07/27/2026
Congratulations Billy V to doing an amazing job for all these years on the Hawaii News Now - Sunrise morning show!!! Good luck on your next chapter!! Looking forward to it !!!
After almost 19 years of welcoming Hawaii to wake up to the top stories, the latest information, and a few smiles and laughs along the way — today I'm saying mahalo to a lifetime of friends.�
For 18 years and 10 months, I've been part of how Hawaii wakes up, on the Emmy award-winning show “SUNRISE” on Hawaii News Now. And for 10 years before that, I was waking up the islands on the radio. Starting today, a new chapter begins on a different course.�
My time with SUNRISE has been nothing short of amazing. It's been my morning ʻohana since 2007, when then-news director Chris Archer invited me to be an original member alongside Steve Uyehara, Grace Lee, Jeff Booth, Howard Dicus, Ramsey Wharton, and Taizo Braden.�
Since those early days, I've gotten to work with some of the very best in the business like Scott Humber and Ryan Wilson. Dan Cooke, who recently returned to Hawaii News Now, is one of those "he can do it all" personalities — it feels so good to have him back. Thereʻs Kate, Kay, Casey, My Kona girl Lacy Deniz!!, My Hoku Awards co-host Rachel Pacarro, Byron, Joseph, Josh, and so many more.�
Mahalo to our fearless leader of SUNRISE Michael Kasper!! And there are so many behind the scenes who make it all happen thru the years — , Joel Ugay, Ryan Smith, Kainoa Enos, Kay Thomas, the talented John Yasunaga, Craig Kaleikini, Gail Osh*ta… the list is long, and every one of them is family. It's been more than a run. It's been a lifetime experience. Mahalo Brenda and Matt!
Traveling statewide for the SUNRISE Mahalo Tour (which we won an Emmy for), Los Angeles for Grammy Week, red carpets at movie premieres, ride-alongs on police investigations, talking story with HPD, HFD, and Emergency Management, interviewing seven Hawaii governors, and so much more — the photos I've kept from those moments are true treasures.
As I step away from the daily LIVE show, I want to say aloha and mahalo to the people of Hawaii, who trusted us to be part of your mornings all these years. That trust has meant everything to me; and that will still continue to be the excellence of SUNRISE! It has prepared me for the next part of the journey!