▁on ▁all ▁the ▁major ▁islands . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Prior ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁K IK U ▁call sign ▁in ▁Hon ol ulu ▁Although ▁the ▁station ▁advert ises ▁on - air ▁that ▁it ▁has ▁been ▁on ▁the ▁air ▁for ▁" over ▁ 4 0 ▁years ," ▁the ▁" current ▁K IK U " ▁is ▁not ▁to ▁be ▁confused ▁with ▁another ▁station ▁in ▁Hon ol ulu ▁on ▁V H F ▁channel ▁ 1 3 ▁that ▁formerly ▁used ▁the ▁K IK U ▁call ▁letters . ▁That ▁station ▁launched ▁as ▁independent ▁station ▁K TR G - TV ▁on ▁July ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁under ▁the ▁ownership ▁of ▁the ▁Wat um ull ▁Broadcast ing ▁Company . ▁That ▁station ▁was ▁sold ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 6 , ▁changing ▁its ▁call ▁letters ▁to ▁K IK U . ▁The ▁original ▁K IK U ▁became ▁quite ▁popular ▁with ▁Hawai ian ▁children ▁throughout ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s , ▁televis ing ▁several ▁Japanese ▁to k us ats u ▁shows , ▁including ▁K amen ▁R ider ▁V 3 , ▁K ika ider , ▁Rain bow man , ▁Gan bare !! ▁Rob o con , ▁Him its u ▁Sent ai ▁G oren ger ▁and ▁Battle ▁F ever ▁J . ▁ ▁The ▁C ush mans ▁of ▁San ▁Diego , ▁in ▁partners hip ▁with ▁TV ▁As ah i ▁and ▁ten ▁local ▁invest ors , ▁formed ▁Mid - P ac ific ▁Television ▁Associ ates ▁and ▁purchased ▁channel ▁ 1 3 ▁on ▁April ▁ 9 , ▁ 1 9 7 9