Hawaii Political Platter - Journalism Shield Law to Sunset June 30

State Senator Sam Slom discuss Hawaii's Journalism Shield Law (Act 210 & Act 113) and a proposed bill that was killed by a legislative conference committee due to changes made and advanced by Senator Clayton Hee. Guest on this TV panel include Professor Gerald Kato of the University of Hawaii and Stirling Morita, President of the Society of Professional Journalists - Hawaii Chapter.

The current shield law which expires on June 30 cast a broad net of protection for both traditional journalistes employed in the print and electronic media, as well as those people who publish blogs, podcasts and video, much of which is available on the internet.

KITV Goes to Black on Time Warner Oceanic Cable

Time Warner Oceanic Cable (TWOC) subscribers have not been getting KITV 4′s signal since early Tuesday morning, July 10. The station is off the TWOC TV line-up as a result of a carriage negotiation dispute. Basically the two firms, Hearst Television, owners of KITV and Time Warner Cable have not been able to agree on a fee that will allow the channel to be carried on the cable system.

The blackout impacts programs shown on the ABC TV network as well as MeTV. KITV carries both networks on their primary and secondary broadcast channels.

KITV is still available on satellite systems and free over the air with a standard TV antenna (outdoor or indoor depending on your location). Channel line-up for broadcast are: KITV 4.1 (ABC network) and KITV 4.2 (MeTV).

MORE WITH LINKS FROM THE HAWAII RADIO & TELEVISION GUIDE BLOG

Glenn Beck Speaks At CPAC

Watch this. It's pretty good. The liberal and progressive agenda threatens our nation's well being. Time to throw the liberals out in 2010 and 2012.

• American Conservative Union

Cecilio & Kapono on KGMB Sunrise

Cecilio & Kapono live on KGMB's Sunrise news show, August 21.


One of Hawaii's most popular and enduring recording artists, Cecilio & Kapono gave a short, open public concert performance at the KGMB TV studios parking lot on August 21. Morning news anchors invited the public to come and watch the live broadcast. Since I live near the KGMB TV studio on Kapiolani Boulevard, I walked over to the parking lot and found the group there, mostly waiting around for tape to roll.

If you know anything about TV, most of the time working on a production is spent waiting. I was there at around 6:45 am and the station did not shoot the live segment until the 7:30 am hour. In the meantime I and a very small group of people waited around and talked to each other and the two performers.

Not surprisingly for me, we ended up talking about computers among other things. Found out that both C & K are avid Macintosh computer users. We talked about the Garage Band software, computer security, identity theft and risks of using a standard Windows PC online. Cecilio is an avid golfer and he talked about using a GPS based golf course hardware device. Cool.

They jammed for a few minutes warming up and once they started playing Cecilio & Kapono treated us to about 4 or 5 songs. They included well known classics such as "Goodtimes Together," "Highway in the Sun" and "Friends". I think they also sang a song I had not heard before called "Back in the Day" which I heard again on their website.

After the broadcast I found that several of the KGMB News morning people are fans as they ended up posing for pictures with the legendary duo.

Cecilio & Kapono are coming out with a new album on September 1.

Additonal Links

• More Photos
• KGMB TV
• Cecilio & Kapono "Back in the Day"
  

C & K with KGMB Sunrise weatherman, Ben Gutierrez.

This was also crossposted to Mel's Internet Universe Music Blog.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Goes Tabloid

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin newspaper came out in a new tabloid size starting today. Gone is the old broadsheet of old that had been the mainstay of the newspaper for more than 100 years. With dwindling readership, competition from the internet and electronic media, the Star-Bulletin was forced to make a change to this smaller size in order to remain financially solvent.

The smaller tabloid hit the streets today with a 72-page edition. Most of the features readers found in the broadsheet version remain, including the news (of course), sports, business, advertisements and regular columns. Instead of the paper divided into sections, the tabloid is one continuous publication with consecutively numbered pages (1 to 72 instead of A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, etc.).

One thing I've noticed is that news articles all appear as single page continuous stories instead of being broken apart on page B1 (for example) with the bulk of the story reported in whole on another page. This is a welcome development.

The Star-Bulletin like its larger competitor now publishes only in the morning. For years it was an afternoon paper.

Newspapers are a medium in trouble. As more people turn to the internet and many other alternative sources for news and opinion, the relevancy of the traditional newspaper is being marginalized. Circulation and advertising revenue have shrunken in recent years. Newspapers may have to think of new ways to retain readership and stay relevant in a quick changing environment.

One last thing that I'd like to see the Honolulu Star-Bulletin fix is their main website. I don't like the intrusive pop up over content advertising that have plagued the site since late 2008. The Star-Bulletin bean counters have to realize that in the long term, intrusive pop up and pop over advertising that block content are a huge turn off to readers.

