FROM ANOTHER RON

It's nice to receive comments about our online startup on 7.7.07. I neglected to say that I got married, for the second time, on 7.7.07, at 7:07 p.m. That took place at the grand ballroom of my dear friends "Uncle" Tom and Sweetie Moffatt's classic kama'aina mansion, deep in upper Nuuanu Valley. Besides the Moffatts, the only others in the giant room with its tiled floors, fountain, huge beams and mezzanine, were Judge Jim Burns, who officiated, and photographer Alexis Higdon. There was no party, let alone a honeymoon. I had to be back on the air, doing the morning show at KKUA. The radio gig worked out well. The Moffatts are still among my closest friends, Sweetie being my "local" surrogate Jewish mother. The judge and Ms. Higdon continued their stellar careers. Wish I could say the same about the marriage, which came apart five years later.


But doing the radio thing (which began professionally in 1955, when Moffatt and I were Staff Announcers at KGU Radio), or variations of it, has been a constant in my life. So it's so very satisfying when I hear from a peer who gets what we are doing in the New Century. Many people chose to write me emails about the programming, or what is in this blog. I wish that they would use the "Comment" section provided. (It takes a bit to sign up. Clicking on the "Anonymous" button makes it simple, and one can sign one's name--or not--at the end of the message.) Here's one that came in, that I want to acknowledge, as it reminds me of things I've forgotten, and ties in the past with the present. Not to mention that it is from one helluva talented and nice guy, who I haven't seen or heard from since the funeral of a friend last year.


Hi Ron,


It was a great pleasure to read about Bumpy Kanahele. Until your blog I had only known what I could imagine from the Advertiser's headline. Reading is a skill I have found to take a lot of daily practice. At this stage of life I feel determined to get the good feelings that are the rewards of knowledge and accomplishments. You made me smile today as your words described your Kaneohe studio, a living room where I sat one afternoon and listened to you describe your dream, now 365 days old, dining on Sprite and Icee-Pops. You had invited me up to buy your KHJ book.


Rare is the night that one major scene in my dreams is not inside some radio studio, the likes of which only my dream could create and in waking at a sad loss to describe. I began this dream back on July 2, 1974 and it has been my only real passion. At least in that I feel fortunate that live deejaying is the sum of one's daily reads, lessons and activities, multiplied by the explosive thrill inside the headphones as you buddy up to John, Paul, Mick and Archie!

And this weekend, it seems that timing is good. I was cleaning my area downstairs in my home in Kailua and throwing out newspaper editorials meant to be read that now date five to eight years ago. I came across an article of yours that I had copied from somewhere. It was written about your immediate observations on your neighborhood and Kaneohe town below and the Kaneohe Marine Corp Air Base on the shoreline on this one early 4th of July morning, perhaps 2004. You wrote about your belief in this land we live, despite the mess. We will always rise and get better. Now I come to your site today because a friend emailed me to, "Click on the PodJockey.com link at WhodaguyHawaii.com. It's great!" Bam! And it's your first anniversary.

Thank you RJ! Mr. Jacobs. You are a source of motivation, excitement and real genius (without any 'uhs), 21 minutes! U Stud Jock Puppy! Aloha,

Ron Klohs ("The Real Ron O'Neil")
Dolphin Sound
KHNL NBC 8 & K5 The Home Team
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819