Letterhead from KMVI Maui © David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

The only station on the island of Maui, KMVI was another post-war baby, having commenced on March 17, 1947 and with 9 hours in Japanese and 3 hours in Filipino as part of its weekly broadcast schedule.

Part of the NBC and All-Islands networks, representatives were Don Pickens [San Francisco], Clark [New York], Oakes [Los Angeles] and Hartley Ward [Chicago].

Chief Engineer Spencer Shiraishi often sent cards to listeners © David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

J Walter Cameron held the role of president whilst station manager was Richard E Mawson. Program director was Nora Cooper, promotions manager Bert Biehl, news director Earl I Tanaka and chief engineer Spencer Shiraishi.

The second station in the territory at the time, KGMB began in 1929 and was owned by the publishers of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin newspaper. It operated from studios at 1534 Kapiolani Blvd and was relayed through KHBC in Hilo.

Simple reception confirmation message from KGMB Honolulu © David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Elizabeth P Farrington was president, whilst M Franklyn Warren was both VP and general manager. John De Marco was program director, Bette Edgerton the promotions manager and Wayne L Collins handled the role of news director. Chief engineer was Ronald T Miyahira.

Established just after WWII, KORL broadcast from studios at 575 Kamoku St and included a couple of hours of Filipino in its weekly schedule.

KORL Honolulu changed it’s call letters from KKAA a few weeks before the start of 1961 © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Represented by Eastman, Robert G Monroe held the position of president whilst Harold J Davis was general manager.

Since signing on in May 1947, KULA covered the islands with a strong signal, and broadcast from studios at 830 Ala Moana Blvd. The station was represented by McGovern.

For some time KULA used a curvy hula girl as part of its promotions © Des Davey Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Charles Stuart III held the role of president, whilst Robert L Johnson was general manager and Wayne Killmer was local sales manager. J A Lawton was program director, John Hughes the news director and Bob Miller the chief engineer.

The publishers of the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper started radio in the islands with KGU back on May 11 1922, and in 1961 it had one of the three most powerful signals in Hawaii with 10,000 watts power along with KORL and KULA.

NBC and All-Islands were the two networks and NBC Spot Sales handled representation. KGU also broadcast Japanese and Filipino language programs during its weekly schedule in 1961.

KGU Honolulu identified with its early Hawaiian heritage © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

KGU president was Lorrin P Thurston, William O Paine was VP and general manager, George C Mansfield was the commercial manager and Patt Patterson was busy as program director and promotions manager. Alex Noh looked after the news department and Takumi Shigetani handled technical matters as chief engineer.

Gladys Lunasco at the original KIKI found time to sign off some station correspondence © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Broadcasting from studios at 323 Kamani Ave and represented by Meeker, KIKI included 21 hours of Japanese programs and 8 hours of Filipino programs in its weekly schedule and began broadcasting ten years earlier in April 1951.

President and chief engineer was Royal V Howard, Angelo J Rossi held the roles of executive-VP and general manager, Gladys Lunasco was office manager and sales manager position was held by Chubby Rowland.

James Jaeger often wrote personally to KIMO listeners © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

James Jaeger was president and chief engineer of this local station, originally established on April 1 1950 and part of the Keystone Network. Represented by Continental Sales, KIMO broadcast some programs each week in Japanese and Filipino languages. Station manger and program director was Mrs Lillian Cunningham, commercial manager was Lorrin Henry, and Bill Wilson was the news director.

KIMO station manager Lillian Cunningham also took the time to write. © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Started just five years earlier on August 31 1956, KAIM was represented by Fine Music Hi-Fi Broadcasters and Tracy Moore and offered 15 hours a week in Japanese and another 10 hours weekly in Filipino as part of its program line-up.

KAIM promoted both its AM and FM stations on its letterhead in 1961 © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Robert C Loveless was president, Cornelius Keur was another busy man as executive VP, general manager and commercial manager, whilst Geral Fogelsong handled roles as program director and news director. Robert L Lyon was chief engineer.

Since November 1 1953, the station had opened KAIM-FM and was at 95.5 FM, one of just a handful of FM signals to be found along the dial in the islands.

On the air since September 1950 and broadcasting to the plantation workers north of Honolulu, KAHU included over 37 hours in Japanese, almost 17 hours in Filipino and almost 3 hours weekly in Chinese.

Letterhead from The Voice of Rural Oahu, KAHU © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Represented by Pearson, station president was Timothy Wee whilst general and commercial manager was Harry Chu. John Livingston was program director, news director and promotions manager and Robert Parson held the role of chief engineer.