• Honolulu Star-Bulletin Web
• Honolulu Star-Bulletin Mobile Web (no pop ups!)

Photo: The last broadsheet version of the Star-Bulletin (left) lays folded next to the much smaller tabloid size that was unveiled today (right).

Olelo Capitol TV Studio

A mini TV studio opened at the Hawaii State Capitol on Monday Feb. 2. The studio has a simple set, cameras, TV editing stations, computers (2 Macs and a PC), lighting, video tape recorders, sound mixer and more. An open house was held on Monday. The facility is operated by Olelo public access TV. The studio is located on the 4th floor in Room 414.

Olelo will train interested legislators and their staff on how to produce a show. Legislators will be able to produce shows and have them air on the Olelo and other public access channels throughout the State of Hawaii. Programs will also stream over the net.


One of the production stations in the studio.


One of two studio mini cameras that I noticed.

Top photo: People sitting at the TV studio set.

News from Around the Dial

As originally posted to Hawaii Radio & Television Guide*

The economic downturn has hit KGMB TV. Erika Engle at StarBulletin.com reports that 9 employees at the TV station were laid off. None of the on-air talent were laid off. Advertising revenue at media outlets are down this year. Details at this link.

KSSK radio's morning duo of Michael W. Perry and Larry Price celebrated their 25th year on-air this past Saturday (August 9) during a live radio broadcast aired from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral ballroom. More than a thousand people showed up for the breakfast broadcast. The duo was on air for 3 1/2 hours and were honored by dignitaries including Governor Linda Lingle, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Congressman Neil Abercrombie.

More on Perry & Price's 25th anniversary:

• 2 for 25 Years, StarBulletin.com
• 25 Years Together, MidWeek.com

The Big Island's KIPA radio station has returned to the airwaves with new call letters and a new format. The station now goes by the call sign KHNU. AM 620 was silent for about a year and is now airing a news and talk format. The station is owned by Mahalo Broadcasting LLC in Arizona. The KIPA call sign was immediately acquired by Buddy Gordon at Parrot Broadcasting for use on a new FM under construction in Kona, also on the Big Island of Hawaii. More details at this link.

"Honolulu Skylark" Jacqueline Leilani Rossetti has joined Kimo Kahoano as a new co-host for the Hawaiian Talk Radio Show produced by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) called Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino. The morning show airs Monday through Friday on Cox Radio's KKNE AM 940 and statewide to various stations on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. "Skylark" is a longtime radio personality who has been on various stations since the 1970s. More details at this link.

Local computer and internet enthusiasts get their own radio show via Burt Lum's and Ryan Ozawa's newly launched Bytemarks Cafe radio talk show airing on KIPO 89.3 FM (HPR). It is a weekly "one-hour radio magazine that showcases the innovation and creativity in Hawaii's tech community." More details at the Hawaii Public Radio website and Bytemarks Cafe blog page.

* I am the publisher of the Hawaii Radio & Television Guide.

Honolulu Arbitron Radio Ratings

The latest Arbitron ratings for the Winter period is reported in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. There are no suprises as the morning show team of Michael W. Perry & Larry Price on Clear Channel's KSSK FM & AM lead the pack of prime-time morning shows.

Overall the top 5 radio stations in the Honolulu market are:

1. KSSK 92.3 FM


2. KINE 105.1 FM


3. KRTR 96.3 FM


4. KCCN 100.3 FM


5. KPHW 104.3 FM

Ever wondered who the bottom dwellers are overall? You can see them at the Radio & Records Website. The 3 Honolulu Radio stations at the bottom of the Arbitron pile are:

• 3. KKNE 940 AM


• 2. KLHT 1040 AM


• 1. KGU 760 AM

Traditional radio listening is on the decline. How many of you regularly listen to the radio all of the time or at least some of the time?

Note: I also operate the Hawaii Radio & Television Guide website which I have redone as a blog. I will be cross posting some of the articles from that site back to this one.

Moo Moo About "Cow Inoa"

So what's the big deal surrounding Zero Shibai's "Cow Inoa" cartoon? It's just a funny commentary on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' nation building "Kau Inoa" campaign. It's nothing to get upset about since the high profile nation building campaign with its glitzy, taxpayer funded TV ads just continues as is.

The silly cartoon did get some people at OHA in a tizzy to a point where the chair of the OHA board, Haunani Apoliona demanded that the cartoon be withdrawn out of existence. That plea only backfired as more media outlets as well as regular citizens noticed it and commented on the cartoon in various publications and online media. Several of these outlets simply re-published the cartoon with each respective commentary, thus perpetuating the funny bovine image further. It even made national waves after syndicated writer Michelle Malkin commented on it.

