowl appearance, and got to fly with the Blue Angels. We also went to Notre Dame and New York to cover local boy Manti Teo's career.
We even got to take our show to Hilo for Merrie Monarch Week one year. Every time we talk about it we smile and scream out the marketing pitch they made for that trip: "Sunrise on the Road!!!"
But getting to this point in my career, like anyone who's been in it long enough will tell you, hasn't come easy. Most of us in this business pay our dues.
I remember how hard it was trying to get noticed in the newsroom when I first started back in 2000.
I started out answering phones, filing papers, trying to get noticed with my hard work.
The first time I turned my news director's head was back in 2001 after the Ehime Maru tragedy. Every day we'd have a new box full of tapes coming through the newsroom. I would stay hours after work to write out what was on each tape, organize and label them. Eventually, I had the respect of my peers, and trust me there are few things more important than that in this business.
Eventually I became the weekend sports guy, covering everything from Michelle Wie's career to the Ewa Beach Little Leaguers' World Series run and every UH sport.
But we had the most fun covering UH Football with the June Jones & Coach Mac Shows.
My then-boss Liz Chun and I worked 7-day weeks writing features, taking notes at practice and conducting interviews for the show, while trying to cover our regular responsibilities.
Liz and I became incredibly close... and yadah, yadah yadah, years later we're married with a beautiful son and a daughter on the way.
So yes, she's STILL my boss.
Everyday I count my blessings to be on a show where I really enjoy coming to work and hanging out with my co-workers. I also enjoy working for a management team that respects it's morning show and gives us the opportunity to shine. So yes, 3am is early, but it really is worth it.
Steve Uyehara is a 3-time Emmy award winner. He's also won an Edward R. Murrow and Mark Twain award. Steve co-anchors Hawaii News Now: Sunrise morning starting at 4:30 a.m. Steve has been with KGMB9 since 2000.
"It’s just really an honor to be able to do this."
Ewa Beach resident Rachael Mokulehua says she felt hopeless but with the help of Aloha United Way, her family seized control of their financial situation.
“If you love football, you make it work.”
Their research could eventually used to monitor and perhaps combat climate change. But this project also showed the students they can impact their own community for the better.
“He actually helped me and taught me how to actually study film.”
HNN's team in Los Angeles for the Super Bowl got a tour of the stadium Tuesday and the first thing you notice as you enter is the sheer size.
Hawaii loves LA sports teams ― and those teams love Hawaii.
Doctors and nurses aren’t the only healthcare heroes. Some of the most important people are those who help you connect with the care you need.
“The gap has dramatically widened,” said Mitch D’Olier, an ACS (Accrediting Commission for Schools) WASC commissioner. “That’s what the DOE data just showed. These kids are permanently set back.”
The most inspirational of undertakings at Hawaii’s schools don’t just impact an educational experience ― they change an entire culture.
Superheroes are everywhere nowadays. What if you could use their popularity to captivate students in the classroom?
Farrington High School is using a new approach to learning and is empowering students who were once failing in math to excel and become role models.
Andrew Robbins, the CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) joined us this morning on Sunrise.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was named a finalist for the 2018 Heisman Trophy. But this isn’t the first time a Hawaii player has been invited as a finalist.
It’s time again for SmartMoney Mondays! We have Leighton Genobia from Bank of Hawaii here with us today to help us lose all that paper and take our finances into the digital age.
Governor Ige and Hawaii County Managing Director Will Okabe joined us this morning to talk about storm preparations for Hawaii Island and across the rest of the state. Both want residents to understand the potential danger linked to this tropical storm...
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell joined us this morning on Sunrise. He is pleading with the public to be ready in case Hurricane Olivia has a major impact on Oahu. He also addressed other city issues including the closure of certain parks...
Every Monday we look back at the weekend and wonder "where did it go?" We were all out doing our own thing...from watching the UH football game to hosting a pet fashion show. And now, back to the grind.
