A San Diego TV newsroom will become the workday home of yet another former Hawaii broadcaster when Ross Shimabuku joins KSWB-TV on May 4.

Former KHNL/KFVE-TV anchor Walter Makaula started there in July.

“;He called me up to congratulate me,”; Shimabuku said of Makaula.

Shimabuku, who left KGMB-TV in 2001 for a gig at KTVK-TV in Phoenix, will join the Fox 5 team as its first weekday sportscaster, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday.

“;I'm excited for the opportunity,”; he said, via a cell phone number that still bears an 808 area code.

He has gathered fond memories in Phoenix but is happy “;I don't have to deal with 100, 110, 115 (temperatures) ... you get used to it — not really. They say it's a dry heat, but 120? 120, it's hot,”; he said.

“;I missed the ocean so much.”;

He looks forward to “;getting closer to Hawaii — it'll be a shorter trip — and being closer to my parents,”; he said.

KSWB is in building mode as it hit the air in August — contrary to the contraction occurring elsewhere in the media industry. “;I'm very fortunate, in this job market, that stations are actually hiring sports guys ... sports is usually one of the first things to get cut.”;

In the “;small world”; department, Shimabuku and Makaula both worked at KGMB — as did weathercaster Ku'ualoha Taylor. Now known as Aloha Taylor, she also works in San Diego, at XETV, “;San Diego 6,”; a CW affiliate. Shimabuku and Taylor left KGMB for different mainland jobs at the same time.

MAYOR MUFI'S RADIO HOUR

Didja hear Mayor Mufi Hannemann on the radio yesterday, spinning platters to splatter your gray matter?

This being Sunday, your columnist is a day late, but on future Saturdays, you can hear Hizzoner spin records on KKOL-FM 107.9 from noon to 1 p.m. after “;Uncle”; Tom Moffatt's “;Rock 'n Roll Drive-In.”;

“;Yes, the mayor is once again working for Jeff,”; joked Jeff Coelho, general manager of “;107-9 Kool Gold”; and former Hannemann Administration cabinet member.

“;Saturday Jukebox Jamboree with Mayor Mufi,”; and co-host Bart DaSilva will be live whenever possible, Coelho said.

As the term “;scheduling conflict”; might as well be part of all elected officials' job descriptions, the show will have to be recorded sometimes, he said.

Equal time “;should not be an issue,”; as the mayor is not a candidate, however, should he declare his candidacy, “;we would have to address it at that point,”; Coelho said.

In the meantime, he thinks listeners will enjoy taking on Hannemann's song challenges. “;He knows every word,”; Coelho said. “;I think it's his secret — he always wanted to be a DJ.”;

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.  Reach her by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).