Malama Media Group has relaunched two of its recently acquired stations in Honolulu.
Classic Hits “Decades 107.9” KKOL-FM Aiea/Honolulu relaunched on Thursday, September 3 as “Kool 107.9“.
The station was previously known as “Kool Gold 107.9” until the start of 2021. Recently appointed SVP/Programming Rick Thomas said, “At some point prior to the sale to Malama Media, the name was changed to Decades 107.9 at some point. 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”
The revamped brand is voiced by Joe Cipriano and produced by Luis ‘Speedy Jr’ Gonzalez.
That relaunch followed a similar move at Country 97.5 KHCM-FM Honolulu as that station dropped Westwood One’s satellite feed for a locally programmed format voiced by Scott Fisher and produced by Gonzalez.
Thomas added, “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. 97-5 KHCM also leans into the listener’s desire for longer blocks of music in a row with our Commercial Free approach, providing long music sweeps at several key times every day”.
Both stations will soon begin the search for air talent with Thomas stating, “with both newly elevated brands, the next layer is finding the right personalities to connect with and serve Hawaii’s unique local audience.”
In addition to KHCM-FM and KKOL-FM, Malama Media Group owns Christian Preaching “99.5 The Word” KGU-FM/760 KGU/95.1 K236CR Honolulu, Conservative Talk “690/94.3 The Answer” KHNR/K232FL Honolulu, and Brokered Chinese 880 KHCM Honolulu.
