Question: What happened to Mike Cherry at KITV? Where is he now? I miss him.
Answer: The veteran broadcaster left Hawaii in October to join WMUR/Channel 9, a TV station in Manchester, N.H., where he anchors the hourlong 5 p.m. newscast and reports during the day.
“Leaving Hawaii wasn’t an easy decision, but I got an opportunity to work at a respected and top-notch station in WMUR and I couldn’t pass that up. It’s part of the Boston DMA, which means it operates as a station within the No. 9 market, but being in Manchester I get to live in a city that has a lot of the same hometown charms you’d find in Hawaii,” Cherry told Kokua Line via Facebook. “I’ve been greeted with New Englanders’ own version of aloha spirit and I’m so grateful for the chance to be here. I will always be a Hawaii boy at heart and thankfully — through social media — the islands, my family and friends don’t seem too far away.”
DMA stands for designated market area, and refers to the U.S. geographic areas in which local television viewing is measured by The Nielsen Co. to determine TV ratings.
Cherry, who was born in Texas and grew up on Maui, is adjusting to New England’s notorious winters. WMUR’s social media feeds highlighted his hiring, and viewers have offered advice on coats, snow tires and other cold-weather gear not necessary in the islands.
He arrived in New Hampshire with about 17 years’ broadcasting experience, all in Hawaii. After graduating from Maui High School and the University of Hawaii-Manoa, Cherry started out behind the camera, as a video editor and cameraman at KGMB. He eventually became a sports anchor and later switched to news, attaining the co-anchor role for KITV’s 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts in April 2016, paired with Yunji de Nies.
Less than a year later, longtime sportscaster Robert Kekaula assumed that prime news anchor role, paired with Paula Akana. Cherry went back to sports, working as sports anchor on KITV’s 5 p.m. weekday newscast, his most recent Hawaii assignment before leaving for New Hampshire.
Q: Who do I contact in regard to the U.S. Postal Service holding mail for three days because they do not have the keys for our condominium mailboxes?
New mailboxes were installed but we have been told that we will not receive our mail until the USPS puts (in) locks and they have keys to open our mailbox. I’m very concerned because we have bills to pay and we will become delinquent through no fault of our own.
A: Kokua Line emailed a USPS spokesman on your behalf, who said the problem would be handled by a manager at the Makiki post office; your condominium on Poki Street falls within its jurisdiction.
You followed up with us to say that you had heard from a manager, who promised that the locks would be installed and your mail delivered that day.
Accumulated mail apparently could have been picked up at the Makiki post office, but that was not a feasible option for you.
Mahalo
On Nov. 27, I was driving to work down Kalanianaole Highway when a woman got my attention to tell me I had a flat tire. She then followed me as I got off the highway and put on my spare tire for me! I want to thank her for turning what would have been a very stressful situation into an amazing story of kindness shown by a stranger. I don’t know her name, but she lives in Niu Valley. I’d also like her to know that I did put some WD-40 on my car jack so I can easily remove it now! — Leslie H.
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
