In an old plantation house in 'Ewa Beach, Augie T — new morning-drive personality on 93.1 The Zone (KQMQ FM) — is making local radio history, broadcasting from a bedroom once occupied by his son.

"The house is air-conditioned and enclosed, so no one can hear the rubbish truck picking up the trash in the morning," said Augie, who uses a laptop, microphone and a network of allied equipment to fill the state's airwaves with his program. He's the first Hawai'i radio personality with that kind of reach.

"No one bothers me; I like it like that," said the comedian-DJ, whose full name is Augie Tulba.

Augie became the first local commercial radio personality to be heard statewide last Tuesday, with simulcasts on Q103.7 Maui (KNUQ FM, also heard in Kona on the Big Island) and 102.3 Moloka'i (KMKK FM) during the morning, and on The Surf 95.9 on Kaua'i (KSRF FM) in an afternoon drive-time slot. But the boost builds on a practice he started more than a year ago, with mobile broadcasts to the Neighbor Islands.

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

"I've missed talking to (Ho-nolulu) people, so I'm really looking forward to this," Tulba said last week. "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."

The novel thing is that Augie won't be in or near a radio station's studio. He's working outside the box, continuing a risky but successful experiment he started 14 months ago when he broke loose, broadcasting from wherever he might be — whether at home or on the road in New Orleans, as he was during last month's 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 onetime ratings champ KQMQ.

Augie abandoned the norm by opting to go mobile, but he's made it work.

"He's very popular ... and he outworks the competition," said Aeto.

"I bought a $1,000 mike, and everything I need is inside that mike ... which just pops into the computer," said Augie.

He broadcasts from home with a frequent co-star in his stand-up shows, Timmy Mattos, along with a sidekick identified only as Haole Girl.

"She's my wife's best friend,"Augie revealed. "She comes to the house with Timmy every morning, and we do the show. But we meet the night before to plan what we'll do the next day."

When Augie's working at home, his wife Kim makes coffee and keeps his young kids out of earshot of the mikes. When he's not on the air, his daughter, Mahea, 7, likes to practice her singing on the mike. "She wants to be the local Hannah Montana," he says, proudly.

Should his 'ohana happen by while he's broadcasting, they openly intervene, as they've done on his TV series. "Could be my son; or my mom and dad, they all jump in."

Augie augments live radio with stand-up comedy, launching a new series of shows Thursday, Valentine's Day, at the Pagoda's La Salle restaurant.

He multitasks to keep his profile high, doing commercials, appearances and recordings because he adores the challenge — and says he can get by with four hours sleep (and a periodic power nap).

His wide-ranging formats — KQMQ on O'ahu airs Top 40 hits, KNUQ on Maui (and Kona) is largely Jawaiian, and KMKK on Moloka'i is strictly Hawaiian — indicate his demographic appeal is wide among young, old and in-between.

"I hardly talk music; I keep the music and talk half-half; and it's worked so far," he said.

At each station, a producer tends to the music, which Augie never hears. When one island has breaking news, the producers inform him —and he'll be on top of it.

"With technology, I can work this show from wherever I am," he said. "I refuse to sit in a studio all day; this way, I can travel, do shows anywhere, and still be on the radio."

And travel he does. The radio shows always are done live, with Augie making time adjustments depending on where he's at.

"I've been to Japan, Okinawa, Saipan, New Orleans, Los Angeles, everywhere," he said.

"Technology allows us to go crazy and have fun," said Augie. "And the value is, we bring a different breed of entertainment to listeners."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.