It’s been an “interesting” few months for the top rating Australian owned duopoly on Hawaii’s Big Island.
In late May we reported that Resonate Broadcasting’s The Wave @92FM and 102.7 The Beach was under threat from the eruption of Kilauea.
“There’s something really unique about a volcanic eruption,” says Justin Duty, the station’s local Operations Manager.“With most disasters that people experience, they have an end, whereas the volcanic eruption was like a constant alarm. There was no rest. It was the equivalent of trying to broadcast a war. It’s been a couple of weeks since that mellowed out and now this is here.”
“This” is Hurricane Lane which is bearing down on the Big Island bringing with it extreme wind and rain, expected to result extensive flooding.
While Hawaiian folk lore provides plenty of scope to pin the cause of such natural disasters on evil spirits or the displeasure of some mystical and ancient deity, Justin blames his Aussie boss, Keith Fowler.
“We usually have Keith Fowler in our office,” he told radioinfo, “Every time he goes on assignment back in Australia, crazy action happens here. Those of us at Resonate Hawaii would like to keep our Aussie good luck charm on island.
“Or maybe we need to keep a Chookie foot in the studio.”
As for the coming storm, Hurricane Lane’s been downgraded somewhat and Justin is hoping it stays on the other side of the island. “It’s coming up on the other side of the Big Island aiming more towards Maui and Honolulu, towards Oahu. This island has the tallest mountain on the planet earth from the bottom of the ocean to the top. It’s not Everest but Everest doesn’t go from the bottom of the Ocean. This mountain has snow on it when we have crazy weather and the other one is Mauna Loa which is the earth’s most mass mountain. These mountains on this island have this amazing way of keeping away hurricanes for the most part.
I’ve been through enough storms to realise that the only thing I can do is hope that everything works out. The tower maintains, the backups work and the antennas work. We’ve got good battery back ups. We have really good equipment, so all fingers crossed we will stay on the air.”
Justin also has a message for Australians. “Since the volcanic activity has pretty much stopped and it’s not so hazardous, a lot of that hasn’t been reflected in airline fares. So, it’s a great time to visit this island because you can come here really, really inexpensively.”
Below: A snow capped pic of Mauna Kea taken from Hilo.
