Just wondering are there in Hawaii any unique sounding stations there or is most of terestrial radio there on the Island about the same as everywhere else? What about skip on AM and fm Lastly is there 11 o'clock news? No other reason than just curious






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Nope, it's different in the 50th state. Three of the top seven stations program what is defined as "Hawaiian". It's "island" music, a blend of tropical and in some cases light jazz. Also, the isolation makes all formats a bit off-center. Reminds me of visiting Canada, it's kinda the same, but SO different!

Another interesting factor -- one that has really changed in the last 20 years -- is that it would be hard to imagine many "off-island" listeners now that "everyone listens to FM". For example, even on the North end of the Big Island, Maui stations had spotty coverage. In fact, coverage of Big Island FM stations was restricted to only part of the island. But, at least one Kona station was simulcasting (may have been different local commercials and community events) Hilo.

Contrast that to my first visit to Hawaii in 1986, to Kauai. I, and I assume locals, could and did listen to AM stations from Honolulu, e.g. Top 40. But, AM reception from Honolulu on some parts of the island was not listenable in the daytime. Even though it is nothing but ocean between the two islands. Maui is about the same distance, but obstructed. And The Big Island is 2-3 times as far, depending on which part of the island you are talking about.

Hawaii pretty much following the Central/Montian Time Zones. So there late evening newscast starts at 10 o'clock.

Here is a web page (similar to PDX radio) that talks quite a bit about Hawaii Media.

Hawaii Radio & Television Guide
http://www.hawaiiradiotv.com/

I worked in Hawaii radio from 1990 to 1994.
First in Hilo on the big island then in Lahaina on Maui.
Radio ovah dere as the locals say is very different.
Example: our station in Hilo KWXX X95, was a mixture of CHR and "local" music. Local music is "Jawaiian" a mix of traditional slack key hawaiian and the beat of the Jamiacan music. Also some very traditional contemporary Hawaiian was mixed in. As a mainlander when I firt got there, I has a hard time as PD, as I didn't know the music so I relied heavily on my all Hawaiian airstaff to tell me what was appropriate music to play.
At that time Hilo, due to its geographical setting, did not get the Honolulu or Kona stations, so we had the market to ourselves.
On Maui, the most popular non Honolulu station was an AM in Wailuku that was probably 75% traditional contemporary Hawaiian music with a bit of top 40 mixed in. Lots of local presence. The station I worked for in Lahaina, owned by Dale Parsons, was all AC and did not do well with the locals, but had a good tourist following.
This is of course all ancient history now, but my experience in Hawaii was really quite fun.

Here's another aircheck from my collection. It's a KIKI/Honolulu (830AM at that time) station composite from 1981.

http://www.divshare.com/download/244743-8b4

Hawaii likes top CHR radio, and has a sick rotations for top songs, If a song's number one, you'll hear it 10 times a day, whether you want to or not. They mix in Hawai'i local songs with the top 40, and then there's local boy stations like KINE, which is a great Oahu institution. You'll hear both great LA jocks nearing retirement, and 20 year old local boys who speak pidgeon that you can barely understand.

It's wild.

"Also, the isolation makes all formats a bit off-center. Reminds me of visiting Canada, it's kinda the same, but SO different!"

With Clear Channel, Cox and Visionary on the island, Honolulu stations have become more "Mainland" in recent years. "93.1 The Zone" is mainstream Adult CHR, while "Hot 93.9", "102.7 Da Bomb" and "Power 104.3" sound much like Rhythmic stations found in other large U.S. markets. However, AC stations; 92.3/590 KSSK and "Krater 96" are still mixing in Hawaiian favorites.

Disclaimer: My listening was from the 20th century...nothing recent! So Radioexpert is the better judge!

Thanx folks though what about broadcasts in other languages, the ethnic mixes on the air. My guess Asian Hawaiian once someone told me Portuguese. Any Spanish? My guess no regional Mexican. and dxing Fm skip must be a field day.

Clear Channel's "Island 98.5" and Cox's 100.3 "KCCN FM 100" have stayed true to their Contemporary Hawaiian/Reggae formats. Cox's 105.1 "Hawaiian 105" is the market's Hawaiian AC outlet, while "AM 940" is the Traditional Hawaiian Music station. These are among the most unique stations in the U.S., and perfect for the island setting.

Hodgepodge (Hawaiian-style cafe on W. 11th) in Eugene, often plays recordings of Honolulu's 98.5 and 100.3 for customers to enjoy!

My 5th grade teacher was from Hawaii. I got the impression that most of the people were Hawaiian, Japanese or Philipino or a combination of the above. Of course, at that time, the state was only 4 years old!

I remember as a kid dx'ing one night and picked KORL up very loud and clear.

On the West Coast in the '60s, Hawaiian AM stations were often heard in the winter around 2-3 a.m. Monday mornings when most North American stations were off the air for transmitter maintenance. A directional antenna helped if Eastern U.S. stations were on the air.

