Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1986 — "Hawaiian Statue of Liberty" Stands in Panaewa [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Hawaiian Statue of Liberty" Stands in Panaewa

Native Hawaiian Radio Station KAHU

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer Wendell Kaehuaea calls his 185-foot radio station tower a "Hawaiian Statue of Liberty." The tower sits in the middle of a five-acre field in Panaewa, part of 25 acres Kaehuaea leases from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The tower is located at the site of Hawaii's newest radio station, KAHU, the first and only in the world owned and operated by a native Hawaiian.

At night the flashing red light atop the structure is visible all over Hilo, and Kaehuaea says the beacon is an inspiration to Hawaiians living on Hawaiian home lands and to many others throughout the area. Kaehuaea says, "People are thinking, well finally, Wendell made it and if he ean make it, the rest of us Hawaiians have a ehanee." He has had a somewhat checkered career. A 1960 graduate of Farrington High School in Honolulu, Kaehuaea says he was voted among those least likely to succeed. Despite poor grades, he attended Honoīulu Business College for two years. Kaehuaea tried his hand at the air cargo business, was an unsuccessful political candidate, went bankrupt in the tour business and currently operates a nursery and banana farm on 10 of his 25 acres.

But for the last 14 years his dream has been to establish a Hawaiian radio station. That dream eame true Oct. 20 of this year when KAHU (The Shepherd) began commercial operation. Broadcasting mainly Hawaiian music 18 hours a day, KAHU uses a 50-year-old transmitter whieh originally belonged to one of Hilo's pioneer radio stations, KHBC. The transmitter building and studio is little more than a shack in the middle of a muddy field, but the workhorse transmitter pumps out a clear, powerful signal with its modest 1,000 watts. It is heard on a regular basis as far north as Laupahoehoe and as far south as Kalapana. Kaehuaea says he has had "DX" reports from places like Oregon, California, American Samoa and Tahiti.

He credits the good reception to the fact that he has installed an extensive ground system covering 4.2 acres. He and about 15 friends did mueh of the work themselves, digging trenches for the ground wires, erecting the tower and working on the building. KAHU has 13 employees, 80 percent of whom are Hawaiian. On the job training programs provided by Alu Like ine. and the State help pay a portion of their salaries. Kaehuaea says one of his goals is to create training and employment opportunities for Hawaiians in the broadcasting field. Another primary aim of the station is to provide a forum for farmers and others who have experienced difficulty in making known their problems, concerns and aspirations.

KAHU, broadcasting on an AM frequency of 1060 K.H., begins the day at 5 a.m. with its "Hawaiian Time" program of Hawaiian music. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., its "Ho'olu'olu Kino," a mixed bag of Hawaiian, Filipino, Spanish and music of other nationalities. During the drive-home and early evening hours (2-7 p.m.) a program called the "Happy Hour" again features authentic Hawaiian music. "Panaewa Country," from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., ends the broadcast day with a combination of Hawaiian and Country/Western music. KAHU's

Sunday programming offers a mix of religious music and programs along with traditional and contemporary Hawaiian records. With KAHU barely off the ground, Kaehuaea already is laying plans for three additional Big Island radio stations. If all goes well, he expects to open broadcast outlets in Honoka'a, Waikoloa and Punalu'u. With a twinkle in his eye, Kaehuaea says, "God must be Hawaiian because we got this far."Then, remembering his wife, he quickly adds "Hawaiian and Portuguese."

The KAHU radio tower, referred to as the "Hawaiian Statue of Liberty" by its owner, stands in Panaewa.

Radio Station KAHU owner Wendell Kaehuaea, right, with announcers Reginald Bishaw, left, and Rick (Likeke) Tamayo, seated.