Familiar faces in new
place at TV stations

The shuffling is done and the anchor lineups at KHNL-TV and sister-station KFVE-TV have been finalized, making way for the new nightly 9 p.m. newscast at KFVE.

On-air changes precipitated by the need to staff the new show will be visible starting tomorrow, according to an internal announcement at the stations.

Anchor and reporter Lyle Galdeira will reprise a previous role as morning anchor on KHNL News 8 Today alongside weekend weather anchor and reporter Joann Shin. Galdeira will continue his "Cheap Eats," "Does It Work," and "Lucky You Live Hawaii" features which air during the week.

Previous morning anchor Stephanie Lum was chosen to co-anchor the KFVE 9 p.m. news with Walter Makaula, formerly with KGMB-TV. The new pairing debuts Oct. 18 and will be augmented by KHNL weather and sports anchors Sharie Shima and Russell Yamanoha.

Morning weather anchor and reporter Paul Drewes will co-anchor weekend newscasts with Diane Ako on KHNL and KFVE. Drewes will serve as a reporter during the week. Sports anchor Reid Shimizu will add the KFVE show to his weekend anchoring duties as well.

Pleased to promote people from within, Vice President and General Manager John Fink said, "We're very excited to have Lyle and Joann in the mornings and we think the team of Diane Ako and Paul Drewes on the weekends will be great."

KHNL's weekday 5, 6 and 10 p.m. anchor team of Howard Dashefsky and Jodi Leong is unaffected by the reassignments. Shima and Yamanoha will continue to co-anchor these shows as well.

The 9 p.m. newscast is designed to serve would-be local news viewers who don't stay up for the late news at 10 p.m., Fink said in announcing plans for the show last month.

The newscast will be up against the major networks' prime-time programming, such as the "CSI" and "Law & Order" shows, "ER" and the last season of "NYPD Blue."

"I'm not worried about that," Fink said. "We think there's an audience in the marketplace going to bed earlier and waking up earlier and there's a strong market that will look to a 9 p.m. news."

Fink previously said the station would hire an anchor, reporter, producer and videographer to staff the new show. The station is close to hiring a producer but is still in the market for a videographer and reporter, Fink said.

Cellular recycling

The company accepts no-longer-used wireless phones year-round and recycles, refurbishes or sells them as part of its HopeLine program, which helps victims of domestic violence.

Phones and equipment can be donated at any Verizon Wireless store and are distributed to victims and shelters through arrangements with the company.