KAIM-FM explained

KAIM-FM
City:Honolulu, Hawaii
Area:Honolulu, Hawaii
Branding:Air1
Airdate:November 1, 1953
Frequency:95.5 MHz
Format:Christian worship
Erp:100,000 watts
Haat:565 meters
Class:C
Facility Id:10950
Owner:Educational Media Foundation
Affiliations:Air1
Webcast:Listen Live
Website:air1.com
Callsign Meaning:KAIMuki[1]
Sister Stations:KLUU
Licensing Authority:FCC

KAIM-FM (95.5 MHz "Air1") is a Christian worship radio station based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Educational Media Foundation outlet broadcasts with an ERP of 100 kW. Its studios are in Honolulu's Kalihi district, and its transmitter is near Akupu, Hawaii.

History

KAIM was the first commercial FM radio station in Hawai'i. It went on the air November 1, 1953,[2] having narrowly been beaten out by KVOK-FM for the distinction of being the first FM on the islands. The Christian Broadcasting Association, owned by the Reverend Billy Graham, owned KAIM and broadcast from studios and a transmitter on 12th Avenue[3] in the Kaimuki neighborhood, which gave rise to its callsign. An FM suffix was added in 1956 to coincide with the launch of KAIM on 870 AM; that station is today KHCM 880.

Even though KAIM has been a Contemporary Christian outlet since 1992, it wasn't until after Salem bought the station in 2000 that it adopted "The Fish" moniker and slogan.

On March 21, 2024, Salem announced it would sell KAIM-FM to the Educational Media Foundation. Upon closure of the sale, the station will continue broadcasting the contemporary Christian format, but will shift to EMF's Air 1 network, until then heard in Hawaii on KLUU-HD2 and translator 105.5 K288FB Honolulu.[4]

External links

21.393°N -158.097°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Kam School Opens First FM Station; Non-Commercial. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. October 10, 1953. April 15, 2019.
  2. News: Sunday Program Inaugurates F.M. Radio Service. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 3, 1953. April 15, 2019.
  3. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=71019 FCC History Cards for KAIM-FM
  4. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/265930/salem-sells-fishes-in-nashville-honolulu-to-emf/ Salem Sells Fishes in Nashville, Honolulu to EMF