After more than four decades on Hawaii's radio airwaves, the man known as “;The Kapahulu Common Mango”; and “;The Menehune on the Microphone”; has decided to hang up his headphones—for now.

Uncle Sam Kapu retired from his position as midday host at Hawaiian 105 KINE on Friday, nearly 18 years after he helped launch the station in February 1992 and just two days before his 65th birthday.

His station co-workers said aloha that afternoon, but Kapu kept the party going into the wee hours of Saturday morning.

“;We were at Aku Bone ... and then I slightly remember this Korean bar,”; he said with a laugh on Monday. “;I'm still slowly getting out of the hangover!”;

Kapu got his start in radio as an on-air replacement for Don Ho at the age of 21 and never looked back. In recent years his easygoing personality and institutional memory provided a sense of stability in an industry rocked by shrinking ad revenue and budget cuts.

“;I was happy for him that he could retire, but I was sad for us that we couldn't keep him on full time,”; said Mike Kelly, general manager at Cox Radio Hawaii. “;Sam got (his style) from Don and Lucky Luck.

“;They weren't like other disc jockeys. They didn't talk at you; they talked with you—and that is what became Sam's talk-story style of radio.”;

Ola Souza, another local radio veteran (and current night jock on KRTR-FM), was announced as Kapu's replacement and will now be heard on both stations. But come January, the Menehune will resurface on KINE-FM as a weekend jock in addition to an expanded presence on traditional Hawaiian station KKNE-AM.

“;I really gotta thank Mike Kelly and them for sticking with me,”; said Kapu. “;I got three months ... and then January, they rehire me as a part-timer and I'll go in twice a week.”;

While he won't be live on the air, fans will still be able to hear his voice on KKNE from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The new setup should give Kapu more time to relax and enjoy life at home in Kapahulu.

“;I just enjoy not having a schedule,”; he said. “;I'm free!”; ...

IF YOU show up at Hawaiian Brian's new HB Lounge tonight for Kutmaster Spaz's birthday celebration, don't be surprised if you hardly recognize him.

I couldn't believe my eyes when Spaz showed up on his “;Dis-N-Dat TV”; program a few weeks ago, looking eerily similar to 102.7 Da Bomb morning jock Sam “;Sam the Man”; Ambrose. Like Ambrose, Spaz recently lost a lot of weight in an effort to look and feel better. But instead of relying solely on diet and exercise, Spaz chose bariatric surgery to help him get healthy.

“;My doctor was concerned that sooner or later my weight and yo-yo dieting would hurt me and cause a stroke or other lifelong complications,”; he said. “;This was not a procedure I jumped into right away.”;

Since having the procedure in March, Spaz has lost nearly 150 pounds. He described the achievement as a “;new lease on life”; and expressed thanks to the staff at Castle Medical Center for helping him through the process.

Get to Hawaiian Brian's tonight at 6 p.m. for a meet-and-greet with the birthday boy, complimentary pupu buffet and live entertainment by Kairez. An '80s theme party will follow at 10 p.m. with performances by the 808 Breakers and Hawaii Five Oh. Spaz himself will also be on the turntables to help keep the party going until 2 a.m. ...

WEEKEND PICKS: Help raise money for CrimeStoppers Honolulu tonight during a “;'70s Disco Night”; party at the Hard Rock Cafe. Turk “;The Hawaiian Hurricane”; Cazimero and Champ Kaneshiro will open at 5:30 p.m. with stand-up comedy, followed by Da Lion of Judah spinning a mix of music until 2 a.m. Tickets are $30 at the door; call 955-7383 ... Lots of laughs are also expected at Koko Marina tonight, as Augie Tulba continues his “;Comedy Crusade”; tour at Therapy Sports Grill. Tickets are just $10; show time is at 8 p.m. Call 394-8200 ... Local band Busekrues is back in town after a mainland tour in support of their new, self-titled album. Welcome them home tomorrow at Red Lion University, where they'll play alongside Pimpbot, 82Fifty and Friends of Adam starting at 9 p.m. ...