TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Button-pushing your way to the beach

In a few days, Big Islanders will be able to hit the beach without leaving the house, car or boombox. No need grab da sunblock.

KTBH-FM 102.1 "The Beach," is a new radio station on the Big Island licensed to Maui-based Visionary Related Entertainment LLC.

It has performed the required engineering testing and is awaiting Federal Communications Commission approval to officially sign on, according to President John Detz.

Kurtistown is technically KTBH's community of license, but that does not mean its tower or studios must be physically located in the Puna District hamlet.

Because the station's transmitter is co-located on a Hilo-area tower with KHLO-AM 850 and KHBC-AM 1060, "we had to do a proof of performance to show the addition of the FM didn't change the parameters of the AM stations. We submitted those documentations and are waiting for word back," he said. Detz expected notification within 48 to 72 hours.

"The Beach" is "definitely not all surf reports all the time," he joked. It will sign on with adult contemporary programming and existing VRE talent, including Frank B. Shaner, the unimonikered Mandy and "Augie T." Tulba. "This is his return to Hilo. He was there for a year or two with another radio group," Detz said.

The station will also add Big Island radio personalities whom he was not ready to name.

Visionary won the rights to build KTBH as well as KMKK-FM 102.3, Molokai's first radio station, during an FCC auction of construction permits in November of 2004, with bids of just under $1.4 million and $428,000.

Once the permits were granted in March 2005 and April 2006, respectively, VRE had three years to get the stations on the air. KMKK has been on the air for more than a year from its Maui home base.

KHWA-FM 92.1 in Holualoa, another station resulting from the Nov. 2004 auction, has been broadcasting since the beginning of this month, according to an FCC filing signed by Scott D. Parker, general partner of Idaho-based Parrott Broadcasting LP.

It purchased the permit won by Maryland-based Marquee Broadcasting Inc., owned by husband and wife Brian and Patricia Lane and described in an auction filing as a small business with no revenue.

Icy anniversary

Maui-based Roselani Ice Cream is marking its 75th anniversary by rolling out Aloha Cherry Truffle ice cream to retail markets.

Roselani Vice President Cathy Nobriga Kim is a breast cancer survivor and the flavor was created, in part, for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The chocolate added to the black cherry-studded confection was developed by and is produced by the Maui Community College Culinary Arts program.