The Celebration 2014 Pledge drive came to an end on Thursday, October 16th, at 7:45 in the morning. Hawai'i Public Radio had previously suspended the drive after a shortfall of nearly $232,000. The station returned to the air four days later to seek the remaining funds needed, and eventually exceeded the $1.3 million goal by $7,131.
Storms a few days before the start of the drive had knocked out HECO power lines to the relay facility on the Summit of Mt. Ka‘ala in the Wai‘anae range. The facility was responsible for broadcasting to O?ahu’s North Shore and Kaua?i. It was thought that an endangered tree snail and the timing of its mating season prevented crews from accessing the transmitter. But as it turns out, we had been misinformed. The tree snail is endangered, but it wasn’t the snails that were the problem… instead, it was the response to coordinate different groups to service the protected area that moved at a “snail ’s pace” to service the area.
Power was returned to the HPR-2 transmitter during the last days of the drive. HPR-1’s signal was restored a few days later.
Hawaii Public Radio would like to thank all of our members and supporters for their help and patience through this campaign. And our apologies to the little tree snails that were mistakenly blamed for the slowdown.
The original story can be found below:
[As Hawai‘i Public Radio’s fall fund drive Celebration 2014 proceeds at its breakneck pace towards its $1.03 million goal, an O‘ahu tree snail colony asserts its own timeline.
Recent storms knocked out HECO power lines to the radio station’s relay facility at the summit of Mount Ka‘ala in the Wai‘anae range, the island’s highest peak at 4,025 feet. At that facility, two boosters beam both HPR-1 and HPR-2 signals to the east and south sides of Kaua‘i, as well as to O‘ahu’s North Shore; a microwave relay also sends signals to KIPL 89.9 in Lihu‘e. Station generators carried the signal for several days, but ran out of fuel on September 30, the eve of the pledge drive.
Normally, HECO would have been able to repair the electrical line with little delay, but in this instance the location where the repair is required has been identified as the habitat of one of the species of the endangered tree snails – and it’s mating season. To enter the area, HECO crews will need to be accompanied by representatives from Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Coordination between these various entities is underway.
Hawai‘i Public Radio waits patiently for the snails to finish their business, and asks listeners on Kaua‘i and the North Shore to find their favorite programs, plus updates on Celebration 2014 (anticipated close on Friday, October 10), via live streaming, its free mobile app, or cable broadcasts.]
