The TV operation comprising KGMB-TV, KHNL-TV and KFVE-TV is about to lose its marketing director and will shortly lose its news director.

Candace Hirleman will become news promotion manager at KABC-TV, the ABC-owned and operated station in Los Angeles, early next month, going from the No. 72 TV market to the second largest in the nation.

Her husband, news director Chris Archer, will stay through late May but then join her.

“;This is just a great opportunity, and we're keeping the house,”; to always have a reason to return, she said. Plus, her husband will need a place to sleep for the next few months.

It was hard to break the news. Her wedding was at General Manager Rick Blangiardi's home.

“;It is way more bittersweet than I expected,”; she said, telling of her tears as she told the “;Sunrise”; crew and anticipating more as she prepared to tell others.

Blangiardi spoke glowingly of Hirleman's accomplishments in a memo and said that while “;we are disappointed you are leaving us ... we are also very, very proud and excited for you.”;

Little Hawaii, California

Quite the enclave of former Hawaii TV newsfolk is forming at KSWB-TV in San Diego, as Aloha Taylor (you know, Ku'ualoha Taylor) has left XETV, also in San Diego, to become the Fox affiliate's weeknight weather anchor tomorrow. She joins Walter Makaula and Ross Shimabuku on the news team.

The three shared Thanksgiving dinner, Makaula said, though your columnist was unable to reach her.

They are KGMB alumni, as is Linda Siu, a KSWB morning producer who lost her KGMB gig in the newsroom merger.

“;I am literally going after the best people. ... They can be from Honolulu or Hartford,”; said KSWB news director Rich Goldner. Makaula, Shimabuku, Siu and Taylor “;first and foremost, they're good people.”;

“;If I go after anybody next, it'll be Stephanie Lum,”; Goldner said jokingly—sorta.

Meanwhile, former KHON-TV weekend weather anchor Kimi Evans will succeed Taylor at XETV as 10 p.m. weather anchor Thursday, after serving as a fill-in weather anchor at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. Laid off from KHON in 2008, she went to LA. “;It was a great jump to the No. 2 market,”; but she is happy to take a permanent, full-time position in San Diego, she said. Her news director will be Tauna Lange, who left KGMB in 2006 and was succeeded by Archer.

Halekulani F&B spotlighted

An interview with Halekulani food and beverage director Sabine Glissman is in the current Hotels magazine, an industry publication that sought her 2010 insights and predictions.

She talks about using locally sourced food whenever possible; the economy's influence on menu items and diner preferences; the alleged demise of luxury dining; the woes plaguing celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay; and the biggest change she plans to make for 2010.

Lest Halekulani regulars gasp at the prospect of change, Glissman's plan involves increased staff training “;to further improve on our service delivery and wow our guests,”; she told the magazine.

The questions she was e-mailed for the Q&A were far-reaching, and Glissman had to cram thoughtful answers into relatively few words. “;I just put in my two cents on how I see it,”; she told “;TheBuzz.”; “;We deal with so many guests from all over the world that I believe they wanted to have my perspective.”;

She didn't directly cite Ramsay's shaky empire, but told the magazine, “;Diners are leaning to authenticity, and a celebrity chef's name and the prices that go along with it cease to provide value if the name has been reduced to franchise status.”;

On the Net:
» www.hotelsmag.com
» halekulani.com