The general manager of KSSK Radio apologized yesterday for remarks by morning talk-show host Larry Price, who triggered a storm of criticism after he asked state Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser where he was born and whether he had blue eyes.

"Larry Price would like to apologize for the inappropriate personal comment directed to Senator Hooser during Friday morning's interview," Chuck Cotton said in a statement. "We value the trust that our listening 'ohana places in us and we extend our apologies to the senator, the residents of Hawai'i and to our KSSK listeners."

Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i, Ni'ihau), who was born in California but graduated from Radford High School and has lived in the Islands for 37 years, said he appreciated Cotton's statement but believes Price himself should apologize.

"He needs to acknowledge that negative comments relating to race or ethnicity have no place or useful purpose in Hawai'i," Hooser said.

Price's comments came as Hooser was being interviewed about the Senate's work during the session. The exchange went as follows:

Price: "You keep using the word 'honest,' senator; where you from?"

Hooser: "Where am I from? Kapa'a."

Price: "Yeah, where were you born and raised?"

Hooser: "I was born in California. I graduated high school at Radford High School."

Price: "You got blue eyes?"

Hooser: "(Laughs) I do. Does that matter?"

Price: "Yes, to us it does. Because when local people hear somebody from the Mainland talk about how honest everything is that means that something's wrong. You know when they say 'frankly' or 'honestly' we did a lot of things, you know and stuff like that, that sounds suspicious."

Hooser: "You know, I don't really appreciate a reference to where I'm from, from California, or my blue eyes, Mr. Price."

Price: "Well I don't care what you think."

Many listeners and readers, who either heard the interview live or in segments broadcast on KHNL News 8 or who read about it in The Advertiser, were appalled that Price would use a "local vs. haole" theme with the senator.

"Referring to Senator Hooser's blue eyes in such an obviously challenging manner is racist," wrote Sue and Basil Scott, from Kapa'a, in an e-mail. "Implying that Senator Hooser, a resident of 37 years, is malihini, can only deepen the kind of tensions that are rampant in our local high schools."

Leonard Couzijn, a Kailua real-estate broker who has lived in the Islands for four decades, said Price's comments perpetuate an "us against them" mentality between local and Mainland-born residents.

"It's almost like he's taking a page out of Don Imus' textbook," added Couzijn, comparing Price's remarks to the national radio host whose show was cancelled after he referred to Rutgers University women's basketball players as "nappy-headed hos."

Price, a former University of Hawai'i football coach, is a professor of human resource management at Chaminade University of Honolulu and a color commentator for high school football games on OC16. Price and his radio partner, Michael W. Perry, are the signature personalities on KSSK.

Derek Nakamura, an attorney, said he heard the interview with Hooser as he was driving his children to school. He said Perry & Price, as the top-rated morning radio hosts, can influence public opinion and should be more responsible.

"The implication was why should anyone in the Islands listen to a Mainland caucasian?" said Nakamura, who was born and raised in the state. "I couldn't believe what he was saying."

Last month, state Sen. Will Espero, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Waipahu), complained of a conflict of interest after Price wrote critically in his MidWeek column about the Senate's rejection of Iwalani White for director of the state Department of Public Safety. Espero said Price should have disclosed that his wife, May, worked for White at the department.

Price had written that White was "most likely denied acceptance by the legislators because she is a true Native Hawaiian and a minority. In her spare time she even teaches hula."

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.