Get To Know KITV 4's Jill Kuramoto
POSTED: 10:46 a.m. HST May 13, 2002
UPDATED: 10:54 a.m. HST May 16, 2002
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HONOLULU -- Just around the time most of you are starting your workday, Jill Kuramoto is almost done with her day.
Jill co-anchors KITV 4 News This Morning with Paul Udell and Ben Gutierrez from 5 a.m.-7 a.m., Monday-Friday.
What's the best part about the job?
"The stunned reaction from people when they hear what time I start work everyday," Jill said. "'You wake up at what time?'"
""In all seriousness, I love the news business. The rush of breaking news, knowing no day is ever the same as the day before. It's exciting and challenging at the same time."
Before getting behind the news desk, Jill reported out in the field as a general assignment reporter and police beat reporter. For the past 10 years, Jill has interviewed newsmakers and personalities from Jesse Jackson to Jean Claude Van Damme.
"I was surprised at how tall former President Bill Clinton was, and I was equally surprised at how short Van Damme was. However, I suppose being as petite as I am, everyone is considered tall."
Jill has a little photo album that has pictures of her with some of the biggest names from Hollywood, sports, and other newsmakers. It's a pretty impressive cast of stars. I think my favorite is the Cal Ripken Jr. photo. You can really get the sense of Jill's height compared to a 6-foot-4 baseball player.
Jill began her career at KITV 4 in 1992. Before that, she worked in the newsrooms at KICU in San Jose, KRON in San Francisco, KFMB in San Diego and KUAM in Guam. She also worked at KGU radio here as the News Director.
Jill earned her journalism degree and minor in political science at San Diego State University.
Jill was born in Honolulu but grew up California's Bay Area. Her ties to the islands go back generations. Most of her family is still here and she spent many Christmas and summer vacations in Hawaii. She considered it a second home growing up.
Jill is a newlywed. She married David Randall in June 2001. It was a nice ceremony at a beach home. I don't think I've ever seen her happier or more beautiful. I remember telling her she glowed.
The couple already has its hands busy with a new home and an expanding family -- a puppy. Koa is a Shiba Inu who is very active and curious.
When she's not at work, you can find Jill on the green attempting to perfect her golf game. She also began her new hobby of photography.
She loves to travel. Jill has visited Europe, a variety of Asian countries and U.S. cities.
Her favorite place?
"It's hard to choose. I guess Bali. We had our honeymoon there. The shopping was great, the spas were heavenly and the food was excellent. You could get a four-course meal for two for only $30. They have great Mexican food, Chinese food, French, you name it they had it."
Jill is the president of the Asian American Journalists Association Hawaii Chapter.
Jill also volunteers for the Library for the Deaf and Physically Handicapped as a reader in the Talking Books program. She records her voice reading the works of mostly local authors.
How did you get involved?
"I heard about it through the library system. We work with the library in the Read-To-Me program with the AAJA. The recording sounded like a good idea and a chance to give back to the community."
As you can see she keeps busy with very long days devoted work, family and other activities.
So remember, the next time you wake up for work, chances are Jill's is more than half way through her day.
""In all seriousness, I love the news business. The rush of breaking news, knowing no day is ever the same as the day before. It's exciting and challenging at the same time."
Before getting behind the news desk, Jill reported out in the field as a general assignment reporter and police beat reporter. For the past 10 years, Jill has interviewed newsmakers and personalities from Jesse Jackson to Jean Claude Van Damme.
"I was surprised at how tall former President Bill Clinton was, and I was equally surprised at how short Van Damme was. However, I suppose being as petite as I am, everyone is considered tall."
Jill has a little photo album that has pictures of her with some of the biggest names from Hollywood, sports, and other newsmakers. It's a pretty impressive cast of stars. I think my favorite is the Cal Ripken Jr. photo. You can really get the sense of Jill's height compared to a 6-foot-4 baseball player.
Jill began her career at KITV 4 in 1992. Before that, she worked in the newsrooms at KICU in San Jose, KRON in San Francisco, KFMB in San Diego and KUAM in Guam. She also worked at KGU radio here as the News Director.
Jill earned her journalism degree and minor in political science at San Diego State University.
Jill was born in Honolulu but grew up California's Bay Area. Her ties to the islands go back generations. Most of her family is still here and she spent many Christmas and summer vacations in Hawaii. She considered it a second home growing up.
Jill is a newlywed. She married David Randall in June 2001. It was a nice ceremony at a beach home. I don't think I've ever seen her happier or more beautiful. I remember telling her she glowed.
The couple already has its hands busy with a new home and an expanding family -- a puppy. Koa is a Shiba Inu who is very active and curious.
When she's not at work, you can find Jill on the green attempting to perfect her golf game. She also began her new hobby of photography.
She loves to travel. Jill has visited Europe, a variety of Asian countries and U.S. cities.
Her favorite place?
"It's hard to choose. I guess Bali. We had our honeymoon there. The shopping was great, the spas were heavenly and the food was excellent. You could get a four-course meal for two for only $30. They have great Mexican food, Chinese food, French, you name it they had it."
Jill is the president of the Asian American Journalists Association Hawaii Chapter.
Jill also volunteers for the Library for the Deaf and Physically Handicapped as a reader in the Talking Books program. She records her voice reading the works of mostly local authors.
How did you get involved?
"I heard about it through the library system. We work with the library in the Read-To-Me program with the AAJA. The recording sounded like a good idea and a chance to give back to the community."
As you can see she keeps busy with very long days devoted work, family and other activities.
So remember, the next time you wake up for work, chances are Jill's is more than half way through her day.Copyright 2002 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
