TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Spam special coming to KHON, and Big Isle radio deals

BETCHA Star-Bulletin writer Craig Gima didn't expect to learn of a KHON-TV project from a Minnesota newspaper, but he did -- and shared the info.

Also along the lines of surprise, KHON morning news viewers often see reporter Manolo Morales in places they've never heard of, but wind up wanting to visit -- often, to eat.

One wonders, then, if Hawaii hops to Hormel home Austin, Minn., will increase after Morales' Spam special airs at 9 p.m. June 26 and again at 4 p.m. June 30.

Morales and senior videographer Bruce Barham went to the Spam factory and Spam museum and interviewed townsfolk, Morales told TheBuzz.

They also had Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm autograph a can of the ubiquitous pink, salty staple, according to the Post-Bulletin (no relation) in Rochester, Minn.

The special, Barham's idea, will have amusing moments, such as when the autographed can was put into a briefcase, locked and handcuffed to Morales' wrist, before receiving a police escort.

"That was also Bruce's idea," Morales chuckled. "He's really the creative genius behind this."

The signed can will wind up in a local store where it will win one lucky Hawaii shopper a year's supply of Spam -- a can a week.

Hawaii is the per-capita king of Spam consumption among the 50 states and working on the special has "energized" the crew, said KHON President and General Manager Joe McNamara.

TROLAND'S TROIKA, PARKER'S PAIR

California-businessman-turned Hawaii broadcaster Tom Troland is selling his Big Island radio trio, KIPA-AM 620, KBGX-FM 105.3 and KKOA-FM 107.7 for $2.1 million.

The buyers are majority owner George Kimble of Arizona and minority owner James Walker of Florida, doing business as Mahalo Broadcasting LLC of an Arizona address.

Troland's Skynet Hawaii LLC entered the isle broadcast scene with the KBGX purchase in October 2003 and by November had snagged his third station for a total of $775,000 -- not counting the costs of getting the stations on the air, or, in KIPA's case, back on the air.

Separately, Idaho-based broadcaster Scott Parker's Parrott Broadcasting LP has a pair of properties on the Big Island, now that his purchase of yet-unbuilt KHWA-FM 92.1 in Holualoa, Kona, has won Federal Communications Commission approval.

Maryland-based seller Marquee Broadcasting Inc. had won the rights to build the station in a 2004 FCC auction, but decided to sell to Parker's Parrott in March for $356,250.

Parker's prior purchase of the long-silent KHWI-FM 92.7 in Hilo for $375,000 was approved by the commission in May.

Parker pledged, in the KHWA deal, to have it on the air within six months of closing and told TheBuzz in March he hoped to have both stations on the air this summer.