When Augie T makes his debut from 5:30 to 10 a.m. today on 93.1 The Zone (also known as KQMQ-FM), he'll be making local radio history.

The comedian-DJ, whose full name is Augie Tulba, will become the first local commercial radio personality to be heard statewide, with simulcasts on Q103 Maui (KNUQ-FM, also heard in Kona on the Big Island) and 102.3 Moloka'i (KMKK-FM) during the morning, and a third delayed broadcast on The Surf 95.9 on Kaua'i (KSRF-FM) in an afternoon drive-time slot.

Next month, Augie adds a fifth station in Hilo, with a morning simulcast on The Beach 102.1 (KTBH-FM).

"I've missed talking to (Honolulu) people, so I'm really looking forward to this," Tulba said yesterday, moments after deplaning from a trip to Saipan, where he raised scholarships for youths in the Mariana Islands.

"KQMQ has been a station I listened to over the years, with folks like Michael Qseng and Willie Moku. My goal is to get the station where it used to be: up in the ratings."

Tulba will continue broadcasting from his home studio or out on the road, as he has been doing for the past 14 months, including a New Orleans stint at the Sugar Bowl.

"He's been extremely strong on the Neighbor Islands - No. 1 on Maui and No. 1 on Moloka'i (where he has no competition, since that's the lone station on the Friendly Isle)," said John Aeto, general manager of Visionary Related Entertainment, which operates 20 stations here, including one-time ratings champ KQMQ.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.