Let’s find some Peace of Mind!

By Diane Ako

I like to reflect on life. Sometimes it’s philosophically. Sometimes it’s humorously.

For all its beauty, life is far too difficult a journey to take alone. You need the support and connection with others to help carry you along the way.

Writing brings me that connection– within and without. It clarifies my thoughts and feelings. It helps me reach out to others for advice, wisdom, or feedback.

Your thoughts become your actions. Your actions become you.

A wise yogi- Patanjali- said, “Speak what is true. Speak what is pleasant.” Let’s speak of things pleasant to one another and encounter some peace of mind along the way.

ABOUT
Diane Ako joined Hawaii: In Real Life in November 2016. She’s excited to be part of a community of local bloggers – people who like writing and sharing, like she does.

She currently works full time at her own public relations firm, Diane Ako PR, that she launched in June 2017; and on call at KITV (ABC) Island News, as assignment editor or reporter.

Now and then she freelances for visiting media – usually TV networks (like CNN, or most recently, Deutsche Welle) that need a field producer or a correspondent in Hawaii.

It sounds like a lot, but Ako actually likes juggling jobs because it gives her variety, flexibility, and the ability to create her own schedule.

She blogs for fun here (a lot) and on her own website, DianeAko.com (a little). She also loves Girls’ Dates with her grade-school daughter and yoga.

Before this, Ako spent 19 years full time as a television newscaster; most of that time in Hawaii (KHNL, KHON), but some of those years in California, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. 

In between news jobs, from 2010-2014, she headed the public relations department at Halekulani Corporation, which oversees luxury resort Halekulani and boutique hotel Waikiki Parc.

She’s been blogging since 2009 – before Hawaii: IRL, she wrote for The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the state’s largest daily newspaper, where her stories garnered a dozen journalism awards and an Emmy nomination. (Archived blogs at smalltalk.staradvertiserblogs.com)

When single and portable, she spontaneously moved to Chihuahua, Mexico because it seemed like fun, and upon return to the US, worked as a ski instructor in the East Coast because she wanted a seasonal ski pass. 

Ako has a BA in Communications from Menlo College and an MA in Political Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa. One day, she might figure out how to put that master’s degree to use.

Facebook: Diane Ako, Instagram: diane_ako, Twitter: Diane Ako