New Wave Breaks In Oahu

• After nearly six years as an Alternative station, Pacific Media Group made the decision to pull the plug on KPOI (ALT 105.9)/Honolulu last Friday, flipping the station to Soft AC as 105.9 The Wave, now under the command of Kelsey Yogi, who also programs Top 40 KDDB (102.7 Da Bomb), Rhythmic AC KUMU and Hawaiian/Reggae KQMQ (HI 93).

According to the press release, The Wave “will now play a broader mix of familiar favorites from the Soft AC to Modern AC music formats,” targeting 25-54-year-old listeners “with a soothing music mix positioned as ‘Hawaii’s relaxing favorites.'”

Artists on The Wave’s playlist include the usual suspects like Adele, Bruno Mars, Celine Dion, Chicago, U2, Eagles, Madonna, Phil Collins, etc., including many local hits from Hawai’i-based artists like Kalapana, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, and C&K, among others. The station is currently cruising through some long, extended music sets focusing on its unique mix of relaxing hits.

While the flip did take KPOI out of a two-way Alternative skirmish with iHeartMedia’s KUCD (Star 101.9), the move into the AC lane does launch KPOI into a spirited three-way battle with iHeartMedia’s KSSK and SummitMedia’s KRTR (Krater 96.).