The Garden Island welcomes Luke Shanahan as its new business writer. Shanahan, 39, originally of Clinton, Iowa, takes over the position from the recently departed Blake Jones, now a business writer for The Post-Star in Glens Falls, New York. “I’m
The Garden Island welcomes Luke Shanahan as its new business writer. Shanahan, 39, originally of Clinton, Iowa, takes over the position from the recently departed Blake Jones, now a business writer for The Post-Star in Glens Falls, New York.
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to bring the most interesting, pertinent and human stories to the Business Section and hope that I can be an addition to what is already an excellent staff,” Shanahan said Friday.
The 10-year Lawa‘i resident, who earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa and a master’s in writing from the University of Arizona, spent several years teaching in Kaua‘i Community College’s English Department, including courses on world literature, screenplays and basic English composition.
Most recently, Shanahan and wife Catey, a family practice doctor in Kalaheo, have been working together on a book titled “Deep Nutrition” that aims to link the common elements of all the most successful diets in history. The book should be available within a month.
“The Kaua‘i island community is unique, particularly when compared with Mainland communities in that it’s a lot closer, the businesses are more interdependent. It’s more of a family atmosphere. It’s a different kind of place and might require a different approach when you’re covering it,” he said. “I don’t want to forget that it’s Kaua‘i when I’m covering the business community.”
Asked how the recently slumping global and local economies would affect his coverage, Shanahan said it was an interesting time to enter The Garden Island fold.
“Moving in to cover the economy at this time is like walking into a war zone 15 minutes after the battle has moved to another front line,” he said. “No matter what side of the political spectrum people fall on, there’s no question that massive political changes are going to translate into different economic and business approaches.”
• Luke Shanahan can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or via e-mail at lshanahan@kauaipubco.com
