R.I.P.: Skylark Rossetti, Hawaii Radio Legend

Skylark Rossetti

Hawaii broadcasting legend Jacqueline Leilani “Skylark” Rossetti died of renal failure early this afternoon at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu.

She was 65, according to hawaiitribune-herald.com.

A 1971 graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama in Honolulu, she studied art at San Francisco City College and began her education on her occupation-to-be on the college’s radio station. After returning home in the early 1970s, she worked on air at KNDI-AM in Honolulu before becoming the midday personality in a legendary air staff at Honolulu’s KCCN-AM that included Kimo Kahoano and the late Krash Kealoha.

Rossetti called herself “The Honolulu Skylark” after an early Hawaii airplane, later shortening the name to simply “Skylark.” Broadcasting Hawaiian music, she was integral in the rise of Hawaii superstars such as the Sunday Manoa, the Brothers Cazimero and the Makaha Sons of Niihau.

With a mellifluous voice and flawless delivery, Rossetti also was in demand as an emcee and commercial voice-over artist.

With Kahoano and Kealoha, Rossetti was a co-founder of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards recognizing Hawaii’s music and musicians. She won her own Hoku statuettes in 1993 and 1996, and the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. In addition, she was recognized as Outstanding Hawaiian Woman of the Year in 1984 and Broadcaster of the Year in 1991.

Rossetti, Kahoano and Kealoha also were part of the Class of 2017 inductees into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

In May 1990, Rossetti helped put KCCN-FM 100 on the air and its popularity was immediate, becoming No. 1 in ratings within a year. In 1992, she moved to Hilo and worked first for KWXX-FM and later for KAPA-FM.