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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Veteran broadcaster Robbs
to helm sports-talk radioDON Robbs, a broadcaster in Hawaii for as long as probably most people can remember, has been named general manager of sports-talk radio station KKEA-AM 1420. The station is operated by Blow Up LLC, owned by businessman Duane Kurisu.
(Please see the quiet Kurisu's other foray into today's news, also on this page. He is a minority investor in the Star-Bulletin.)
There is probably a loyal core of KKEA listeners who would say that Robbs should have served as GM from the beginning, not to take anything away from the guy who first got the gig.
That guy, Barry Villamil, will be assigned to other duties within Kurisu's AIO LLC, according to Floyd Takeuchi, president and chief operating officer of AIO. The company oversees Blow Up and seven other companies. Neither Villamil nor Robbs could be reached.
Villamil will continue to do his once-a-week show, "Sports Stars Ink," a show for memorabilia buffs, with Mike Silva, from 9:05 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Takeuchi said.
Longtime radio personality Chris Hart has been named program director for KKEA. He had previously served as director of promotions for the radio station and sister company Hawaii Sports Networks.
Hart won't be doing his own show. "I fill in once in awhile. I'm like a third-stringer, I come off the bench," he chuckled, despite many years on the air and off, in management, sales and more recently, promotions.
He sees no format changes for the station, though sportscasters Jim and Kanoa Leahey will return for a weekly summer show "Leahey and Leahey" from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, to be rebroadcast the next morning from 9 to 10 a.m.
There may be some fine-tuning of aspects of the programming, "more marketing of the radio station, more event marketing and more partnerships with the University of Hawaii." he said. Growth in the latter relationship would benefit "UH fans as well as our clients and their clients," said Hart.
At the top again
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau can boast a 14-peat -- better than, but not as catchy-sounding as the term "three-peat." The HVCB has been awarded its 14th straight Pinnacle Award by Successful Meetings magazine.
"Planners can count on receiving the best possible service from HVCB and Hawaii's meeting professionals. Fourteen years of Pinnacle Awards are proof of that," said Michael Murray, director of sales for HVCB's corporate meetings and incentives division.
Industry meeting planners vote for the winners among destination support organizations in five mainland regions and internationally. Criteria include nominated organizations' servicing of meetings, incentive travel programs, trade shows and conventions over the past year.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
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