Through all the rhetoric written in recent weeks, one commentator remarked:

"...the call by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs chair Haunani Apoliana to censor a political cartoon called "Cow Inoa," ... is giving a hint at what this new Hawaiian government will look like ... one where freedom of speech is squelched and intimidation tactics rule."

Intimidation tactics indeed. It is scary to think what kind of government a Hawaiian nation would create. For me, I am perfectly happy with the United States government we now have . Hawaii is perfectly fine as the 50th State of the United States. We don't need more government or a new one to replace the U.S.

This is a good reason not to support the break-away nation building campaign of "Kau Inoa".

Hawaii Reporter Streams Video

The folks at HawaiiReporter.com are getting into videos. This is their first posted to YouTube.com. The videos are embedded back to the main HawaiiReporter.com website. Hopefully this is the first of many to come. Hawaii Reporter has been an alternate to mainstream media publications, broadcasts and websites for the past 5 years. Recently their main website underwent a major design change that brings it forward as a serious news and opinion site that has attracted thousands if not millions of viewers throughout the world. Video commentary and reporting is just the next step in the site's long history of reporting the "real news."

Clear Channel Streams HD Radio

HD Radio is in Hawaii but few know about it. In order to receive an HD radio signal, a special HD radio receiver must be purchased. Current models sell for about $250. There are only 4 HD radio stations broadcasting in the Honolulu market. They are owned by Clear Channel. The stations are KSSK 92.3-1 (adult contemporary music) and KSSK 92.3-2 (smooth jazz) and KUCD 101.9-1 (modern rock) and KUCD 101.9-2 (Hawaii's Hard Rock). The secondary HD stations are playing commercial free music. Those without HD sets can listen to many of Clear Channel's HD stations by selecting the streams from the following website:

Clear Channel Music HD Radio
KUCD 101.9-2 is the only Hawaii station with a stream on that site.

Unlike satellite radio, HD Radio is a free over the air service that does not require a subscription fee.

More information about HD radio can be found at the following links:

HD Radio @ Wikipedia

HD Digital Radio

New Radio Stations Signing on in Hawaii

In the last few weeks two new radio stations have signed on in the Hawaii market. This past week radio station KHAI FM at 103.5 became radio active with their Christian rock Air 1 format. The station's activation was covered today in Erika Engle's Buzz Column as well as a few days earlier in a Hawaii Media Forum post made at HawaiiThreads.com. KHAI's new signal is a marked improvement over the weak low power transmitter they had for a few years playing Air 1's format. That signal could only be heard in some parts of West Oahu.

The other new station signing on is Visionary's KMKK FM at 102.3. which is playing an all Hawaiian music format. The station can be heard in certain parts of Oahu. The facilities for KMKK are located on the island of Molokai, which may be an ideal location if Visionary's goal is to have KMKK service three communities... Maui, Molokai and Oahu. We'll see who buys advertising on this station.

Several other radio stations may hit Hawaii's crowded airwaves as new frequencies are snatched up and become active.

Additional Links

• Broadcaster Initiate 2-island Radio Station Swap, Honolulu Star-Bulletin.com
• Bids for Kona radio station, Honolulu Star-Bulletin.com
  
• Hawaii Radio & Television Guide

Stupid in America? Yes!

Teacher unions and an entrenched political bureaucracy are holding back the public schools in Hawaii and across the nation. For years teacher unions have been largely responsible for keeping the status quo in the public school system as America's students fail to learn the basic necessities of modern life including skills related to reading, writing and arithmetic.

One of the most celebrated programs outlining America's troubled schools is John Stossel's ABC News 20/20 report "Stupid in America". In his 40 minute report Stossel visited several public and charter schools, talked to parents, students, teachers, union leaders and some politicians. He concluded that teacher unions and lack of political will continues to hold back America's schools.

In Hawaii efforts to allow vouchers and create local school boards continue to fail. The local teacher union, HSTA has a tight grip on the Hawaii political system with their members instrumental in keeping union sympathizing Democrat politicos in power.

On February 16, Apple CEO Steve Jobs blasted teacher unions when he stated that "no amount of technology in the classroom would improve public schools until principals could fire bad teachers." Jobs continued to say, "I believe that what is wrong with our schools in this nation is that they have become unionized in the worst possible way. This unionization and lifetime employment of K-12 teachers is off-the-charts crazy."

"Off-the-chart crazy," says Jobs. This is echoed in Stossel's report. It was interesting to note that getting rid of bad teachers is very difficult in the union dominated profession. And that is only part of the problem. Watch the video.

Then call your politicians. It's time to make a change.

Additional Links:

• Stupid in America on YouTube.com (4o minute video)
  
• Apple CEO Jobs attacks teacher unions

Image: ABC News 20/20