Pacific Media Group Hawaiian “Native-FM” 95.9 KPVS Hilo/93.9 KLUA Kailua Kona HI has flipped to CHR with a splash of local Reggae.
Retaining the “Native-FM” branding, the new format is being positioned as “The Beat of The Islands”. The station describes its format as a mix of pop artists such as Bruno Mars, Drake, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Arianna Grande and Island Reggae from JBoog, Common Kings, The Green, and Sammy J. The existing on-air lineup remains in-tact.
After years of broadcasting popular mainstream and local reggae island music, Pacific Media Group’s Native FM (95.9 KPVS-FM Hilo, 93.9 KLUA-FM Kailua-Kona) is changing its format to CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio). The format for the new Native FM – “The BEAT of the Islands” – includes today?s top hits from Hip-Hop, R&B, and mainstream Pop with Bruno Mars, Drake, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Arianna Grande. It also includes a variety of top hits in Reggae and Island Reggae Music from JBoog, Common Kings, The Green, and Sammy J.
“The excitement of this new change in format will allow mainstream Hip-Hop to be heard with an island feel,” said Program Director Jaz Yglesias, veteran on-air personality of over twenty years.
The new sound will still be held together by its veteran on-air talents, the Big-O Show With Eddie-O from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m., Ms. Holly K in the mid-days from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Jaz “Uncle Jazzy” Yglesias in the afternoons from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Harley Trip from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. weeknights, as well as weekend DJs Maelan Abran and Shaka Kev.
Pacific Media Group owns and operates 14 radio stations in Hawai’i. On the Big Island, station offerings include Native FM (95.9 KPVS Hilo, 93.9 KLUA Kailua-Kona), KAPA Hawaiian FM (100.3 KAPA Hilo/Ka’u, 99.1 KAGB Waimea/Kona), KBIG FM (97.9 KKBG FM Hilo, 106.1 KLEO Kahalu’u-Kona), and ESPN Radio (AM 850 KHLO Hilo, AM 790 KKON Kealakekua). Additionally, the company operates BigIslandNow.com, a news and community information website.
On Maui, PMG includes KPOA 93.5 FM, DaJam 98.3 FM, ESPN Maui AM 900, Native 92.5 FM, 99.9 KISS FM Maui, and Bloomberg Radio AM 550. Additionally, MauiNow.com serves the Maui community with news and information, and digital offerings include Aloha Stoked and the Maui Activity and Maui Dining apps.
For more information on this format change, visit nativefm.com or contact Jaz Yglesias, Native FM Program Director, at (808) 329-6633.
