KHNL-TV loses last sportscaster

Reid Shimizu says he will resign Sept. 14 for a job at KHON-TV

KHNL-TV needs a sports department.

Weekend sports anchor Reid Shimizu has tendered his resignation effective Sept. 14, for a news photographer job at KHON-TV.

He was the second and only remaining KHNL sports anchor to announce his departure in August. The station dropped its newscast sports block in late April.

Sports anchor Russell Yamanoha left Aug. 17 for his other job as a Realtor Associate with Prudential Locations LLC.

KHNL's sports losses are notable as sister station KFVE is the official station for University of Hawaii athletics.

When Yamanoha left, KHNL News Director Dan Dennison said KHNL would seek a replacement. A replacement will also be sought for Shimizu, said John Fink, vice president and general manager.

"We wish him the best as we continue to reconstruct our sports department."

Shimizu's announcement follows KHON's promotion of weekend news anchor Jai Cunningham to the 5 p.m. weekday newscast, leaving a weekend vacancy, but Shimizu was not hired for an on-camera position, said News Director Lori Silva.

"We're talking to several people," said Joe McNamara, president and general manager. Shimizu will work in production, "in the beginning," and will add depth to the station's bench.

Shimizu joined KHNL in 2000 as an engineer and worked his way up to weekend sports anchor in 2003. "I've had a good 7 years here," he said.

He had been a KHON intern under Sports Director Bob Hogue in 1998. "I'm grateful to Bob, too, he gave me my direction."

Shimizu has been shooting and editing his KHNL stories for about a year.

Traditionally in Honolulu, a TV reporter has gone out on stories with a news photographer, but stations are increasingly looking for video- journalists, reporters who also shoot and edit.

Such so-called "one-man-bands" have been common at small-market stations with small staffs.