KAHU NEWS…
December 12, 2012 - KAHU 91.7 FM, the Shepherd, in Pahala, Hawaii (Ka’ū Community Radio Inc.) received FCC approval to dismantle the Naalehu Tower and move the broadcast antenna back to the station. Crown Castle Towers is working with Pacificom Systems to remove the two antennas on Monday, December 17th at 9am of which the KAHU station crew will take it from there. The station will be off the air on this day from 8am until approximately 3pm, depending on how quickly all of the equipment can be reconnected.
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December 4, 2012 - KAHU 91.7 FM, the Shepherd, in Pahala, Hawaii (Ka’ū Community Radio Inc.) is in the process of dismantling its only tower site in Naalehu, in the southern region of Hawaii island due to the station’s increasing operational expenses over the last year and lack of consistent public, local business and corporate funding.
Christine Kaehuaea, Station General Manager of KAHU 91.7 FM and President/Director of Ka’ū Community Radio Inc. and her management team have decided to strip the station down to its studs and stabilize the foundation of the organization with a new simplified direction. Upon FCC (Federal Communications Commission) approval in December, antennas and equipment will be removed from the Naalehu tower, with some pieces being liquidated and some re-installed at the radio station in Pahala. The downsizing will reduce the overall budget and allow for more focus on funding acquisitons, while ensuring a reduced but consistant FM Broadcast from their transmitter in Pahala. Continued servicing of KAHU 91.7 FM’s global community will remain in tack with the ability to “listen live” via any mobile device or computer as the station slowly rebuilds over the next two years.
“Downsizing will enable our station to lower its expenses while still providing service”, says Christine, “with our monthly expenses at approximately $8,500.00, coupled with the lack of consistant and substantial funding we’ve had to weigh our options to either downsize and regroup or risk permanent closure by the end of December 2012 which would heavily impact the communities we literally serve in the District of Ka’ū, especially in the event of an emergency. With all of the people that have invested in keeping us on the air, I’m proud to say that we’ve chosen to keep swimming.”
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