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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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B-rock returning to re-rock KPOI-FM and lead sister stations
VETERAN Honolulu broadcaster Brock Whaley, known to rock radio listeners on the old KPOI-FM as "B-Rock," is returning to Honolulu to become director of programming for the five Oahu stations belonging to Maui-based
Visionary Related Entertainment LLC.
The chance to work with a "truly local company, where the decisions are made locally and for the benefit of the local community, is a rare opportunity in today's radio industry," Whaley said Friday in a statement.
Effective Wednesday at 5 a.m., he also will be at the helm of the morning show on KPOI-FM 105.9, bringing back to Oahu the witty, irreverent topical commentary for which he is known.
The 5 to 10 a.m. assignment isn't permanent, but its duration will be at least "until I have enough material for the next Gridiron," he said, as a sometimes writer for the Society of Professional Journalists' variety show lampooning newsmakers and events.
Current morning man Ed Kanoi, operations manager and program director for KPOI and KUMU-AM 1500/FM 94.7, will remain with Visionary on a consulting basis, according to General Manager John Aeto.
Whaley's return is a major development in the retooling of Visionary's Honolulu stations.
Aeto announced the promotion of Ryan Sean (Kawamoto) to program director of KDDB-FM 102.7. He had been music director for "Da Bomb" and KQMQ-FM 93.1.
Shawn Lynch, former operations manager and program director of KDDB and KQMQ, will stay for about a month before returning to California and his business, Shawn Lynch Consulting LLC.
Aeto also announced to staff Friday that the company has lured away former VRE employee Darah York from the Harris Agency. He will be creative director, in charge of commercial, promotional and imaging production. Whaley's listeners will remember York as on-air sidekick Ah Foon. He also is the creator, producer and voices of radio spots for Hawaii's Natural High retail store.
Aeto and York will seek to focus "more attention on radio creative" advertising work to bring it "to the forefront of some of the agencies in town. Darah is the guy to do that for us," Aeto said.
York is "the best creative talent in Hawaii radio," said Whaley.
Whaley's wife and former Honolulu broadcaster Karen Waygood will remain in Atlanta, where she has worked at CNN since 2000.
"These appointments demonstrate our continued commitment to becoming the premier radio organization in the state of Hawaii," Aeto said. "We are especially proud to be Hawaii's only locally and privately owned statewide radio group."
There will be more changes, Aeto said. "We're going to compete at a high level."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, 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