TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Hawaii calls, but
not long-distanceThe first world wide "Web" was really Webley Edwards. In 1935 he established and hosted "Hawaii Calls," a radio show which over the next 30 years, was heard on more than 600 stations around the planet.
After a three-year resurrection in 1992 by public relations man and veteran broadcaster Bill Bigelow, Hawaii Calls is coming back again for at least four weeks with new and returning cast members from back in the day.
Performers to appear at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace include Nina Kealiiwahamana, Iwalani Kahalewai, Hiram Olsen and his son Casey, Gary Aiko, Dennis Keohokalole and Joe Recca.
The four shows will go on from noon to 1 p.m. beginning Sept. 15 and the inaugural effort will feature Karen Keawehawaii, Ale'a and Reign.
This time, Hawaii Calls will air live only locally on KHUI-FM 99.5.
During its 1992 to 1995 international run, Bigelow said the show ran into financial difficulties.
"The expenses were such that they had to be covered by advertising and I couldn't get enough support to break even," Bigelow said.
Bigelow feels the new effort will be "a huge creative success."
"The tourists will love it," Bigelow said. "It's great music and that's what they expect to hear when they come to Hawaii."
Part of the show's purpose is to entertain visitors as part of Aloha Boat Days, although show times and ship arrivals and departures do not coincide.
After the broadcast wraps however, there will be "kind of like a kanikapila jam session by the ones performing and the (musicians) that happen to be (at Kapono's)," said Alan Yamamoto, sales promotion and marketing manager for KHUI-FM.
Tihati Productions is coordinating entertainers and TheCab principal Howard Higa is the signature sponsor for the pilot program, which will mix new Hawaiian music with the more traditional tunes associated with the show, the name of which is owned by Hula Records' McDiarmid family.
"I don't think anything can be too nostalgic," said co-host Joe Recca. "I think it'll help people reminisce and remember the days when they used to listen to Hawaii Calls on the radio."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com