‘Aloha Shorts’ ends its public-radio run

The last rerun broadcast of the popular "Aloha Shorts" show on Hawaii Public Radio will be today.

The show, in which local actors read select writings published by Bamboo Ridge Press before a studio audience, started in June 2004. Press co-founder Darrell Lum said it was the brainchild of Mark Lutwak, former artistic director of Hono­lulu Theatre for Youth.

HPR promotion director Judy Neale said the show’s production team of Sammie Choy, Craig Howes and Phyllis Look hasn’t put out a new show since last summer. Recorded at the station’s Atherton Performing Arts Studio, "Aloha Shorts" always had "such a wonderful spirit," Neale said. "The tapings were always jammed, and the remarkable thing was the production team (members) were all volunteers."

Lum said, "We’re sad to see the show end, but we understand we can’t expect it to go on indefinitely on no money and the sheer energy of the three producers."

Select past shows are online at bambooridge.com.

Starting May 7, Neale said the nationally syndicated "New Letters on the Air: Writers in Their Own Voices" will fill the 6:30 p.m. slot on HPR-2.