TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Veteran rock jocks George Sepulveda and Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson have been wooed back to the airwaves. Rocking, rolling,
moving and shakingNever mind that they've moved up a demographic notch or two, Sepulveda and Hutchinson will smirk and snarl their way through weekend mid-days and afternoons on classic rocker KAHA-FM 105.9 "The Big Kahuna," much as they did on the old "98 Rock" or KPOI-FM back in the day.
The Big Kahuna landed the stage-one location at the Waikiki Hoolaulea Friday night, hosting an "air guitar" contest. Real guitars, however, have something to do with another reason Sepulveda's returning to rock radio.
"He's putting together a band for us," said General Manager Jeff Coelho. Think, "Electric Lunch Band," also from the old "98 Rock" era.
The band would regularly appear at downtown block parties and other events.
In addition to typical radio event promotions the station has recently engaged in self-promotion with television ads backed by familiar musical riffs, on both KITV and KHNL.
Stoked to have a slate of air personalities on board who know the music and the market, Program Director Marc Young said he feels like he's sitting on a gold mine.
Then there were two
There's another high-visibility reassignment to report in the ongoing personnel shuffling at KHON and sister station KGMB.Starting tomorrow, weather anchor Trini Kaopuiki will begin her new job as "Ohana Journal" reporter, preparing stories for the 5 p.m. news anchored by Leslie Wilcox and Ron Mizutani.
Ohana Journal focuses on topics presented on the "Oprah" and "Dr. Phil" programs.
It's where Kaopuiki wants to go with her career, said Rick Blangiardi, Hawaii market senior vice president for Emmis Communications Corp., which owns the two stations.
The new position "will give me the opportunity to grow and develop as a broadcast journalist and allow me to have dinner with my husband," she said in a statement released by the station.
It was no secret that KHON anchor Joe Moore never agreed with the decision to add a weather anchor to the Channel 2 news.
In the station's statement Moore was quoted as being happy for Kaopuiki. "I think it's a good move for Trini, for our newscast and for our viewers," he said.
Blangiardi said: "Joe is more than adequately equipped to do the weather."
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