Kainoa Carlson

Host, HI Now Daily - Honolulu, HI

Born and raised in Kaneohe, family, faith, education, and sports were all major tenets in Kainoa Carlson’s life. Between rushing from church to basketball games, he realized his family had made a commitment to support him in all his passions — both on and off the field.

That investment led to Carlson’s attendance at Punahou School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and wrestling. Following graduation, he continued his academic career at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, earning a spot on the football team. As a running back for the Hawaii Warriors, it was an honor for him to run through the tunnel at Aloha Stadium and represent both his family and his state.

In the fall of 2014, Carlson received the call that would change his life: an opportunity to join the Hawaii News Now production team as a content technician. Over the next four years, he worked in a variety of capacities, from editor to photojournalist, before becoming Sports Anchor in 2018.

During his tenure as Sports Anchor, Carlson traveled the country covering everything from the Heisman Memorial Trophy Presentation in New York City to the UH Men’s Volleyball NCAA Championship match against Long Beach State University.

Today, Carlson serves as a host for HI Now, sharing stories that celebrate Hawaii’s culture, food, and community. He is also the host and creator of Kitchen Scraps, Hawaii News Now’s original reality cooking competition that spotlights local chefs and island-grown ingredients. The show recently expanded into its second season, blending culinary competition with a celebration of Hawaii’s food culture.