City Hilo, Hawaii Branding "102.7 The Beach" Frequency 1060 kHz | Broadcast area East Side Big Island Slogan The Alternative First air date 1984-12-27 (as KAHU) | |
KIPA (1060 AM) is a radio station on the Big Island of Hawai'i whose call sign dates back to 1947, and now broadcasts an eclectic mix of Hawaiian Music, Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Oldies and a variety of special programs including a Japanese show early mornings. Licensed to Hilo, Hawaii, United States, the station serves the Hilo market and surrounding areas. Long-time local personality, Mel Mederios, also known as the "Mynah Bird" hosts the morning show, with local and regional news, events and community affairs information. The station is currently owned by Parrott Broadcasting Limited Partnership and features programing from CNN Radio. It also has two sister FM stations: KHBC 92.7 FM and a second FM station on the west side of the Big Island known as "KONA-FM" with the FCC call sign KHWI 92.1 FM (formerly known as "K-Hawaii"), licensed at Holualoa, HI, serving the Kailua-Kona market, and broadcasting from studios at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa.
History
The 1060 AM frequency went on the air as KAHU on 1984-12-27. On 2003-03-19. The station changed its call sign to Hilo's original call letters est. 1936, as "KHBC." In June 2009, the station changed its call sign to relaunch the heritage station, KIPA (call letters est. 1947), and reassigned "KHBC" to its FM sister station on 92.7 FM in Hilo (formerly KHWI). The calls "KHWI" were later moved to its new sister station in Kailua-Kona at 92.1 FM.