KZOO-AM 1210 plans its first broadcast from its new home at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii today.

The locally owned and operated radio station has been commemorating its 45th anniversary and while nobody enjoys the process of moving, trucking all the furniture, boxes and studio equipment to JCCH “;sort of feels like going home,”; said David Furuya, president of Polynesian Broadcasting Inc.

“;We've never been there before, but the core of the station is Japanese and so (moving in to the) Japanese Cultural Center is like going home again, to renew our roots and to better service the community,”; he said.

The studios and office temporarily will be in Suite 301 while the company prepares its permanent home in Suite 203, said Robyn Furuya, David's wife and company vice president.

The primarily Japanese-language station was at its Ward Avenue location for 39 years and at Manoa Marketplace for the last six.

“;We hope to be a tenant at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii forever,”; Robyn said, emphasizing her last word.

KZOO has a five-year lease with an option for five more.

The station signed on the air in 1963 and Furuya's father, Noboru, bought it in 1967, rather than become an investor.

He died in 2002, but son David and daughter-in-law Robyn, also a former KZOO disc jockey, have carried on his community-centered vision.

“;I don't think he would use the word 'cool,',”; but “;just being there (at JCCH) he probably would tell me that it feels right,”; David said.

It is an “;uplifting ... from-the-heart type of feeling.”;

Joaquin Walking

KGMB-TV's “;Why did the anchor cross the road”; promos will be answered Monday.

As reported here in September, Tannya Joaquin left her anchor position at KHON-TV to succeed Kim Gennaula at KGMB.

“;I saw too many great things happening across the road at KGMB9 and I knew I was on the wrong team”; Joaquin said in a statement.

At KHON, she was working under terms of a contract that expired last February and could not reach an agreement on a new deal. A noncompete clause kept her off-camera in the interim.

  “;I firmly believe that KGMB9 is poised to take over as market news leader and I'm ready to get to work!”;

She will solo anchor the 5 p.m. weekday newscast and co-anchor the 6 p.m. show with Keahi Tucker.

KGMB Creative Services Director Candace Hirleman notes Joaquin's debut will be Feb. 2, 2009.

“;That's 2-2-09. From channel two to channel nine. That's the kind of fate you can't argue with,”; Hirleman said.