Ask him anything about radio and how to make it better, and he would tell you, in specific detail. He was sought out for such answers and spoke from decades of experience and constant research. The answers would be delivered in his natural speaking voice, which was the same as his radio voice, deep and rich, as was his easy, hearty laugh.
Ashton "Kimo Akane" Kaiuwailani, radio personality and programmer, broadcast mentor and "Kimo’s Vegas" MidWeek columnist, died Monday at age 58.
Operations manager and program director for KINE-FM 105.1 and KKNE-AM 940, both owned by SummitMedia Corp. Hawaii, he had been hospitalized and in a coma for two weeks after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest in mid-December.
News of his death spread quickly across social media beginning Monday evening and was met with a torrent of gratitude from those he gave a start in radio, recollections of the lessons he imparted, shared memories and condolences for his family.
Kaiuwailani was born in Wailuku, grew up in Punaluu on Oahu’s Windward side and graduated from Kahuku High School in 1973.
"We lost a great friend and a guy that did a lot for radio and a lot for the community, and he’s going to be missed in many different ways," said Austin Vali, longtime colleague and family friend.
On Facebook, Hawaii News Now "Sunrise" weather anchor Dan Cooke recalled, "Kimo was my first friend after moving here in 1976."
The two were co-workers on the old K-108 radio (KIOE-AM 1080). Cooke jokingly quantified their low rate of pay at the time as being "about a dollar-three-eighty" with free accommodations at the Pacific Grand Hotel and a station account for free food from The Chicken Wagon restaurant.
"We would both routinely run out of money every month and then live on the greasy offerings at the Chicken Wagon until payday," Cooke said.
Kaiuwailani met his wife, Ellen, during those days, and "they have been together ever since," Cooke wrote.
At the old KKUA-AM 690 and KQMQ-FM 93.1 in 1978, Kaiuwailani infused the Top 40 format with rhythm and blues, and "he increased the speed of the tracks played," wrote Danielle Tucker, traffic reporter and veteran radio newscaster, in a social media post.
"That subtle increase brightened the sound of the station and gave the songs a pizzazz that kicked us into the ’80s in high gear," she added.
Kaiuwailani’s death is "a loss to a business that may never see his kind of talent again," Hawaii broadcaster Brock Whaley posted from Ireland.
As programmer Kimo Akane, he introduced the promotional phrase "More Music, More Money, More Fun" to one of the stations he programmed, which Whaley called "one of the best slogans I ever heard."
Top 40 radio pioneers including Ron "Whodaguy" Jacobs were early influences on Kaiuwailani, who ate, slept and breathed radio from a young age.
"He probably learned from Jacobs and other people … who had gone to the mainland and been successful," said Mike Kelly, the general manager who hired Kaiuwailani to program Hawaiian-music stations KCCN-FM 100.3 and KINE-FM 105.1 around 1990, based on the programming expertise he had demonstrated in earlier decades.
People questioned, given his Top 40 background, whether Kaiuwailani would "get" Hawaiian music, "but because of his knowledge of programming, that’s exactly why I hired him," Kelly said. "He was an innovator, because he brought some of those same things that the other stations had, to the local stations, which made the local stations better."
It "stands out" in Kelly’s mind that "here’s a local guy that was as good, if not a better programmer, than his contemporaries on the mainland," he said. His successful track record gained him great respect from industry colleagues and competitors alike, Kelly said. "He was one of the smartest guys I’ve ever known."
Kaiuwailani was always hip to local trends, and his insights into Hawaii residents’ appetite for Las Vegas made his "Kimo’s Vegas" column in MidWeek an instant hit.
It was "wildly popular with readers," said MidWeek Publisher Ron Nagasawa. "His popularity took off, and he became known as MidWeek’s Vegas expert and ambassador." His last column was published on Christmas Day.
Kaiuwailani’s family and industry colleagues will stage a private celebration of his life this week. Meanwhile, a fundraiser is being planned to help offset medical expenses.
Station owner SummitMedia Corp. Hawaii will spearhead the effort, said Operations Manager Wayne Maria, who anticipated a flood of donated offers from local musicians whose careers Kaiuwailani helped boost with airplay.
Kaiuwailani is survived by wife Ellen; daughters Sunsette Miyahira, Suzette Coleman and Minuette Kaiuwailani; son Chase; and two grandchildren.
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On the Net:
» Kimo’s Vegas: www.midweek.com/kimos-vegas-122513
» www.hawaiian105.com
