ONE OF Hawaii's biggest supporters of reggae music is saying goodbye to our islands after more than a decade on the air at college radio station KTUH-FM.

Loriel “;DJ Loriel”; Macalma graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa back in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in geography, but dreams of becoming a lawyer (and later a teacher) kept him enrolled in school—and thus eligible to continue his gig at KTUH. He credits former station general manager Cedric Duarte with pushing him to switch his show, ”;The Friday Afternoon Bashment,”; from Thursday afternoons to Fridays in 1999.

That all changes next week, however, when Macalma boards a flight to Thailand with his wife, Sawang. Ever since the two were married in 2004, the idea of relocating to Asia has always been in the back of his mind.

“;I've actually planned this out from a while back,”; he said. “;I knew I was going to do this eventually, but I just didn't know when.”;

Macalma said that after the final installment of “;Bashment”; from 3 to 6 p.m. today, he'll pack up his music and possibly take his talents online. While he plans to apply for a job teaching English in Thailand, he also hopes to step up his involvement with the reggae Web site English Pound Radio (englishpoundradio.com). His mentor, Brixton Hitman, is one of the site's founders.

“;They've been wanting me to join up since they started ... seven years ago,”; Macalma said. “;We'll see how club DJing goes, since there's actually a growing reggae—or more specifically ska—scene in Thailand.”;

Looking back on the local scene, Macalma recalls with pride the parties he threw at now-defunct venues like Auntie Pasto's in Kapahulu, Nick's Fishmarket in Waikiki and Grumpy's in Kakaako. But even with the growing popularity of roots reggae in place of stereotypical Jawaiian music, he said the emphasis must always be on the quality of the tunes being played.

“;My thing is that I'm all about the music,”; he said. “;I try to give everything a fair share as long as it's quality.”;

Say aloha to Macalma this weekend at two different parties—he'll be a featured guest DJ at Tropics Cafe Bar & Lounge tonight between live sets by Ionz and Rootikal Riddim, then head to the Royal Hawaiian Center tomorrow for a final sendoff at Doraku Waikiki with DJs MetaLX, Sifu Jive Walker and Trav15. Local reggae artists Lion Fiyah and Ryan Mystik will also perform.

Cover is free for both events; add Macalma as a friend on Facebook.com (hsblinks.com/26t) to keep in touch. He'll definitely be missed here in Honolulu ...

FOR THE first time in more than a decade, beer drinkers will be able to purchase the iconic Primo Beer in 16-ounce, “;Big Braddah”; cans at local retailers.

Pabst Brewing Co. brought back the popular brand in 2007 with a strong marketing push from local watermen and celebrities. It's been available in bottles and draught kegs since its rebirth; this week's introduction of the new cans marks a return to the technology Primo pioneered when it was the first brewery to sell beer in that type of container in 1958.

According to a press release, the new can “;uses design cues from (the 1960s and 1970s) ... including the classic Primo warrior head, the Hawaiian island chain and metallic finish.”; Primo marketing director Kyle Wortham added that he thought “;it won't be long before we start seeing the classic crocheted Primo beer can hats again.”;

Celebrate the “;Big Braddah”; launch tonight at the Shack Waikiki starting at 8 p.m. Innavision will perform live, with $2 Primo cans and prize giveaways all night. Call 921-2255 or visit www.primobeer.com ...

NEWS AND NOTES: After selling out shows tonight and tomorrow at Pipeline Cafe, female stand-up comic Anjelah Johnson has added a third performance at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Doors for the all-ages show open at 3 p.m. ... Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the 13th annual ”;Jammin' Hawaiians”; concert at the Waikiki Shell, with the first 985 being sold for $10. Lukie D, Nesian N.I.N.E., Kawao, the Green, Maoli and Cease Fyah are the first bands to be announced as part of the May 1 lineup, with another seven to be announced. Call 296-9850 ... It's not too early to start thinking about Mother's Day. Capone's Productions announced this week that Tracy Morgan, Lavell Crawford and J.J. Williamson will headline “;Capone's Mother's Day Comedy Smash”; at the Blaisdell Arena on May 8. Tickets, priced from $45 to $125, are on sale now; call 306-2926. In addition, ticket stubs from the show will be redeemable for 25 percent off detailing services at Capone's Ultimate Detail ...

WEEKEND PICKS: Southern rapper Bubba Sparxxx is the featured guest at tonight's spring break edition of “;Fly Paper”; at LEVEL4 Nightclub. Formerly known as “;The Peach,”; the weekly party changed its name after promoters Architechs Hawaii and Tantriq Entertainment welcomed the Vertical Junkies into the fold. Doors open at 10 p.m. tonight; call 559-0219 for VIP access ... Hot Lava Entertainment and Pipeline launch “;Epic Saturdays,”; a new weekly party, tomorrow at the Kakaako nightclub. In addition to helping wrap up spring break 2010, the party will serve as a 10th-anniversary event for Hot Lava; E! Television's Karissa and Kristina Shannon from “;The Girls Next Door”; will also sign autographs from 11:30 p.m. to midnight. Celebrity DJ Felli Fel will also be on hand to keep the party going until 4 a.m. Call 429-0715 ...

”;In the Mix”; drops Fridays in HILife. Contact Jason Genegabus by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 529-4766.