Danielle (Dani) Douglass

Writer, Editor, Communications Professional

Honolulu, HI

I love telling stories about people and organizations that are doing work that makes a difference. I've walked many paths in life, including PR & communications pro, teacher, writer and editor. Hawaii is home. Favorite subjects are health and well-being, psychedelic science, nature and outdoor adventure, healthy food and lifestyle, the ocean and water sports.

Danielle (Dani) Douglass

Writer, Editor, Communications Professional

Honolulu, HI

Featured
TIM students receive real-life lessons from chef Roy Yamaguchi
In 2021, world-renowned chef and restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi added another – and perhaps the most unexpected – accolade to his lengthy list of career accomplishments. In addition to being the author of four cookbooks, appearing on multiple television shows, receiving numerous awards, including earning the prestigious James Beard Best Pacific Northwest Chef Award in 1993; as well as opening Eating House 1849, Humble Market Kitchin and GOEN Dining + Bar along with 24 Roy’s restaurants worldwide, he adds lecturer at UH M–anoa’s School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School).
Shidler Business
Business Hawaii Shidler College UH Manoa Higher Education
Featured
Through crisis sprouts a heartening realization
Sometimes our most compelling realizations emerge from the most challenging situations. What is becoming soberingly evident through the COVID-19 crisis is Hawaii’s over-reliance on imported food and the essential role of the islands’ unsung agricultural heroes working to provide fresh produce to nourish local communities.
Ulupono Initiative
Agriculture Hawaii Farming Maui Food Pandemic
Featured
E komo mai: State reopens
In August 2020, a discussion between Shidler Alumni Association board members Toby Tamaye, BBA ’95 and Evan Leong, EMBA ’05, sparked an idea for a webinar series that would spotlight the reopening of Hawai‘i’s battered tourism industry. With the backing of board members John Doyle, EMBA ’17 and Sandy Santiago- Narvaez, BBA ’06, Tamaye created a tourism executive committee with the support of the college’s two alumni associations (Shidler Alumni Association and Travel Industry Management International) to run a webinar series for the college. There was no organization offering this type of information online and Leong had experience applying similar technology from his “Save Hawai‘i Jobs and Businesses” series he hosted earlier last year.
Shidler Business
Hawaii Pandemic Business Shidler College UH Manoa Tourism
Featured
Pushing the limits
From traversing deep in the forest, to trekking through high desert and scaling rugged peaks and glaciers, each year 9,500 Oregon State students experience all the Pacific Northwest – and beyond – has to offer. These rare and unique experiences fall under Physical Activity Course (PAC) classes and select Kinesiology courses – housed with the College of Public Health and Human Sciences – and are run through the university’s Adventure Leadership Institute™ (ALI).
Synergies
Oregon State Outdoor Recreation Fitness Higher Education
Featured
The fitness diaries: Drew Ibarra
As one might assume, the director of physical activity programming for our college, Drew Ibarra, is an active man. In addition to running up to four days each week, he joins in Faculty Staff Fitness weight or corefit classes whenever he can. Since moving to Oregon in 2008, Drew’s discovered a love of trail running and enjoys climbing the Cascade Mountains.
Synergies
Higher Education Oregon State Exercise Running Fitness
Featured
Talking Blue Zones with Dan Buettner
What do beans, a sense of purpose, and your friends have in common? They can all help you to live a more vibrant life.
Well-Being Hawaii
Lifestyle Health Hawaii
Featured
Multi-Tasking Mayor
Mayor Kirk Caldwell faces a constant challenge of scheduling time for exercise. Despite the countless meetings, commitments, and emergencies that come with leading a major city, Caldwell acknowledges that staying fit is just as important as brushing his teeth. With his hectic and unpredictable schedule, he’s mastered the art of fitting in exercise where he can.
Island Scene Magazine
Human Interest Fitness Oahu Exercise
Featured
A Boy's Passion to Save Lives
Twelve-year old Brycen Go has a simple vision of his future. He explains he’d be content living in a one-bedroom apartment with enough food to eat and a job with emergency medical services (EMS).
Island Scene Magazine
Education Human Interest Health Hawaii Safety
Relationships (and technology) help connect the dots
When information management technology associate professor Prasanna Karhade logs into Zoom to teach his two courses at Shidler College, the gallery of boxes on his screen always includes more than his current roster. Former students, colleagues and industry experts invited to class often round out the group. Much like his own journey through academia, Karhade values personal relationships and the connections they can forge.
Shidler Business
Business Higher Education Hawaii Shidler College UH Manoa
PACE rises to the next challenge
Shidler College’s Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) had a big year of transition in 2021. Executive Director Peter Rowan left his post to accept a position on the mainland, leaving big shoes to fill. After an extensive search, PACE welcomed its new leader, Sandra Fujiyama, in October 2021.
Shidler Business
Higher Education Fundraising Shidler College Business Hawaii UH Manoa
Mentorship is the bread and butter of the college
Mentorship is an integral part of the student experience and culture at the Shidler College. The mentor and mentee relationship provides students with the opportunity to learn from and develop a relationship with a seasoned professional. On the other side of the continuum, the mentor shares his or her work knowledge and experience with students who are passionate and eager to learn from someone within their chosen career path. For many decades, the college has provided multiple mentorship opportunities for the next generation of business and hospitality industry leaders.
Shidler Business
Business Higher Education Hawaii Shidler College UH Manoa
Start the new year off buying local and fresh
One thing most can agree on about 2020 is that habits changed throughout the year. Oahu residents shifted the way they shop for groceries. Many have committed to buying more local products in support of island agriculture while enjoying the nourishment that fresh products offer.
Ulupono Initiative
Food Local Produce Lifestyle Hawaii CSA
We are Shidler strong
In the summer of 2020, it became evident that the financial repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic would have a lasting and catastrophic impact on the college well into 2021. Shidler alumni, faculty and staff and community supporters came together to brainstorm ideas on how to best help the college weather the storm during this time of uncertainty. A virtual fundraising campaign became the top suggestion when the team realized that a remote environment would clearly continue at least through the remainder of the 2021 school year.
Shidler Business
Business Fundraising Shidler College Hawaii UH Manoa Pandemic Higher Education
Resources and good management keep the boots on the ground
When Jimmy Greenwell stands on rangeland in Hawaii, which makes up 20 percent of the state’s land, he doesn’t simply see the breathtaking beauty that surrounds him. Greenwell, president of the Hawaii Rangeland Stewardship Foundation (HRSF), sees a suite of ecosystem services flowing from natural resources.
Ulupono Initiative
Agriculture Farming Hawaii Food Pandemic
A sweet partnership in chocolate
As more businesses move their sales online due to COVID-19, they are creating new opportunities to showcase the exponential growth of the islands’ best products. One example is a sweet bundle showcasing some of the best chocolates from across the state. Manoa Chocolate Hawaii, Hawaii’s largest and one of its most recognizable cacao growers and producers, is on track to add a new set to its product lineup in October.
Ulupono Initiative
Agriculture Hawaii Oahu Food Pandemic
Making hay of grant opportunities
It’s a time of information overload – enough to leave heads spinning and farmers, ranchers and other small businesses overwhelmed with questions about where to turn for help. Thankfully, there is a centralized resource with information on grants and other assistance for weathering the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as proactive planning to grow and thrive for the future even as realities continue to evolve.
Ulupono Initiative
Agriculture Hawaii Food Grants Pandemic

