Jonathan Masaki

Jonathan Masaki is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel whose career has taken him from Maui to California and overseas, before landing him back home in Hawaii in 2023.

Jonathan was a live news reporter in Hawaii and Sacramento, covering such high-profile stories as the California energy crisis, the recall of Governor Gray Davis, the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Scott Peterson trial. He has interviewed dozens of politicians and newsmakers, including Sarah Palin, then Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretaries of the Army Louis Caldera and Togo West.

Jonathan left the news business in 2008 following two back-to-back combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, where his primary job was to escort media into the combat zone.

Upon return from his two tours, Jonathan continued his military duty fulltime when he was selected as the Chief of Media Relations for the California National Guard and coordinated all press engagements for the CalGuard until his retirement in 2022. Jonathan’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Iraqi Combat Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge (for direct combat engagement with enemy forces).

In his spare time, Jonathan loves hanging out with his two boys/dogs Nalu and Koa. He is also a bona fide “foodie” but as a certified personal trainer, he also appreciates all things fitness-related. In his down time, you might spot Jonathan knocking out some bootcamp workouts at the beach while improving his tan.