Hawaii Radio Stations Directory

Complete guide to FM and AM radio stations across all Hawaiian Islands

81

Total Stations

26 AM + 55 FM

55

FM Stations

Statewide Coverage

26

AM Stations

News, Talk & More

4

Major Markets

Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai

📻 Table of Contents

🌺 Hawaii Radio Market Overview

Hawaii hosts 81 operational radio stations (26 AM and 55 FM) serving the state's unique geography spanning eight major islands. The radio market emphasizes formats tailored to the region's multicultural population and visitors, including Hawaiian and island contemporary music, which highlight local culture and attract tourists seeking authentic experiences.

📊 Market Ranking: Honolulu ranks #63 in Nielsen Audio markets with a population of 860,900 (January 2024 data).

Format Highlights

  • Hawaiian & Island Music: Unique formats featuring slack-key guitar, hapa haole tunes, and contemporary Hawaiian hits
  • Multicultural Programming: Urban contemporary, Asian music, and ethnic programs in multiple languages
  • Public Radio: Hawaii Public Radio operates 15 frequencies statewide with NPR news and classical music
  • Community Radio: Non-commercial, listener-supported stations like KTUH and KKCR
  • Mainstream Commercial: Top 40, Country, Hip-Hop, Classic Rock, Adult Contemporary

2024 Market Changes

Ownership in Hawaii's markets reflects consolidation trends, with major groups like Pacific Media Group and SummitMedia controlling significant portions of commercial stations. Recent acquisitions, such as Akamai Broadcasting's 2024 purchase of six outlets from Visionary Related Entertainment, have introduced new players and format refreshes.

🏝️ Oahu Radio Stations (Honolulu)

Oahu, the most populous island with over 1 million residents concentrated in the Honolulu metropolitan area, dominates the state's radio landscape with approximately 37 active full-power AM and FM outlets. High-power operations, often up to 100 kW for FM stations, enable robust coverage across the urban density.

⭐ Top-Rated Oahu Stations

KSSK 92.3 FM / 590 AM TOP RATED

Format: Adult Contemporary - "Hawaii's Feel Good Favorites"

Owner: iHeartMedia

KSSK holds atop the overall Hawaii radio rankings with a 13.1 share among persons 12+. The heritage station is powered by morning show "Perry and Price" with 39-year veteran Michael W. Perry.

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Hawaiian 105 KINE 105.1 FM HAWAIIAN MUSIC

Format: Hawaiian Adult Contemporary

Owner: SummitMedia

The only radio station in Hawaii that strictly plays music by Hawaiian artists. KINE plays Hawaiian songs from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, targeting 25-54 listeners of Hawaiian descent.

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KCCN FM100 100.3 FM CONTEMPORARY HAWAIIAN

Format: Hawaiian Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR)

Owner: SummitMedia

Honolulu's first FM station in this genre to target young adults of Hawaiian/Pacific Islander descent with upbeat contemporary Hawaiian music. Sister station to KINE-FM but aims at younger Hawaiian listeners.

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Oahu FM Stations

FrequencyCall SignFormatBranding
88.1 FMKHPRNPR News/TalkHawaii Public Radio HPR-1
89.3 FMKIPOClassical MusicHawaii Public Radio HPR-2
90.3 FMKTUHFreeform/CollegeUniversity of Hawaii Radio
92.3 FMKSSKAdult ContemporaryKSSK - Hawaii's Feel Good Favorites
92.5 FMKLHIHawaiian/ReggaeHI 92 - Today's Island Hits Hawaiian Reggae
93.1 FMKQMQIsland HitsHI 93 - Hawaii's Local Hits
93.9 FMKUBTHip-Hop93.9 THE BEAT - Hawaii's #1 For Hip-Hop
94.7 FMKUMUClassic HitsKUMU - Hawaii's Old School Station
95.5 FMKAIMContemporary ChristianThe Fish
96.3 FMKRTR80s/90s HitsKrater 96
97.5 FM-CountryCountry 97.5
98.5 FMKDNNReggaeIsland 98.5 - Hawaiian Style and Reggae
99.5 FMKHUISoft ACThe Jewel
100.3 FMKCCNHawaiian CHRFM100 The Legend
101.9 FMKUCDTop 40Star 101.9 - 90's and Today
102.7 FMKDDBHip-Hop/HitsDa Bomb
104.3 FMKPHWHip-Hop/Top 40Power 104.3
105.1 FMKINEHawaiian ACHawaiian 105 KINE
105.9 FMKPOIClassic RockAlt 105.9
107.9 FMKGMZOldiesDecades 107.9 - Kool Gold

