The Medium
Best non-commerical radio host in the post-“Fistful of Ganas” era
Ross Jackson
KTUH
Sad to say, this one gave you trouble. One reader spoke for (too) many in writing, “Come on, no one listens to local radio anymore.” In the Clear Channel era, it’s a sad truth that too much of our spectrum is taken up by piped-in talk and prefab pop music. We were hoping to uncover a deep and silent audience for the Hawaii Public Radio’s offerings at 88.1 and 89.3FM, and for the often exciting sounds coming out of KTUH at 90.3. Turns out there isn’t much of one–not among those who voted anyway. The good news: our winner was a decisive one. KTUH’s Ross Jackson, whose eclectic, indie-rock driven “Day Dream Nation” show has been soothing the ears of Top 40-weary listeners for years, was your clear choice.
Best local newscast
KGMB
A certain newsreader may still be holding it down as Honolulu’s favorite TV personality, but when it comes to our readers’ favorite newscast, we got the scoop: It’s the KGMB 9 crew by a wide margin. Tanya Joaquin and Keahi Tucker anchor the evening broadcast, and our readers like the mix of down-home reporting and a dressed-up set. A fitting tribute in a year when the KGMB family lost its patron saint, legendary anchorman Bob Sevey.
Best Twitterer
Melissa Chang
RT @Melissa808 PR diva, blogger, writer, runner, traveler, pushy Chinee broad [& w/more than 18k tweets, pr-foodie Melissa Chang is ur fave].
Best use of social media
We’ve moved on from 25 Things and random quizzes (No really: what female character from the Bible do you most resemble?) but we just can’t get enough of Facebook. In truth, we were looking for real-life applications, not the computer applications themselves, and when it came to those, one response stood out. Referring to a recent brouhaha over ethnicity-specific social gatherings advertised on the site, one reader commented that “asian table vs haole stool networking event showdown making race relations on the island something people could & did talk about.” The power of social media unleashed! Then someone else wrote, “fuk wit people.” Oh well.
Best local blog
Tie: Two Beer Queers and [Ilind.net]
The last time we asked, it was Kaa‘awa-based former investigative reporter Ian Lind by a country mile. In a sign that the local blogosphere is beginning to, um, diversify, Russel Kealoha and Bully O’Sullivan’s [twobeerqueers.com] has begun to make a stir on the web. They’re funny guys, and they know their brews (maybe). We just can’t figure out why loving beer makes you “homo for beer.” Maybe it’s all that head.
[www.twobeerqueers.com], [ilind.net]
Best hangout for coconut wireless reporters
Bar 35
Maybe it’s the deceptively loud music inside, fooling high rollers into thinking the walls don’t have ears. Or maybe it’s the deeply relaxing–especially in the late afternoon–orange-and-bamboo courtyard, a few blocks yet a thousand miles from the corridors of power. Probably it’s Dave Stewart’s fearsome collection of the world’s best brews. Either way, let this be a warning to the players among you: when you hit this Chinatown hot spot, everyone’s watching–and listening.
You said: “Locker room at Honolulu Club.”
Best local television personality
Joe Moore
Not a reporter, but he plays one on TV!
Best bumpersticker
Editors’ Pick: Coolest web site
[weather.hawaii.edu]
As Felicia dumps her warm, sticky love all over us, we’ve been spending a lot of time lately on this fantastic offering from the University of Hawaii’s Department of Meteorology. Whether you’re a weather geek or an art lover, this site will keep you occupied for hours on end with color-keyed maps, satellite images and charts featuring every imaginable weather statistic, from wind speeds to precipitation to temperature. One day last week we even watched the sun’s reflection pass across the mirror of the vast Pacific as a weather satellite hovered in place. Gorgeous. Now if we could just get the local NOAA folks to STOP TYPING THEIR FORECASTS IN ALL CAPS.
