LIHU‘E — There was no shortage of excitement on Sunday afternoon for KKCR’s first annual Fund Fest at Kilohana Plantation. The all-day event was loaded with entertainment, food, fun and family as volunteers selflessly donated their time to help out
LIHU‘E — There was no shortage of excitement on Sunday afternoon for KKCR’s first annual Fund Fest at Kilohana Plantation.
The all-day event was loaded with entertainment, food, fun and family as volunteers selflessly donated their time to help out the community-driven radio station which fell short of its financial goal at the last membership drive.
“We depend on money from our listeners to support the radio station and our last Fall fund drive we fell short of our goal, so we wanted to have an event that could attract people island-wide that would be free admission, to really encourage participation, but then to help, perhaps, raise funds to offset what we missed last time,” said Ken Jannelli, Music and Underwriting Director for KKCR.
Jannelli expected anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people to attend Sunday’s six-hour event.
Cindy Simmons and Claudio Bragança, two of the day’s attendees, drove from Princeville to listen to the live music and support their local radio station.
“We really love the classical music they play,” said Simmons about KKCR’s Saturday and Sunday morning classical programs. “It’s the only station on Kaua‘i that plays it.”
Aaron Feinberg, a photographer from the North Shore brought along Cachet Garret from Juneau, Alaska to enjoy the music as well.
“I’m here to rock out and support KKCR,” said Feinberg.
The musical line-up for Sunday’s event catered to many different tastes, coinciding with the radio station’s eclectic programming, from Hawaiian music to rock-and-roll.
“We tried to choose a vast line-up for the performers and we used our home grown talent from the station. Most performers here today are also volunteers at KKCR,” said Jannelli.
Jerry Brocklehurst, general manager of KKCR and known as “The Wiz,” said he’d like to make the Fund Fest a signature event in a continued effort to encourage support for the station.
“KKCR is entirely supported by the community, listeners, underwriters and a federal grant,” he said.
Pledging to become a member is just one of the ways to become involved with KKCR, as well as donating time, which is what many individuals did Sunday, including the entertainers and food vendors.
“I’ve always participated in their fund drives and support the radio station because it’s a great thing,” said Sandy Herndon of Your Chef on Kaua‘i, who volunteered her time to help with food and beverages, bringing along her own homemade brownies.
Andrew Cabebe also volunteered his time on Sunday to greet attendees and offer them a warm smile and a hug. He broadcasts a weekly program on KKCR with his brother Loui called Himeni O Hawai‘i, which plays devotional Hawaiian
music Wednesday mornings.
KKCR has served the island for more than a decade, launching its first on-air program in 1997 after the creation of Kekahu Foundation, a nonprofit organization.
“The community needed a radio station to provide an outlet, or a means for under-represented voices in the community to be heard,” said Brocklehurst.
Jimmy Trujillo, a board member of the Kekahu Foundation, said he was honored to have been elected and believes KKCR’s self-supporting community and non-traditional, commercial-free structure makes it unique.
“Community radio has such a special place in regards to so many things like health and wellness, social and cultural aspects and economics,” said Trujillo.
Reaching out to the many diverse communities of Kaua‘i is one of the station’s goals. Listeners can expect to hear everything from jazz, hip-hop, early morning news programs and a range of call-in talk shows covering various community affairs and events.
“I think that there’s something for everyone on KKCR,” said Jannelli.
“One of the nicest aspects of community radio is that our volunteer programers play what they want, say what they want and make their own decisions and are coming from a place of passion.”
Brocklehurst said KKCR has high hopes for the upcoming year.
“We’re going into a new year or a new era for KKCR and our goal is to start reaching out into the community more,” said Brocklehurst. “We hope to, over time, put different remote broadcast capabilities in different communities around the island so that we have a facility in all of the major communities.”
Those looking to become a member, volunteer time or suggest programming can contact the radio station. For more information visit kkcr.org or call 826-7774.
“Everyone is welcome to volunteer and become a part of KKCR’s family,” said Jannelli.
• Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
