Malama Media Group just revitalized two Honolulu stations. KOOL 107.9 and Country 97.5 KHCM both launched fresh formats this Labor Day weekend.
What We Know KOOL 107.9 (formerly Decades 107.9) repositioned to Hawaii’s Greatest Hits. The station is voiced by Joe Cipriano and produced by Luis “Speedy Jr” Gonzalez. Notably, the audience never stopped calling it KOOL anyway. Meanwhile, Country 97.5 KHCM transitioned from Westwood’s satellite model to live, local programming with contemporary country artists.
What They Said Senior VP of Programming Rick Thomas explained the strategy simply: “The station was actually known as KOOL in the past. The Decades product needed to be reimagined for optimum success. KOOL 107.9 will be locally programmed, proudly serving our Honolulu community with an up-tempo mix of favorite songs and a generous dose of feel-good vibes.” On Country 97.5, Thomas emphasized that “contemporary country artists like Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs, as well as red-hot up and comers like Hudson Westbrook, have a home in Honolulu on a radio station that connects them with our local audiences. 97.5 KHCM also leans into the listener’s desire for longer blocks of music with our Commercial Free approach.”
What Remains Unclear The timeline for on-air personality hires hasn’t been announced. Specific ratings metrics for the new formats aren’t yet available. Broader details about Malama’s competitive strategy in Hawaii’s market remain limited. Additionally, how these stations will differentiate from existing island competitors needs clarification.
What It Means Honolulu listeners now have two revamped alternatives targeting distinct music audiences. Furthermore, this represents a meaningful shift toward local programming over syndicated satellite formats. Finally, Malama Media Group signals serious investment in Hawaii’s radio market through on-air talent and production resources.
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