Olena Heu

Olena Heu is an accomplished marketing and PR expert, journalist, voice over artist, and media personality. A highly sought after communications professional, she also serves as a TV host, emcee, creative, social media strategist, influencer, and marketer, continually pushing boundaries as a woman of action in her community.

She is the founder of a boutique marketing and communications firm serving clients across industries, with a clientele ranging from local businesses to major statewide events. Known for balancing strong client representation with her own voice as a media personality, Olena excels in content creation, photography, public relations, advertising, digital strategy, and campaign execution.

An award winning reporter and news anchor, Olena has received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Society of Professional Journalists Awards, a Telly Award, and an Emmy nomination. In 2004, the Kaua‘i native represented the Aloha State as Miss Hawai‘i at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City.

Her career in media and communications began in 2000 with Clear Channel Communications. She is also the creator and host of the Da Best Hawai‘i show and podcast and a co-host of the Doko Ga TV travel show on KFVE and KHNL.

Olena earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Speech Communication from Hawai‘i Pacific University and in 2024 completed a certificate in Digital Marketing Strategy through Harvard Business School Online.

She remains active in the community through volunteerism and pro bono service. Olena is a member of the Junior League of Honolulu, the Hawai‘i Society of Business Professionals, and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the American Heart Association Leaders Board, the Hawai‘i Pacific University Communications Advisory Board, and the HPU Alumni Council.

A sought after public speaker, she has appeared at the Distinguished Leaders Forum and the Wahine Forum and served on the Governor's Awards selection committee. She has also been recognized as Outstanding Media Person of the Year by Special Olympics Hawai‘i, a Mahalo Service Award nominee, and a recipient of the Hawai‘i Association of Broadcasters Scholarship Award.

In the spring of 2019, following genetic testing and a strong family history of breast cancer, Olena made the courageous decision to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy without reconstruction. This choice came just months after losing her mother to a three-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. The disease had also affected her aunt and grandmother on her maternal side.

Genetic testing revealed that Olena carries a RAD50 mutation, significantly increasing her already high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Determined to take control of her health, she opted for the preventative surgery, reducing her risk of breast cancer by more than 90%.

Since her surgery, Olena has become a passionate advocate and public speaker focused on breast cancer prevention. Her journey has inspired many, and in the summer of 2020, she was honored with the Susan G. Komen Hawaii Award of Courage for her advocacy work.

You can watch Olena’s preventive mastectomy journey on YouTube.

Olena is a freelance journalist, writer, educator, marketing expert and communications specialist. Services include writing, content creation, marketing & PR, photography, consulting, television hosting, voice-over acting, education/training and motivational speaking. 

Global and local brands she's worked with include: Hilton, RedBull, Southwest Airlines, Neiman Marcus, Bayer, Texaco, The Ritz Carlton, Uniqlo, StopFlu, Sheraton, Down to Earth,  Zippy's and PBS Hawai‘i. 

Her work has been featured in Forbes Travel Guide, Spectrum, San Francisco Chronicle, HILuxury Magazine, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian TelCom, Hawaii.com and Frolic Hawaii. 

Reach out and follow  @olenaheu

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Send an email direct: info@olenaheu.com

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My BLOG: http://www.mypointofheu.com/

(Photo Courtesy: Craig Bixel)