It’s 6 a.m., and among the stillness of the morning, A.M. drive-time radio show hosts across the island are in their studios ready to wake the Big Island up.
Big Island radio veteran and new Native FM morning personality Edgar “Eddie O” Ombac is among the group as he rejoins the morning rush following a two-and-a-half year radio hiatus.
Ombac, a Seattle native, tells Big Island Now that he has had his heart attached to the Big Island since the late 1980’s, when he spent time in the islands following high school. He would later go on to attend college to study teaching in the Philippines.
During his four year stretch in the Philippines, Ombac got a start in student-based radio. One semester short from graduating, he made the trek back to the United States to pursue a radio career. After spending two years in Seattle radio, Ombac was ready for a new adventure and returned to Hawai’i.
Ombac chose the Big Island and met with radio again, this time at Kailua FM.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
From there, Ombac became a well-circulated personality and his Big Island career took off. With an extensive radio presence, Ombac worked in both solo and team radio shows, bringing not only information, but also a fun and light-hearted feel to radio.
Radio isn’t the only career Ombac has dabbled in. For the past two and a half years, Ombac has worked with BioAstin, a job he says goes together nicely with his strong love for triathlons and being an endurance athlete.
“Radio is a bit of an addiction. I couldn’t ever stay away,” Ombac said
In his new show, Ombac weaves in lighthearted “babooze news” and the latest in entertainment in his “morning buzz.” Despite being a jokester by nature, he believes the important part of the job is providing information to the community he’s grown to be an intricate part of.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
Ombac’s return to radio falls into an exciting time in his life, as he was recently picked out of the Hawai’i Ironman lottery after completing the Ironman 70.3 Honu in May.
“The Ironman is the Super Bowl of triathlons. If I went to the Super Bowl, I couldn’t go on the field and share space with those guys,” said Ombac. “With the Ironman World Championships, these are the best of the best in the sport. These are the best triathletes in the world.”
Aside from his busy schedule of radio hosting and endurance training, Ombac admits that what really “mellows him out” are his bonsai plants. “I’m really into pruning and training them. It just calms me.”
Another thing Ombac thinks might surprise listeners? His taste in radio. Despite his love for his job and the music he plays, Ombac says that he really enjoys informational radio and human stories. Among his favorites are the Big Island’s ESPN Radio and National Public Radio.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
A radio personality, an endurance athlete preparing for the Ironman World Championships, a BioAstin sales executive, and father of twin college-aged daughters, Ombac describes his Big Island life as “lucky.”
“I’m lucky,” Ombac says in reflection. “I’m definitely lucky.”
“The O Show” can be heard weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Native FM, which can be found at 95.9 KPVS in Hilo and 93.9 KLUA in Kona. The show is also available online at NativeFM.com
Native FM is part of Pacific Media Group, the parent company of BigIslandNow.com.
This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments
