Ex-newsman is at home in real estate

Answer: Cooke, whose on-air schedule clashed with his growing responsibilities as a parent, has settled into a 9-to-5 comfort zone selling real estate in Ko Olina for Centex Destination Properties.

"It's a lot of work and I work hard, but at least now I'm home for dinner and to help with the homework," said Cooke, who has a son and a daughter.

In September, Cooke was promoted to sales manager for Centex, which is marketing beach and golf villas at Ko Olina. He oversees a staff of 10 salespeople.

Cooke, who joined Centex in 2004, said he enjoys being able to work face to face with buyers.

"As a news anchor, most of the time you're talking to a camera. But in sales, every day you're challenged to help people find what they're looking for. It's fun to be successful at that," he said.

He said going from media to real estate sales has been a "nice transition," noting that other media types like former reporters Rob Young of KGMB and Kehau Fernandez of KITV also have joined Centex.

"Being in the media, you get the communication and interpersonal skills that can transfer to a lot of different situations," he said.

Cooke, who worked till the wee hours with KITV, left in 2002 after many years on air to lead a short-lived venture that turned Wall Street Journal news into voice broadcasts available on cell phones.

When that folded, he joined KRTR in 2003, getting up in the wee hours to do the morning show.

Today, work, family and sleep are now finally in harmony.

"It's a good balance. It's hard, it's challenging but fun," Cooke said.