LIHU‘E — The Garden Island has hired Bill Buley as its editor-in-chief. He will assume the new post April 15. Buley, a native of Seattle, has more than 25 years of journalism experience. His most recent position was as city
LIHU‘E — The Garden Island has hired Bill Buley as its editor-in-chief. He will assume the new post April 15.
Buley, a native of Seattle, has more than 25 years of journalism experience. His most recent position was as city editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
“We are pleased to have someone with Bill’s extensive background and experience with community newspapers join The Garden Island,” said Dennis Francis, O‘ahu Publications Inc. president. “Bill’s dedication and passion for community news and developing local stories will serve the people of Kaua‘i and The Garden Island very well.”
“The Garden Island is already a good paper that emphasizes local news and is committed to being the source of information for Kaua‘i,” Buley said. “I plan to work with the staff and make it the best it can be. The only way to do that, for me, is by working hard and giving 100 percent to covering Kaua‘i, whether politics, environment or sports.”
Buley began his journalism career at the Forks Forum in Forks, Wash., where he wrote and designed most of the editorial content for the weekly newspaper. He went on to become the managing editor of the Bonner County Daily Bee, a daily newspaper in Sandpoint, Idaho. He wrote news stories, columns and editorials in addition to being responsible for photography and page design. For the past 18 years, Buley has been the city editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press, a 21,000 daily circulation newspaper, where he has been responsible for managing a seven-member news staff, coordinating and planning daily news stories, as well as writing stories and columns.
Buley has been recognized with awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his writing and photography. In addition, his dedication and service to veterans has garnered him honors from Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has also worked with the Humane Society.
“I’m blessed with the opportunity to make Kaua‘i my home and to work with the staff of The Garden Island to assure it continues its journalistic legacy of being the source of information for the residents of Kaua‘i,” Buley said. “The Garden Island’s commitment to covering local news is admirable and it is a true honor to have the opportunity to be part of a newspaper with such a long history.”
Buley graduated from the University of Washington, and is a loyal Huskies sports fan. He is also an avid runner, and a three-time finisher of Le Grizz, a 50-mile race in Montana near Glacier National Park, and a two-time finisher of the Ironman. He also ran the Boston Marathon. He looks forward to exploring Kaua‘i and running as often as he can.
He first visited Kaua‘i with wife Marianne for their 25th anniversary three years ago and has since dreamed of returning.
“We did the usual tourist stuff — snorkel, kayak, watch the sunrise,” Buley said. “But it was the running that hooked me and never let go. Every morning, before we went anywhere, I went for a run on Ke Ala Hele Makalae. Absolutely spectacular. I have run on Glacier National Park’s trails, Boston’s streets, Oregon beaches, Seattle’s waterfront and Idaho’s lakefront paths. None match Ke Ala Hele Makalae. You will see me out there, often. If I’m not working, I’ll likely be running. I’m anxious to roam and explore the island, meet folks, settle in and make Kaua‘i home.”
He and Marianne have three grown sons and two daughters. She’ll be joining him on Kaua’i after taking care of things with their Coeur d’Alene home.
The Garden Island, first published in 1902, is Kaua‘i’s only daily newspaper. Eighty-seven percent of Kaua‘i adults read The Garden Island, which is owned by O‘ahu Publications Inc., whose portfolio includes the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, MidWeek, MidWeek Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Army Weekly, Hawai‘i Marine, HILuxury and a growing roster of community periodicals and in-room resort magazines.
