Weeks into his return to Hawaii and new role as Malama Media Group’s Senior Vice President of Programming, Rick Thomas relaunched two FM stations over Labor Day weekend, reviving a Classic Hits brand and taking a Country outlet fully live and local.
Classic Hits KOOL 107.9 (KKOL) has returned to its earlier branding, dropping the Decades 107.9 identity the station carried since Malama Media Group acquired Honolulu’s six-station cluster from Salem Media Group. The station is voiced by Joe Cipriano. Country 97.5 (KHCM) had been running Westwood One’s satellite country feed under the station’s former ownership. Thomas shifted the outlet to a live and local format, and Malama reports the change has already moved the needle on ratings share. That station is voiced by Scott Fisher.
Both are produced by Luis “Speedy Jr” Gonzalez.
Thomas said, “The audience still called it KOOL, but the Decades product needed to be reimagined for optimum success. KOOL 107.9 will be locally programmed, proudly serving our Honolulu community with an up-tempo mix of favorite songs and a generous dose of feel-good vibes.”
“It was important to us at Malama Media Group that contemporary Country artists like Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs, as well as red-hot up-and-comers like Hudson Westbrook, have a home in Honolulu on a radio station that connects them with our local audiences.”
Thomas added, “With both newly elevated brands, the next layer is finding the right personalities to connect with and serve Hawaii’s unique local audience.”
