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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Hawaiian 105 loses Shaner
as co-host of morning showThe top-rated morning show at KINE-FM 105.1 is light one co-host, with Brickwood Galuteria hosting solo.
Frank B. Shaner is still an employee, according to a spokesman.
While still on the payroll, the change means he no longer will be on the air at the station, Shaner said.
"We're restructuring the morning show," said Mike Kelly, vice president and general manager of KINE and its sister stations. They are owned by Atlanta-based Cox Radio Inc.
"He wasn't terminated for cause or didn't do anything wrong," Kelly said.
"Frank and I have been friends for 30 years. We're still friends and we're going to work together on other projects," Kelly said.
Shaner started at KINE in 1994 and was later joined by Galuteria, he said. In the last two years, the pair's morning show has ranked No. 2, 3 or 4 in the ratings.
"I'll miss the interaction, the wonderful Hawaiian 105 ohana that has been with me for years," Shaner said.
"We traveled together to Vegas, to KINE parties, Super Bowls, they have come out to the Frank B. Shaner Falsetto Contest and this year will be 10 years," he said. The contest is part of the annual Aloha Festivals observances.
For this year's festivals, he plans "two big shows, all the winners from the past 10 years on Friday, and on Saturday a new crop (of contestants) begins."
The station will continue to work with Shaner on the falsetto contest, Kelly said.
The Arbitron radio ratings will be released next week and are likely to reflect an increase in listenership for KINE, Kelly said.
"I expect our ratings to be good. Some of the people who were listening to KHUI will be listening to KINE now."
KHUI-FM 99.5 "The Breeze" changed its format from local music to pop and rock hits "from the '80s, '90s and whatever" in September.
Shaner's "Adventures of Leimomi" CD, based on a character he used on the show, won the best comedy album in the Na Hoku Hanohano awards in 1998.
"I'm so lucky to have been associated with KINE, only good things will come of all this," Shaner said.
"I'm still interested in doing radio," he added, saying that he also plans to work on real estate projects and to explore painting and photography.
"The future's wide open and I have a bottle of pills ..." Shaner burst out laughing.
"The door is wide open and at this point anything can happen after 25 years of doing radio."
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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