“I hope to see a Hawaiʻi defined and complicated by local storytellers.” - Matt Dekneef, Honolulu, Oʻahu⁣ ⁣ Writer and editor Matthew Dekneef is a fierce champion of authentic storytelling. As a longtime contributor to the local arts and culture publications Flux Hawaiʻi and Lei, Matt is devoted to challenging stereotypes about Hawaiʻi. Driven to share diverse mo‘olelo (stories) about his home and community, mattdknf recently pivoted to serving that calling in a new medium as a recipient of the inaugural Susan M. Haas Fellowship. The program was founded by Emmy Award-winning writer Cord Jefferson and helps journalists develop a portfolio of original TV pilots. On writing days, Matt heads to Kaimukī, a cozy neighborhood near Diamond Head, where inspiration abounds in cafés, mom-and-pop shops, eclectic retailers, and hole-in-the-wall eateries.⁣ ⁣ On Matt: Mea Ola (Dark Java)⁣ ⁣ beanabouttown⁣ #OluKai⁣ #AnywhereAloha⁣ #BeanAboutTown⁣ #Coffee⁣ #ButFirstCoffee⁣ #ReadLocal #Honolulu⁣ #Oahu