Civil Beat Staff

Landess Cole

Landess Cole is the audience development editor for Civil Beat, where she focuses on analytics and newsletters, including the Morning Beat and HI-Priced.

Landess grew up in Honolulu and is a graduate of Punahou School. After high school, she left Oahu and moved to the midwest, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English writing at Saint Mary’s College in Indiana.

After receiving her diploma, Landess came to her senses and returned to the Aloha State to begin her professional career. Prior to joining the Civil Beat team in January 2017, Landess was senior editor at HuffPost Hawaii, a partnership between Civil Beat and The Huffington Post. She also previously held positions at Pacific Business News and the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

You can follow Landess on Twitter @landesskearns or email her at landess@civilbeat.org.

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14 Civil Beat Stories That Made A Difference In 2019

14 Civil Beat Stories That Made A Difference In 2019

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These standout stories deserve another read.
HI-Priced Q&A: How This Family Of 4 Lives On A Firefighter Salary In Laie

HI-Priced Q&A: How This Family Of 4 Lives On A Firefighter Salary In Laie

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"It's like you’re in that middle zone where you're making too much to receive help, but you're not making enough to really prosper."
HI-Priced: How A Single Mom Of Two Lives On $55,000 In Mililani

HI-Priced: How A Single Mom Of Two Lives On $55,000 In Mililani

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"A big concern of mine is maintaining the quality of life and not being in a position where my kids feel a sense of lack."
HI-Priced Q&A: How This 56-Year-Old Lives On $51,200 In Honolulu

HI-Priced Q&A: How This 56-Year-Old Lives On $51,200 In Honolulu

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"Being frugal is an important aspect to living in Hawaii."
HI-Priced Q&A: How This 23-Year-Old Saves For Retirement On $36,000 A Year

HI-Priced Q&A: How This 23-Year-Old Saves For Retirement On $36,000 A Year

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"Even if you save $5 a month, you're closer than you were last month."
HI-Priced Q&A: Working Full-Time, Part-Time And Freelancing — All For $45K Per Year

HI-Priced Q&A: Working Full-Time, Part-Time And Freelancing — All For $45K Per Year

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"I'm 31 years old and people think I shouldn't be getting help from my parents, but I think that's a reality that a lot of my generation is facing."
HI-Priced Q&A: Commuting, Paying For Preschool And Digging Out Of Debt

HI-Priced Q&A: Commuting, Paying For Preschool And Digging Out Of Debt

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"If we sold our house and got rid of all our debt and then tried to start afresh, we wouldn't come back to Hawaii. There would be no way to come back."
12 Civil Beat Stories That Made A Difference In 2018

12 Civil Beat Stories That Made A Difference In 2018

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From breaking news to months-long investigations, here's a look at some of our best work this year.
How Having A Baby Changed This Couple’s View On Cost Of Living

How Having A Baby Changed This Couple’s View On Cost Of Living

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"This is the community that shaped me, that taught me the values that guide my life day to day. I want that for my child."