By Annalisa Burgos,  Hawaii News Now

Hawaii News Now is mourning the loss of News Director Scott Duff, who died early Wednesday following a year-long battle with cancer. He was 59.

Those who knew Duff say he was not just a dedicated journalist, but also a coach who cared about people and the community.

“I will remember him as just such a positive person. He just walked in with such a great spirit — no matter the day, no matter what was going on,” said HNN chief investigative journalist Lynn Kawano, who knew Scott when they both worked as journalists in Kansas City more than 20 years ago.“He was always there to try to rally us and get us to work together.”