Public radio chief
quits for new job

Anna Kosof will be the
general manager of WHYY-FM
radio in Philadelphia

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

During an emotional closed-door meeting of Hawaii Public Radio's board last night, President and General Manager Anna Kosof resigned.

She will become general manager of public radio station WHYY-FM in Philadelphia in April. "I've fallen in love with Hawaii. I'm so close to tears," Kosof said.

The meeting was closed to all but board members by chairman Rick Clifton to "discuss a personnel matter," but Kosof made public her decision as soon as the meeting was reopened.

Hawaii Public Radio includes stations KHPR at 88.1 FM, KIFO at 1380 AM, KIPO at 89.3 FM and KKUA at 90.7 FM.

Other personnel changes were reported: Heidi Chang is leaving KITV to become a news reader at the station; R. Mark Wagner, former operations director at KHPR, is returning to manage all four stations; and reporter J.P. Muntal will become news director.

Kosof held a staff meeting to announce her decision to leave. "Some of these people I will miss sorely," she said. "I want to be here for a smooth transition -- I love public radio, and want to do the best I can for it -- but I need to be in Philadelphia by April 15th."

"It's hard to emotionally pack up and go," said Kosof. "It's not an easy thing. I went to bed every night thinking about this opportunity (in Philadelphia), and wondering, will it ever come again? No. I don't think so. So I took it."

Others at the station were not sorry to see Kosof leave, and some held an impromptu party last night to celebrate.

Three employees resigned on Feb. 13; operations manager Jeff Ilardi, weekend news anchor Lucy Martin and volunteer director Pat Avery, citing staff unhappiness.

Ilardi said he and Kosof had a "strained" relationship, and that Kosof was obsessively detail-oriented as a manager, "to the point where (Kosof) and Lokelani Lindsey could be sisters."