Gov’s new mag to attribute
story to OHA paper

It turns out that not all of the stories in 'Imi Loa, the new flagship publication for Gov. Ben Cayetano's administration, were original. One story in the glossy magazine first appeared in the February issue of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs newspaper. But OHA didn't get credit for the piece on a native plant nursery in Laie.

After talking with OHA spokesman Ryan Mielke, Jackie Kido, Cayetano's communications director who doubles as 'Imi Loa's editor in chief, said she will be noting the origin of the nursery story in the December issue. Mielke terms it a correction; Kido, a clarification.

"As I am sure you are aware, it is legally and ethically necessary to properly attribute all articles taken from another publication," Mielke told Kido. "Should this style of attribution not be amendable to you, please consider all authorization to reprint Ka Wai Ola o OHA newspaper articles hereby rescinded."

David Choo, Cayetano's communications assistant who's also managing editor of 'Imi Loa, said when he talked with Mielke about using the story, he was not instructed to identify the piece as having first appeared in OHA's publication.

Kido also said she will consider having writers of 'Imi Loa stories identified so that readers will know, for example, that Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, the author of the piece on Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono's efforts to reduce government regulations, is also Hirono's communications coordinator.