I don’t usually make a big deal about getting published in new publications anymore, but it’s nice to report that I made my debut in National Geographic last week. The story is about the re-opening of Kalaupapa National Historic Park on the island of Molokai.

When I set out on this writing journey 15 years ago now, I made a promise to myself that I would never chase publications. Pitching a new publication takes a lot of time and effort, and often, I’ve watched writers get so caught up in seeing their byline in one particular magazine that they completely miss the boat on others that could further their business and reputation.

That said, there have been milestone publications for me, and I do cultivate those affairs. It took me more than 2 years and much investigation, for example, to get published in CNN Travel for the first time. National Geographic was a bit faster—a couple of months—but that’s because I already had the contact of the appropriate editor.

So, a small celebration for the new byline, and perhaps some future stories in 2026. You can read the story here on National Geographic.