There is even a Drake/Boss Radio connection to all this. CFUN-Vancouver's Dave McCormick heard Ron Jacobs on Hawaiian radio regularly and started corresponding with him, and trading airchecks. Dave joined Ron in Fresno in early 1962, where Boss Radio was developed by the fierce competion and later cooperation between Ron and Bill Drake. While Ron and Bill made their mark at KHJ Los Angeles, Dave made his at KOL Seattle. In the early '70s, Ron moved back to Hawaii where he remains today.

The majority of Hawaiian stations had a common Chief Engineer, Alan Roycroft, perhaps the most DX'er-friendly CE in the world. Alan pioneered sharing a single tower with two or more AM stations.

For my part, the finest AOR ("Progressive Rock") I ever heard was on KKUA-690 in early 1969. And the only time I was ever accurate about where I'd like to vacation based on my DX'ing was Hilo. Listening to Hawaiian radio from Vancouver really had a tropical mystery about it, that made it very appealing.

I've lost my log book, but here are the Hawaiian stations that I have QSL cards or letters of verification from, from the late '60s, all from Vancouver, Canada:
KIKI-830
KORL-650
KKUA-690
KGU-760
KMVI-550 Maui
KAIM-870
KIMO-850 Hilo

with divorce and moving over the years, I have lost all my QSL cards..my big catch was a 500 watt station testing in New England that I picked up in Oregon early one morning. (with just a long wire).

Here's my list of Hawaiian stations I've picked up from Portland in the 1970's.

KMVI-550 Wailaka
KGMB-590 Honolulu
KORL-650 Honolulu
KUAI-720 Eleele
KPUA-970 Hilo

I think mine are in an old chest. Unfortunately, last night we found a strange cat in the house and when my wife went to remove the feline, it took that moment to spray all over the chest, which is currently residing outdoors, honest!

Craig, that one in Hilo was probably KPOA.
That was the sister am to KWXX FM in Hilo.
Traditional and contemporary Hawaiian.

OK, I rescued the book. It looks like I just had KMVI and KORL. To give you an idea of how long ago this was, KPOK was listed.

Dodger: My 1968 & 1975 White's Radio Log & 1972 Van Jones all say KPUA 970 Hilo.

Semoochie: My log lists KPOK & KOIN!

Always had a rough time hearing Hawaii from Portland. Had many a sleepless night trying to hear KIKI and KORL through WCCO and WSM. Still have my KORL QSL card, but worked pretty hard for it!

Wasn't KPOI the big Top 40?

Growing up in Astoria I remember Hawaiian stations being heard regularly...especially KORL and KMVI...

Honolulu, like most markets, had several stations with successful Top 40 runs. Ron Jacobs and the late Lan Roberts were behind many of them.

My mention of KKUA as album cuts was only true for late nights. They were Top 40 the rest of the time. I was lucky to hear them in "The Year of the Big 69" as their imaging said in 1969.

As for Hawaiian reception in the Pacific Northwest, a loop or other highly directional antenna was the biggest factor for stations on clear channels like KORL and KIKI. Because WCCO and WSM were pretty much at 90 degrees from Hawaii, perfect for nulling out.

Of course, you certainly had to know when to listen -- if it was still sunny in Hawaii, it was too early for adequate skip. Wait too late, especially after midnight Hawaiian time Sunday night, and the Hawaiian station you were after may have signed off.

One of my most memorable DX moments was getting ready for school at 8:15 a.m. with the winter sun out and bright in Vancouver, listening to a really strong signal from JOBB-830 in Osaka, Japan. No sign of WCCO or KIKI because the path to both was all or mostly in daylight. But the path to Japan was almost all darkness.

What about the deep south? Seems like Mississippi and Alabama might have a unique mix of formats.

Semoochie, do you find strange cats in your house often?

I can't say that it's ever happened before. Ants sometimes manage to get in. Perhaps, it rode in on an ant.

There's a station that's Cajun-formatted in Louisiana...maybe more than one. Regrettably, I can't remember which one it is, but I want to say it's licensed to a smaller community outside Lafayette or Shreveport. IIRC, they have a stream on the web...or at least they USED to... Google away to learn more...

We have a Saturday morning home improvement show on KTAR that's been on the air for years, and host Rosie Romero may have a link to it from his website, since he's a Cajun and plays such music during the bumpers on the show. Check for a "Rosie On The House" link from KTAR.com if you wish.

AAAYYYYEEEEEEE!!!

And doesn't Radio-Locator have a link to a stream to a Hawaiian-formatted station?

Ummm... as a former KCYX'er, former KHVH and KHNR AM (both Honolulu) and still here, maybe I'll weigh in, just a little: It's kinda the same, but different, since there are a few more "local" artists and music, in large part because of the isolation, the unique local culture, and because of Native Hawaiian music and its contemporary permutations.

BTW, in the 1970s, my faves were KKUA 69 and KIKI AM 83, which played progressive album music, believe it or not. KPOI was at 1380, but was the huge top 40 station for decades. It's now a corporate FM with the most liners I've ever heard: "K-POI, The Big Kahuna, The Rock You Live On!" And I think even one more.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

Oh, yeah, the one more is "Hawaii's Only Classic Rock." Believe it or not, they use all of them.