1922. Honolulu, T.H. Cadet Harry B. Soria, Sr. and his Father, Harry G. Soria on the campus of Honolulu Military Academy following the day's Graduation ceremonies. My Dad is wearing the dress whites uniform as a graduate for the occasion, while my Grandfather is dressed as he always did. The campus of HMA was then located between 18th and 22nd Avenues in Kaimuki, now the site of Kaimuki Middle School. Sargent Kahanamoku was an underclassmen to Dad at HMA. In January of 1922, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalani'anaole passed away. Dad was in the HMA honor guard that stood in the overnight vigil for Prince Kuhio lying in state in Kawaihao Church prior to the Prince's funeral procession.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. is seen recording the show in his Fort Street Mall studio of Hawaiian 105 KINE. Both Harry B.’s father and grandfather were pioneering radiomen in Honolulu. Harry’s grandfather Harry G. worked at Hawaii’s first commercial radio station and was dubbed the Dean of Hawaiian Radio. His father, Harry B., Sr., earned the moniker the Voice of Hawaii.
Hana Hou Magazine - Hawaiian Airlines - Dec 2014 issue
Record numbers: Harry B. Soria, Jr. has amassed a vast collection of recordings – over ten thousand discs, with the earliest dating from before World War I. (However, there are over 70,000 separate recordings if each individual recorded selection from all sources in the TA Archives is counted.) Every week the devoted DJ draws from his treasure trove to create Territorial Airwaves.
Hana Hou Magazine - Hawaiian Airlines - Dec 2014 issue
On Air: Territorial Airwaves can be heard on the radio in Hawaii every week on Fridays at noon and Sundays at 5 p.m. at AM 940 and it’s on the web at territorialairwaves.com.
Hana Hou Magazine - Hawaiian Airlines - Dec 2014 issue. A few samples from the 10,000+ rare vintage Hawaiian recordings in the Territorial Airwaves archives.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. broadcasting on 1420 AM KCCN radio in Honolulu, Hawaii. Much of the equipment pictured here in the KCCN studio of 1980 is no longer used in the industry, such as cart machines and reel to reel tape machines. But Harry B. continues to create the sound of yesteryear in today's state-of-the-art facilities.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. did not follow his father directly into radio. He instead took a brief detour as the lead singer for a Hawaii-based blues rock band named, "The Blues Crew". The popular combo were in the Musician's Union, and performed at the Waikiki Shell, Honolulu International Center (NBC), and clubs in Waikiki. Harry B. was able to polish his emcee skills for the eventual radio career.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. exits the shore break at Sandy Beach just after the ride in the previous photo. Australian Surf Mats were made from durable canvas and rubber, and were the state-of-the-art body surfing floatation devices prior to the invention of the Morey Boogey Board.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. spent much of his youth bodysurfing at Sandy Beach, on O'ahu's Eastern shore. Before Morey Boogie Boards were invented, the flotation device of choice for hard core body surfers was the Australian Surf Mat. Here Harry B. rips a long right from way outside at 'Pyramids' on the Blow Hole side of the Sandy Beach shore break.
Graduation Day. Millie Soria and her son, Harry B. Soria, Jr. Harry B. likes to refer to the institution as "Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalani'anaole Memorial High School", but the State of Hawaii prefers to name it as "Kalani High School". The ceremony was held at the Waikiki Shell.
The September 1999 issue of Honolulu Magazine featured this photo and a nice article saluting the 20th anniversary of the Territorial Airwaves radio show, hosted by Harry B. Soria, Jr. Ironically, the internet was about to become an additional vehicle for the weekly broadcast.
Territorial Airwaves is proud to be one of the in-flight audio program offerings from Hawaiian Airlines, "We'll Take You There". This page was featured in the "Hana Hou" inflight magazine several years ago.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. emcees the 95th Birthday tribute to the late great Alfred Aholo Apaka at the Tapa Bar of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. Jeff Apaka led a bevy of Hawaii's entertainers in a memorial show for the Golden Baritone of Hawaii on Sunday, March 16, 2014. (Photo: Colleen Ricci)
Maestro Aaron Mahi and Harry B. Soria, Jr. talk back stage at the 95th observance of Alfred Aholo Apaka's birthday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. Entertainment included Jeff Apaka, Amy Hainaialii, and many more. Harry B. emceed. (Photo Colleen Ricci)
In 1986, Harry B. Soria, Jr. began a long-running relationship with the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. Every May for 11 years, Harry B. would broadcast Territorial Airwaves shows from the shopping center's stage in Waikiki. An artist working in the mall persuaded Harry B. to sit on his stool and gifted him with this sketch portrait, circa 1986.
In the late 1990s, Harry B. Soria, Jr. was invited by Mike Kelly, the GM of our radio cluster in Hawaii at the time, to leave 1420 AM KCCN, and join Hawaiian 105 KINE FM. This was his first publicity photo for the new station. Harry B. continues to serve as a proud 'Weekend Warrior" of Hawaiian 105.
