Glimpses of the past, reflections on today and visions of the future through the eyes of Ke Alaka‘i’s early and current editors-in-chief
See a multimedia version of this story.
Ke Alaka‘i has gone a long way from print to digital media—from the first newspaper of 1955 to its growing social media presence in 2025—and has evolved side by side with BYU–Hawaii for 70 years. The publication carries the university’s rich history; it’s a treasure chest preserving the stories of those who have gone for those who will come next, said Editor-in-Chief John Andrew Quizana. “Through our work, we help students understand how the university is moving forward and what our mission and vision look like in action,” he shared.
The outstanding leadership that serves as the news center’s bedrock began with Eleanor Kaloi Dalton, one of Ke Alaka‘i’s first editors, and is being carried forward today by Quizana, a sophomore in political science and accounting from the Philippines. Quizana said he wants the publication to be remembered not just as a magazine, but also as a family. “I think that’s one of the reasons Ke Alaka‘i has remained strong: people feel at home here and don’t want to leave,” he shared.
Yesterday: Foundations in print
“The Church College of Hawaii (CCH) opened its doors to students on September 26, 1955. Soon thereafter, student organizations were established, particularly the newspaper and the yearbook staff,” shared Eleanor Dalton, an alumnae from Hilo, Hawaii. She said she worked alongside Edith Kahoilua in accomplishing tasks for both Na Hoa Pono, the school yearbook, and Ke Alaka‘i, the student newspaper. “We served on each other’s staff, utilizing Brother Raymond Smith’s business classroom so we could use the desks and typewriters,” she shared.
Dalton said she was appointed the editor-in-chief of Ke Alaka‘i, with the late Jerry K. Loveland as advisor, in 1956 during her second year at CCH. As someone who served as the student newspaper’s editor and the student body secretary-treasurer, she said she remembers those days as a time of autonomy and taking charge. In an article by Mike Foley on the BYU–Hawaii Alumni Relations’ website, she shared, “Our church leaders, including the ones in Hilo before we left, would say to us, ‘Remember that you’ll be in the shadows of the temple, that you respect where you are and that you respect yourselves.’ That was very good advice, and we tried to stay on the straight and narrow.”
Dalton said the campus back then housed a small community, so the students knew almost everybody—a close-knit life faithfully mirrored by their student newspaper. “We covered assemblies, socials, devotionals, special activities, sports and general news concerning the school. Student personalities and new faculty members were also featured so the student body could get acquainted with them,” she shared. She said, however, that they couldn’t adequately cover off-campus events due to lack of transportation. “We would only ask student staff or advisors who were involved to keep notes of the activities so we could write the stories,” she shared.
I’m thankful I had my start at CCH because of the spirit that was there.
Dalton said her life was enriched by the student activities that gave her meaningful experiences and opened up many opportunities.
Today: A modern legacy
According to Quizana, Ke Alaka‘i fosters a team rooted in Christlike leadership, fair and balanced content, and strong writing and multimedia skills. “Our mission focuses on empowering students with leadership opportunities that strengthen critical and creative thinking,” he explained. He said these guiding principles reflect both the standards set by Dalton and her team and the current staff’s hopes for the publication’s future.
Quizana took over as Ke Alaka‘i’s editor-in-chief in Dec. 2024 during the last semester of his freshman year. He said the position was an assignment he viewed as both a wonderful opportunity and a daunting responsibility. “Ke Alaka‘i has such a rich history. A lot of students know it, and it’s an award-winning magazine. I felt it was my responsibility to keep that legacy alive,” he expressed. Even with his experience as editor-in-chief of his high school publication, he said accepting this role felt like stepping into a completely different world.
As a student traversing two fields of study while working as both an editor-in-chief and a teaching assistant, Quizana is familiar with the challenging demands of leadership, academic excellence and adulthood. “That is the reason why I always make sure my team knows how to talk with each other, not just about concerns but also about life on a daily basis. Proper communication is key,” he shared. For him, Ke Alaka‘i should remain what it has always been: a professional environment that also feels like home.
“I see my role in two ways: a steward and an innovator,” Quizana shared. He said Ke Alaka‘i’s continued growth is anchored to the team’s ability to honor past traditions while catering to a fast-paced and constantly evolving world. Journalism is a perpetually shifting landscape, Quizana noted, and if Ke Alaka‘i seeks to maintain its visibility in the field, it has to adapt by setting new goals and standards. “It’s heavy work because you’re trying to maintain what past editors did while also building your own legacy,” he said.
Ke Alaka‘i transitioned from newspapers to magazine issues in 1978, according to the publication’s website. And in response to the changing times and growing digital landscape, it published its webpage in 2006, aired its YouTube channel in 2009 and expanded to a wider audience in 2014 through an Instagram account. While striving to maintain core journalistic principles, Quizana said, “We experiment with new platforms and strategies because storytelling today is different from before.” Today’s audience, he continued, is now more inclined to direct and concise reporting.
“We have been putting more emphasis on real-life stories. I want writers to explore deeper perspectives because people want truth and authenticity,” Quizana shared. He said the team’s impact as storytellers and reporters is fueled by their courage to venture outside their comfort zones and explore different perspectives, especially in a uniquely diverse community like BYU–Hawaii. “Many people think journalism is just about reporting facts or news, but I’ve learned it’s also about shaping narratives that inform and inspire people responsibly. Ke Alaka‘i is about that,” he stressed.
I see my role in two ways: a steward and an innovator.
Tomorrow: Looking back and ahead
“Ke Alaka‘i is vital in upholding BYU–Hawaii’s mission and vision because we serve as the press. We’re the connection between the administration and the students,” Quizana emphasized. He said Ke Alaka‘i’s legacy is woven into BYU–Hawaii’s history—the publication has walked alongside the university since its founding and will continue to do so. “Whether through print or digital platforms, we want readers to keep seeing BYU–Hawaii’s values reflected in what we publish,”
he shared.
Ke Alaka‘i has already been enjoying recognition as an outstanding magazine through the years, Quizana shared, and their goal is to aim even higher. He said his goals as the current editor-in-chief are to expand community engagement, integrate more student perspectives and leave Ke Alaka‘i as a publication that is professional, dynamic and reflective of campus. “Our achievements don’t just represent us as a creative team, but the entire BYU–Hawaii ‘ohana.”
Dalton said success is realized when leaders can support students’ love and enthusiasm for their craft and accomplishments. “I am filled with pride to know that after 70 years in print, Ke Alaka‘i is still ‘The Leader’ of collegiate information, notably in Laie,” she expressed.