WHODAWAHINE

WHODAGUYHAWAII would not be possible without the assistance of many people. ASHLEY APODACA (above) was first to come aboard. She attended a meeting at Windward Community College--seen at the top of the road on the photo of our current home page--in April 2007. Chancellor Angela Meixell, a supporter from the moment she heard of the concept, graciously agreed to host the event; our mahalo to her is forever. Ashley, a journalism major originally from California's San Joaquin Valley, was both enthusiastic and competent. She spent most of the summer assisting in transforming an old house to a cool studio. Much of what she organized is still in effect. Ashely moved to town, where she is currently continuing her studies at UH Manoa. Ms. Apodaca is going to go just as far as she wants and that is a very good thing.

DEBBIE FUKUYAMA and I go back to 1976, when I began my attempt to assemble the World's Largest Collection of Antique Hawaiian Soda Bottles (mission accomplished, 1994). Born, raised, schooled and still a resident of Leeward Oahu, Deb and her first husband, Julian Keone, were part of the RJ family. She was in the kitchen at Diamond Head (with Wally Amos baking cookies and Hari Kojima slicing fish) while the Makaha Sons of Niihau played at my daughter's baby luau in 1978. We've been at umpteen Hawaii Bottle Club Shows, fallen on the floor from Territorial Tavern to the living room at Owena Street when Replinger got Rapping, attended concerts at most every venue on the island, everything, li' dat. Most importantly, Deb is The Official Tita when I need to be shut up and sat down. During the recent Nanakuli expedition we established the first regional WHODAGUY HQ at historic Mustid House. Deb and I are now linked 20th Century style, via iMac, cell phone and synchronous radio dispatch. Most importantly, we are joined at the heart.

Thanksgiving 2006. An old radio buddy from Honolulu's KPOI, "Mel The Money Man" Lawrence, came becuase our friend, the venerable radio star and "Impresario of the Pacific," Tom Moffatt. was presenting the Rolling Stones at Aloha Stadium. Money Man arrived at Moffatt's Nuuanu mansion only to learn that Mick was sick and the concert has been cancelled. Only Moffatt forgot to tell him. So Mel and I went looking for an old radio buddy from L.A.'s KHJ, "The Big Kahuna," Chris Varez. He was living in Kailua. Hanging out there was MELISSA BOWERS (above), who grew up there in Enchanted Lake. But for years she lived right down the road from me, though we'd never met. When she visited the house, then a bachelor disaster, Melissa put the place in order. I could once again see the ocean and my creative vision begin to expand. This irrepressible young woman became chief cook and bottle washer and, more importantly, my muse. In this photo she's wearing a jersey from the 1982 KDEO softfball team, the Chip Kickers.

A native of Enchanted Lakes and my first wahine radio partner is JUDY FORD (left) as she's been known to L.A, radio listeners for over two decades. We met when I returned home in 1976 and reinvented myself as Whodaguy. I was searching for the woman who would be Hawaii's first female morning drive news person on a rock station. Howard Stern and Robin Quivers were probably in diapers then, when Judy became Keala Kai on what quickly became the town's #1 station, KKUA. In 1980 she was my first and only choice to be program director when I bought KDEO Radio. We teamed up until her husband, Mark, received a scholarship in L.A. In Hollywood, Judy became the "bumper" announcer for Casey Kasem on AMERICAN TOP 40 until she was hired by KFWB as a news anchor.

When I first met Judy at Likelike Drive-Inn to discuss her coming to work with me she was just out of Kamehameha School (as in the "Lucky K" hat she's wearing). Now, her son, Brian, graduates this year from Columbia, where he's majored in music. Manhattan is a smaller island than Oahu, but there's been no bigger radio talent to make it big time on American radio than my buddy, Judy, seen here during her last visit home when she drove over from Kailua and we teamed up to do another show, in another century, in a better studio and playing the music she reintroduced me to when I came home to stay, in what seems now, another lifetime.

The 1981 classic, Pidgin To Da Max," defines "tita" as:

(TEE dah) Mokette. A local girl with

a "special quality? -- it's in the mouth.

Authentic tita can, when need be, back up what they say. LISA SALCEDO (left) is totally capable of doing so if need be. My neighbor from mauka, was Hawaii's First Female Professional Football Player. Lisa jumps in to lend a hand when heavy lifting is going on. You know she's a tita because she's the lady who walks in and asks Jerry Santos to signing an autograph and look at her grandma's picture -- while he's playing. After she moved in years ago, Lisa hauled an old postal van out of the Waimanalo weeds. She single-handily refinished the exeterior, rigged a generator on the front bumper, installed a lunch counter window and put signs on it that read "Rainbow Fountains." It is now a fully functional and delicious shave ice wagon. Lisa takes it out when not working. She drives a tour bus and is working on a license to operate 18-wheelers. But this most amazing fact, I think, about our Lisa is that she stands 5' 3" tall and weighs 141 pounds.

Yeah, behind every guy there's been a good strong woman, they say. For this project, my most challenging ever, I've been blessed with wahine power of the highest magnitude. These are some of the ladies in my corner. This blog is a wonderful way to introduce you to our ohana. Without them, by now I'd be spending my time with the other old men playing dominoes under the trees at District Park.