About

Danielle (Dani) Douglass

Writing

Editing

Interviewing

Press Releases

Graphic Design

Project Management

Hawaii Travel Market

Yoga

Hiking

Surfing

Ocean Sports

Health & Well-Being

Meditation

Mindfulness

Aloha! I'm Dani and I am currently a communications director at the University of Hawai‘i's business school. I wear many hats at work, including writer and AP editor, email marketing manager and website editor. My favorite role is serving as the managing editor of our biannual alumni magazine, Shidler Business. I'm also an award-winning freelance writer.

In my former lives, I served as a marketing manager at a private school in Honolulu, assistant director of marketing and communications for Oregon State University's College of Public Health and Human Sciences, was a corporate writer at Honolulu's top health insurance company, taught elementary school to the best kids and enjoyed a fast-paced lifestyle of a public relations professional in Honolulu.

During my years in public relations and marketing, I provided account services to numerous Hawaii businesses and government officials. I learned to multi-task, stay cool under pressure, and prioritize deadlines. I also spent a year at Hawaii's State legislature, which provided me with the opportunity to see government in action.

In my teaching career, I taught third grade students the fundamentals of writing and enjoyed watching my students develop their writing and grammar skills. I maintained a class website and wrote and received numerous grants for classroom supplies and to take my students on field trips. Instilling a love for writing in my students was one of the most inspiring and gratifying things I've ever done.

I'm an energetic, passionate, curious and driven individual. Meeting new people, seeing new places and learning new things makes my heart sing. I love being outdoors, eating healthy, being active, meeting people with inspirational stories to tell, traveling overseas and writing about health and well-being, with a particular interest in holistic and Eastern medicines and the emerging science of psychedelics to alleviate those who struggle with their mental health.

Outside of work and writing, I enjoy hiking, spending time with friends and family, cooking and creating new healthy recipes, going to the beach, surfing, yoga, meditation, travel and reading.