One of just three radio stations on the Big Island in 1961, KHBC was also a relay station for KGMB Honolulu. It was established 25 years earlier in 1936.

The KHBC logo was one of the very few to include some Hawaiian © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Another relative new comer to the radio dial, KOOD was in the process of upping its signal power in 1961, and broadcast from studios at 1450 Ala Moana Blvd with programs including 28 hours a week in Japanese.

The Japanese Variety Hour from KOOD 990 AM Honolulu was heard from California to New Zealand wrote Ted Scott © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Represented by Theo B Hall, KOOD was headed by president Alister W MacDonald with Perry W Carle as general manager. Ted R Scott was both sales manager and program director, MacDowell Starkey handled roles as production and promotions managers and Neal J Nagata was chief engineer.

Broadcasting from 1290 Ala Moana Blvd, KHVH signed on March 18 1957. The station also broadcast 30 minutes a week in Spanish, whilst representation was handled by Young.

From tall towers atop the ultra modern Hawaiian Village Hotel at Waikiki, KHVH liked to present itself as the little station from the original grass shack © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

VP was Richard C Block, general manager was John A Serrao and station manager was William H Coney. Harold O’Hara was business manager, Peter V Taylor the program director, John Galbraith the news director and Robert Z Kendall handled promotions.

Licensed but not on the air in 1961.

Another of a cluster of stations started shortly after WWII, KIPA began operations on September 10 1947 and joined several networks, MBS, NBC and the Inter-Island & All-Islands Network. Representation was by Hollingberry. KIPA’s specialized programs included 29 hours weekly in Japanese and just over 7 hours weekly in Filipino.

Very classy and modern 1950’s studio design from KIPA Hilo © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Thomas J McBride was president in 1961, R W Jaderstrom was busy as general manager, vice-president and chief engineer, and Larry Tavares was the program director.

One of several stations licensed to Kailua on the opposite side of the island from Honolulu, KEKO was not yet on the air.

Only a year old in 1961, having commenced operations the previous February 3, KOHO was the only fulltime non-English broadcaster in the islands, with 18 hours daily in Japanese.

Frank Fitch signed this confirmation card for reception of KOHO © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Located at 1140-A 12th Ave, KOHO was represented by Grant Webb & Co, and general manager was Hideo Sato. National sales and commercial manager was Frank W Fitch, whilst program director was Rinzo Yano. Others on-board the station included Isao Murakami as promotions manager and Sinichiro Nishikata as news director.

Broadcasting from the Kailua Shopping Center since December 7 1954, KLEI then operated with low power 250 watts, and Jack Latham as president and Jack Irvine as VP and general manager.

Although such a low power, KLEI was heard as far away as New Zealand © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Very new on the dial, KNDI began broadcasting on July 11 1960, and Jim Ownby was also general manager, whilst Raymer handled advertising representation.

Station owner and GM Jim Ownby took time out from his duties to sign this early card confirming reception of KNDI a few months after it began operations © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Anchoring the ‘top of the dial’ in Honolulu with 5,000 watts, KPOI was a strong signal heard throughout the islands since 1946, broadcasting from studios at 1701 Ala Wai Blvd.

Advertising revenue was gathered through representation in New York [Masala] and both San Francisco and Los Angeles [Torbet, Allen & Crane] and the station executive included H G Fernhead as president, Fin Hollinger as VP and general manager and Ray Gallagher as commercial manager.

KPOI president H G Fernhead signed this simple card for reception 5000 miles away from Honolulu in 1960 © Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Tom Rounds held the coveted program director role, Ronald Jacobs was promotions manager, Bow Lowrie the news director, and Ernest Lindman rounded out the executive suite as chief engineer.

Already preparing for the next generation of listeners, KPOI-FM was shortly scheduled on the air with a powerful 27,500 watts on 97.5 FM.

Owned by publishers of the Garden Island weekly, KTOH signed on May 8 1940 and was still the only station broadcasting on Kauai 21 years later. Part of the NBC network it was highest station on the state radio dial but with a low 250 watts power.

KTOH featured a relaxed garden setting on its letterhead © Laurie Boyer Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Programs included Japanese and Filipino language broadcasts each week, and the station president and general manager was Charles J Fern. Sales manager was Tad Elo, and Katashi Nose was the chief engineer.

The only educational radio station in the islands, low power KVOK had been established back in October 1953 and included one hour of French language lessons in its schedule. Harold W Kent was president, Robert F Ritterhoof the general manager.