PhotoCon Hawai'i is back for its second year after a successful debut last October. Hawai'i's premiere educational and informational event for professional, amateur and enthusiast photographers and videographers...
Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson joined us this morning to talk about the NFL. He said he was stunned by the trade that sent Khalil Mack from the Raiders to the Bears. He also said look for Todd Gurley and the Rams to have a monster year. Tomlinson is also in a new movie "God Bless the Broken Road." Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
The Hawaii Council on Economic Education has selected Kit-U Wong as Economic Teacher of the Year. Wong is an academic dean and economics teacher at Maryknoll School. She has been teaching economics and personal finance at Maryknoll (her alma mater) for over 8 years. Wong's most notable achievement is a project-based learning class she developed called “Navigating the Financial ABC’s of a College Education.” She is Maryknoll’s sole Economics, AP E...
This Thursday is the 10th annual pau hana block party for literacy. The event has raised nearly quarter of a million dollars for Hawaii Literacy’s local literacy services since it began. It's grown each year and is held at Murphy’s and features plates of sliders, local beers, live music by Maneki Nekos, and a premier prize drawing with 5 terrific prize packages, including a grand prize trip on Alaska Airlines and owner’s seat tickets to a San Francisco Giants ga...
Total body agility and strength building - This month we wish to highlight four exercises that can be incorporated into any routine regardless of your fitness level. Your frequency, intensity, and duration will define your exercise output, therefore, find a repetition range that is appropriate for your fitness level. Have fun and enjoy challenging yourself with these UNYQE Fitness exercises. 1. Knee to stand - Start in a kneeling position, with one foot forward, keeping the upp...
7-year-old Azariah Blancaflor heard about the Hawaii Foodbank's need for more food and donations and she jumped in to help. She made lemonade to sell and set up at Fort Ruger Park (aka Triangle Park near Diamond Head). She raised $600. She joined us this morning on Sunrise. To find out how to donate, click HERE. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Dave Reardon of the Star-Advertiser has a great series about the Run-and-Shoot offense which Coach Rolovich is bringing back to UH. He credits Ron Lee (along with his better known brother Cal) with bringing it to Hawaii before June Jones made a successful run with it. He also explains how the offense works and gives his opinion on if it can still dominate in today's college landscape. To read Dave's column, click HERE. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell joined us on Sunrise for his "Ask the Mayor" segment. He says city workers are working to clear streams as Hurricane Lane approaches and he is making sure we are prepared should the severe weather cause major damage. He also gave us an update on the rail project and federal funding. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Political analyst Colin Moore says Governor Ige will likely keep his seat. He also says Ed Case and Josh Green are the frontrunners in their respective races. Colin says the political ads that continue to criticize Ige's response to the Ballistic Missile Alert may have actually hurt Colleen Hanabusa (even though they were not produced by her campaign). Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Consent papers have been sent home for your child to get the flu shot at school. It's free for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Parents need to sign the papers and return them to the school by August 16. Health officials say now is a key time to get the shot with everyone going back to school and spreading germs. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
All week long we're talking to candidates for City Council District 2. Today we chatted with real estate broker Choon James about her ideas for easing congestion on Oahu's north shore and bringing the cost of living down for local residents. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
As we close in on the primary this Saturday we'll interview candidates for city council to give you a sense of where they stand on the big issues in their communities. Today Dave Burlew joined us on Sunrise. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
In the spirit of the world cup, we have created a routine that derives from agility and conditioning drills used to enhance performance during a game of soccer yet are also very beneficial for day to day cardiovascular health, balance, agility and coordination. Therefore no matter your age or fitness level the exercises demonstrated in today's segment will compliment any routine in the gym or in your preferred workout environment. The slalom: Set-up, Make a series o...
