Hawai?i Public Radio concluded its on-air pledge drive at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21, having raised $872,162. The drive broke several station records, including the amount raised on the first day of a drive ($80,947) and the number of first-time member sign-ups (922).
Two events during the course of this ten-day fundraiser distinguished it from previous drives. The third and final presidential debate fell on the eighth day of the drive, and the station opted to suspend its on-air appeals for three hours on both of its programming streams in order to carry the NPR broadcast and post-debate analysis. On the final day of the drive, HPR received word from the FCC that its East Hawai?i HPR-2 transmitter (KAHU 91.3) was approved, making possible the completion of the station's two-stream statewide network.
"This fund drive was a living example of Hawai?i Public Radio's community focus and the overwhelming support we receive from the community because they recognize that they 'own' it," said HPR President and General Manager José A. Fajardo. "This is a significant moment in the station's 35-year history and we are grateful for the contributions from each and every donor, volunteer, underwriter, Board and staff member that have brought us to this point."
In a departure from previous practice, the station will return to the air in the coming weeks to raise the remaining $64,000 to meet its original $936,000 goal for the campaign. "This will give us occasion to more fully celebrate with our listeners the actual completion of the East Hawai?i project and the long-held dream of coverage across the Hawaiian islands," said Fajardo.
