Maleko McDonnell has been a notable figure in Hawaii’s broadcasting industry for over 25 years. As a journalist, he served as a News Anchor for Good Morning Hawaii on KITV4 Island News in Honolulu, Hawaii. During his assignment, the show was extended to four and a half hours daily, broadcasting from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on KITV4, KIKU-TV, and Hawaii TV, delivering nearly 70 hours of weekly live news coverage.
Maleko confidently and compassionately delivered unscripted breaking news, local headlines, and global crises, keeping viewers informed and engaged, especially during statewide emergencies such as hurricanes and tsunami warnings.
In addition to his work in television, Maleko spent 20 years in radio as a host, producer, and podcaster. He was a leading producer on the iHeartRadio Podcast Network, creating feature shows for the network and other industry platforms. The “Maleko & Flash Podcast” premiered in 2009 and was a consistent favorite, repeatedly ranked among the top 3 shows on iHeartRadio in Honolulu. In 2006, Maleko was voted as the Best Radio Personality by readers in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s People’s Choice awards. His afternoon drive program “Maleko’s Room” frequently topped records in ratings and revenue between 2006 and 2016.
Maleko is also an award-winning actor and passionate advocate for community theatre. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Manoa Valley Theatre. He most recently appeared on stage in the highly acclaimed MVT production “Shipment Day” and the Off-Broadway sensation “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.” He won Po’okela Awards for Outstanding Male Performance in Manoa Valley Theatre’s “The Odd Couple” production and “Peter and the Starcatcher.”