Hello! My name is Makeilah Law, and I am excited to be the new city and education reporter for the Bonner County Daily Bee.

I was born and raised on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i. My childhood consisted of spearfishing for octopus with my dad, examining native sea life in tidepools with my brother and learning the importance of hula while I watched my mom dance. My heritage and ancestors are deeply rooted in the place I call home, and I realized how lucky I was to grow up in Hawai’i after I moved across the ocean to Utah.

Adjusting to life in Utah was challenging. As a new middle schooler with few friends, I often spent evenings after school in my room, longing to be on the North Shore. One class I looked forward to, though, was creative writing. I became enthralled with crafting stories and creating my own characters.

Throughout my middle and high school career, I developed a love for tennis, musical theatre, singing and guitar. When deciding on my major in college, journalism piqued my interest. The idea of writing real stories for real people thrilled me. My love for writing had only grown, and I came to learn upon being accepted into the journalism program at Brigham Young University that storytelling would be one of the most rewarding skills I would cultivate.

From covering faith-centered topics to community events, I have especially cherished seeing how journalism fosters empathy, broadens perspectives and gives people the information needed to make informed decisions.

I am grateful to be starting my journalism career at the Daily Bee and look forward to the opportunity to encourage community engagement in Bonner County through journalism.

For inquiries about tips or events, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].