Hey, it’s me Lani…Thanks so much for choosing Country Legends 1069!  I’m on the air from 5:30am-10am.

Every time I sit down to write a “new” profile, I have to ask someone how long I’ve worked at this radio station.  This time I asked Marlena…she remembers everything!  She didn’t exactly remember so we figured it out…together!  Apparently, I physically joined this staff two weeks after 9-11…that was 2001, so I’ve been here ten years and two months…WOW!

I think I mentioned in one of my Newsletter’s recently that I’ve been reflecting a lot because I have some Big milestones:  10 years here at Country Legends, 25 years in radio, and finally I will turn 50 coming up March 2012.  I think that’s enough, don’t you?

Unbelievable and Oh my gosh I’m getting old.  That’s what I think of when I look at that list!  I can’t believe all of the “stuff” I’ve done in the past 10 years, not to mention the last 25.  Certainly, the best years of my career have happened right here at Country Legends.  All of my radio experience matters because it helped me get to the place where I am now…it’s ALL relevant.  And, even though I’m feeling really old right now I’m so happy to be in this place in my life.  I’m happy, healthy and great with who and what  I am.

I’m at a point in my career where I don’t feel as though I have anything left to prove…That’s Big, because we spend a ton of years just trying to prove we’re good enough to stay in the radio business.  And, if management here decided tomorrow that it was time to make a change for the Morning Show and that change didn’t include me…I wouldn’t be happy because I LOVE my job but I would understand.  And I wouldn’t feel like a failure at what I’ve been doing for the past 25 years.  (FOR MANAGEMENT’S EYES…I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT I WOULD PROBABLY DIE OF A BROKEN HEART! Do you want to be responsible for that?  Didn’t think so!)

One of the highlights of my life (so far) happened this past February, when 200 listeners, flew to Hawaii to meet my family and then went on a 7-day cruise of the Hawaiian Islands.  All of us gathered in downtown Honolulu for lunch, and I can’t remember the last time I felt so proud, standing in front of this group with family members sitting in front of me.  Even now looking back I get emotional about it.  It was the Best!  I was so proud to sit and listen to my auntie Owana talk about the history of my family and how we are part of the Royal Dynasty that ruled the Hawaiian Islands.

Roger & I went to Hawaii a couple of weeks before everyone else arrived, so that we could spend some quality time with the family!  During that time, my uncle Phil & auntie Owana bestowed me with the honor of having my grandmother’s name…I didn’t stop crying for three days!  What an honor.  My grandmother was the matriarch of the family and an amazing wonderful person.  Each time I go to Hawaii, the first thing I do is go to The Punchbowl Cemetery to take flowers to her grave.  I’ve always felt that she’s my guardian angel, even when she was still alive.  All of us gathered at the Royal Church (downtown Honolulu) to celebrate her life, and it was honestly the most wonderful funeral I’ve ever attended.  So, my uncle Phil explained to me…the day they gave me her name that I had been chosen (by our family) to continue where my grandmother left off, to be the leader of our family!  And I could not be more honored.  My grandmother’s name…that is now my name:  Kaloiokalani.

I will never forget that trip…and hopefully those of you who were there won’t forget it either.  I remember my uncle Phil kept saying…”they want to meet us, really?”  It was all just SO cool.

Anyway, I can’t Thank You enough…for always supporting this radio station and me!  A day doesn’t go by in my life when I don’t feel completely Loved…that’s because of you.  

Roger and I are still living in Meriden.  Now, looking for property AGAIN to build on (I’m not even going to get into that story). Until then, we’re having lots of fun with:  Camelot, Mr. Magumbus, Lil Girl, Samantha and Chloe (three cats, two dogs).

Big Hug,

Lani

This is me and wonderful friend Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys!