Kimo was first licensed in 1973, in Honolulu, as WH6IFN and spent two years as a Novice using an HW-16 and some crystals to work the world.
He upgraded to Amateur Extra and changed from KH6IFN to KH7U. He spent 44 years in the 2-way radio business.
He didn’t do much HF until 1993 after helping the delayed Kingman Reef / Palmyra DXpedition get out of town.
He has DXCC (a surprise application by his QSL manager). He enjoys chasing DX but doesn’t pursue the awards.
That may change now that he is retired in Honolulu.
He has traveled to Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Macao, China, Germany, Austria,
Italy, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Mauritius & Rodrigues, and several Pacific islands.
He has operated with many Multi-Multi teams in contests from KH6.
He has helped provision and been on expeditions:
K7K – Kure
K4M – Midway (1997)
XU1A- Cambodia
3B9R-Rodriguez Island
T32-
K5K -Kingman Reef,
KH7U/KH5 -Palmyra (several times), and
K4M - Midway 2009
He has assisted other expeditions transit through Honolulu including several searches for Amelia Earhart.
Kimo was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 2018 and received an award from the Yasme Foundation.
He is a member of the Ko’olau Amateur Radio Club (president)
Member of NCDXF
Lifetime member of the ARRL and
Founding member of the Dateline DX Association.