Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNLMalika Dudley

mdudley@hawaiinewsnow.com |

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I'm not allowed to speak to my mom in English... only French, which is interesting because I grew up in the small town of Papaikou on the windward side of the island of Hawaii.

When I was little I loved lying in the grass to watch the clouds, playing in the rain and was known to climb trees to get a better view of the moon... I find the sky and sea fascinating. With an oceanographer and tsunami expert as my father, I grew up in and around the water... surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing... almost every water sport you can think of! My dad loves to tell stories or "lectures" (as I sometimes call them) about the scientific and historic aspect of the ocean. Needless to say, I've learned a few things over the years. In high school, I volunteered at the Pacific Tsunami Museum and now serve as their spokesperson for public service announcements.

I'm a proud product of the public school system attending Kalanianaole School and Hilo High, where I was named valedictorian and one of 20 Regents Scholars selected statewide each year to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where I double majored in French and Speech Communication. But it was here at KGMB9, that I found I also have a passion for the science of weather. I recently completed the Broadcast Meteorology Program at Mississippi State University. After three years of intensive spring, summer and fall courses I can finally say I'm a meteorologist! It's nerdy, but I love it! (And my dad is overjoyed!) I'm humbled to have been nominated for two Emmy awards - one for weather and the other for my tsunami reports from Alaska.

Before joining KGMB9, I worked as an Elementary French teacher at Le Jardin Academy and as a bouncer for a local nightclub (Little known secret: I'm a black belt in karate). One of my fondest memories is being named Miss Congeniality at the Miss America Pageant.

Even though I have crippling stage fright, I love performing (a weird form of torture). You can spot me (trembling) on stage for "Gridiron" every year and singing the National Anthem at UH games. Though I love singing, dancing and motivational speaking, my true passion is working with kids and I've volunteered for years with HUGS (Help Understanding and Group Support) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu. When I'm not reporting on the weather or out live featuring the community, I enjoy surfing, sleeping and making surfer girl inspired jewelry.

Meteorologist Malika Dudley is the weather anchor for the weekend edition of Hawaii News Now. She also contributes to Hawaii News Now: Sunrise weekly. Malika joined KGMB9 in 2007.

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