Discussions with Kanilehua's Editor-in-Chief Braden Savage

At the end of the previous school year, UH Hilo’s student-run art and literary magazine Kanilehua informed all of the participants who got their art and literature pieces accepted into the 2018-2019 issue there would be an extended delay on the release of the issue. In their email from May 11, 2019, they explained that it is Kanilehua’s mission to provide assistance in fostering a campus culture of creativity and also to spread awareness of our student body’s artistic and literary endeavors, exemplifying a focus on creative expression.

Although he had a busy schedule as both Kanilehua’s newly-appointed Editor-in-Chief (EIC) and a student, Braden Savage took time to discuss the situation on the delayed 2018-2019 issue with Ke Kalahea, as well as the restructuring of Kanilehua going forward.

Savage has been steadily conducting the hiring process for an art editor, as well as a layout designer and two literary editors. The whole process is “going phenomenally,” Savage said, reporting that the number of applicants was very high and that all of the interviews he has conducted so far have been positive.

As his application cycle ended on November 25, Savage said that he will have the results sometime in the beginning of December.

Savage explained how he became the Editor-in-Chief, talking about the transition into the position. He said that from the start he was ready for the responsibility. He was able to take the editing skills he accumulated from previous classes and workshops and apply it to the magazine.

Savage went into the position already aware of the delayed issue and wanted to ensure that the magazine will be run in such a way that they are known for: efficiency, attention to deadlines, and reliable delivery of a product. “I'm more excited than ever about the opportunities that working for this publication will offer,” he said.

Savage also shared some of his new tactics for the future of Kanilehua, such as raising the awareness of the publication to students, which is one of his highest priorities. He visited many classes, put up more promotional flyers, and is currently working on buying new magazine racks so that students could pick up copies of the magazine anytime they want. Savage remarked that he is willing to take on the extra work that it will take to make the student body aware of Kanilehua's presence on campus, as well as how they can benefit from their mission and purpose.

As far as his current and future growing team, Savage said that his main focus will be setting and meeting specific deadlines throughout the academic year. In order to enforce these deadlines. He said he will be promoting consistent and open communication amongst the team members in order to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that no one falls behind due to miscommunication.

He even went as far to say that he will be contacting UH Hilo's Graphics Services well in advance before the publication, and he and his team will create a complete layout of the magazine that will be ready to submit when called to do so.

With his new, creative take coming into the fold between the pages of the magazine, Savage explained his reasoning as to why Kanilehua is so important to him, personally. He said that the whole point of the magazine is to aim the spotlight on the diversity of the college campus and properly represent it. From the three publications on campus, the others being Ke Kalahea and Hohonu, Savage says that Kanilehua is meant to be an outlet for the students for their artistic abilities, as well as the satisfaction of having a piece of art published.

Savage then touched upon the recent delayed issue, saying that he and his new team will have the 2018-2019 issue ready for publication by January 2020. At this point, they are only waiting for the actual physical magazines. He also chimed in on their upcoming issue for spring 2020, which will be released by the expected date in May 2020.

“The current team will deliver a publication on-time and in high-quality form,” Savage said. “We just opened submissions for the 2020 magazine several weeks ago, so that part of the process is just getting on its feet, and so far, I think it's going to be one heck of a good ride.” Kanilehua is also in the process of envisioning several large, unprecedented events throughout the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years.

Before the end of the interview, Savage wanted to correspond directly to the students who are excited for the future publications of the issues. “I want to assure students that while Kanilehua is under my management,” he stated, “we will dedicate our efforts towards producing a magazine that is produced efficiently and will set excellent standards for future issues.”