Rainbow Wahine volleyball head coach Robyn Ah Mow joined us on Sunrise this morning along with Director of Volleyball Operations Aven Lee. They commented on the 2018 schedule which features UCLA in the first weekend. They also have youth camps coming up for keiki who are interested. For more information, click HERE. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Sunrise went "On the Road" this morning to Kaanapali Maui. Our anchors talked to athletes preparing for the Maui Jim Ocean Shootout. But they also touched on important issues like new development and road work being done on Honoapiilani Highway. Oh yeah and they had some food. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
The Leilehua Mules won their first EVER state softball championship earlier this month. They thumped Punahou 14-4 in the championship game despite being unseeded in the tournament. They scored 12.3 runs per game en route to the title. This was also the first year for Leilehua head coach Wendell Au. They joined us this morning on Sunrise. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Today in Sunrise Shape Up we focus on different types of crunches. Bryan Watkins from Unyque Fitness gives us 5 different variations. The following exercise is designed to engage your abs while protecting your spine. these are all great exercises to incorporate into any routine. 1. Standard Floor Crunch - Lie face up with your knees bent with your lower back flat against the floor. Place your hands behind your head to support your neck. Lift your chest until your shoulder blades are...
In The Goodfather — The Life of Larry Mehau in His Own Words (And A Few Others) Don Chapman investigates whether Mehau is indeed the king of organized crime in Hawaii. Chapman conducted the only one-on-one interviews Mehau ever gave to the media, 16 hours’ worth. Chapman, the former MidWeek editor, also interviews people who were close to Mehau, a man so powerful that four Hawaii ...
An 11-year-old Makakilo girl is battling a brain tumor called DIPG...or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. If you've never heard of it...neither did her family until she got it. As a gymnast, Kaylan Haywood won the state championship for the vault last November. But then in January of this year she went to another meet and could barely perform. "She started, her left side started getting weak," says her mom Michela. "She started dragging her foot. Her arm was ju...
Michael Garcia, a geology and geophysics professor from the University of Hawaii joined us on Sunrise this morning. He provided a more in depth look the eruptions on the Big Island. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Sisters Mya and Ela Cotner both won Hawaii State Gymnastics Championship titles in their respective age groups one month ago on March 24, 2018.They also represented the State of Hawaii in the USA Gymnastics Regional 2 Championships in Tacoma, Washington. Both sisters won the USA Gymnastics Regional Championship Titles in their age groups competing against gymnasts from 6 states from Region 2: Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Both sisters qualified, a...
The annual Waikiki Spam Jam is this weekend. 20 will be serving spam dishes like Spam Musubi, Spam Tempura Fries, Crispy Spam Chips.
The Garden Club of Honolulu's Major Flower Show is held once every 3 years.
The Ho’ i hou e Kamiano Damien Luau will be held on Sunday, April 29, 12 - 4 p.m. on the Damien football field. Proceeds will benefit the “Campus 2020” initiative to provide current and future students with a state-of-the-art environment for academics, the arts, athletics and extracurricular activities.The luau will feature the Damien Halau, the Damien Band, Christian Yrizarry of Ho’onua, Jon Kaina of The Society of Seven, KutMaster Spaz, OTFS Band and em...
The full senate is set to decide on a bill that puts a moratorium on construction on the mountain, unless the University of Hawaii meets a long list of requirements.
The full senate is set to decide on a bill that puts a moratorium on construction on the mountain, unless the University of Hawaii meets a long list of requirements. UH officials say the measure would likely be the end for the TMT project. Greg Chun is the head of the Maunakea Management Board. He joined us this morning. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Kamehameha Schools Surf Team won the 2018 State Championships. Now the Warriors are headed to the National Scholastic of Surfing Association (NSSA) Championship. This morning they joined us. We spoke to head coach Dane Fujiwara, coach Daniel Ito, and team captain Julian Williams. Copyright 2018 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
City Councilman Ernie Martin was just reinstated as council chair this week.
Jeff Goldblum is one of the many voices you will recognize in the animated movie "Isle of the Dogs."
