Whatever Happened To...
An update on past news
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TV forecaster Kathy Muneno busy doing community work
Question: What ever happened to TV weather forecaster Kathy Muneno?
Answer: Kathy Muneno left KITV in March 2005 after working there 13 of the previous 15 years.
Since then she has strung together some part-time jobs and continued volunteer work she had been doing when she was still appearing on television.
"I am really busy. I think I'm busier now than when I had a full-time job," Muneno said.
One of her part-time jobs is project coordinator for Kauai landowner Grove Farm Co. Inc. She says she is not an employee of the company, but a freelancer. Right now, it is her only paying job.
When Grove Farm President Warren Haruki heard she left KITV last year, he contacted Muneno and asked her to do community relations for the company.
Her responsibilities evolved when Grove needed to get some community and environmental projects off the ground, Muneno said. She also worked part time for the Oahu Children's Justice Center.
When she was still working at KITV, Muneno volunteered there, spending time with juvenile victims of physical and sexual abuse, playing games with them and just making them feel comfortable in a new environment. If the children were sent to emergency foster care, Muneno put together emergency suitcases for them that included clothing and toiletries.
Muneno was hired as an administrative assistant to the director. That job ended in May, but Muneno continues her volunteer work there and wants to expand her duties.
"Right now, what I'm trying to do is to educate the public about children and sexual abuse." Muneno also does volunteer work for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. No surprise -- she has been married to navigator Nainoa Thompson for three years. She helped with a benefit concert in Waikiki Shell last month and is planning a trip to Japan for Hokule'a.
This update was written by Nelson Daranciang.
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