Oahu AM Stations

FrequencyCall SignFormatDetails
590 AMKSSKHits/News/TrafficKSSK-AM
650 AMKRTRVariousKRTR-AM
690 AMKHNRNews/TalkThe Answer Hawaii
760 AMKGUChristianKGU Honolulu Christian
830 AMKHVHNews RadioKHVH News Radio
940 AMKKNENews/CommunityAM 940 Hawaii
990 AMKHBZSports TalkFox Sports 990
1210 AMKZOOJapanese PopKZOO Hawaii/Japanese Pop Radio
1270 AMKNDIMulticulturalVoices from Around the World: Ilocano, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cantonese, Samoan, Tongan & other ethnic programs
1420 AMKKEASportsESPN 1420 Sports Radio

🎵 Hawaiian Music Stations

Hawaii is unique among U.S. states for its dedicated Hawaiian music radio formats, preserving and promoting indigenous Hawaiian culture through contemporary and traditional island music.

Hawaiian 105 KINE 105.1 FM

Location: Honolulu, Oahu

Owner: SummitMedia

Format: Hawaiian Adult Contemporary

Target Audience: 25-54 listeners of Hawaiian descent

Programming: KINE plays Hawaiian songs from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and is praised as "the only radio station in Hawaii that strictly plays music by Hawaiian artists." Features interviews with local musicians and community figures.

Studios: Fort Street near Nimitz Highway in Downtown Honolulu

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KCCN FM100 100.3 FM

Location: Honolulu, Oahu

Owner: SummitMedia

Format: Hawaiian Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR)

First Broadcast: May 21, 1990

Programming: Plays "All of Today's Hawaiian Hit Music" with upbeat contemporary Hawaiian music. Honolulu's first FM station in this genre to target young adults of Hawaiian/Pacific Islander descent.

Power: 100 kW ERP

Sister Station: KINE-FM (purchased by then KCCN-FM owner B.J. Glascock in 1993). KCCN-FM aims at younger Hawaiian listeners while KINE-FM targets older audiences.

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Island 98.5 KDNN 98.5 FM

Format: Hawaiian Style and Reggae

Location: Honolulu, Oahu

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KPOA 93.5 FM

Format: Hawaiian Music, Maui Style

Location: Maui

Dedicated to Hawaiian music genres, broadcasting traditional and contemporary tracks that resonate with tourists exploring Maui's cultural sites and extend signals to Lanai for broader reach.

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KAPA Hawaiian FM - Big Island

Format: The Music of Hawai'i

Location: Hawaii Island (Big Island)

Broadcasts Hawaiian music genres including slack-key guitar and hapa haole tunes.

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HI92 Maui 92.5 FM (KLHI)

Format: Today's Island Hits Hawaiian Reggae

Location: Maui

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📡 Hawaii Public Radio (NPR Affiliate)

Hawaiʻi Public Radio (HPR) is a network of listener-supported, public radio stations broadcasting two streams on 15 frequencies across the state of Hawaii. It is a member of National Public Radio (NPR).

Founded: November 13, 1981 with KHPR 88.1 FM in Honolulu
Programming: Two statewide streams (HPR-1 and HPR-2)
Available: FM radio, cable TV (Charter Spectrum channels 864/865, Hawaiian Telcom 661/662), and online streaming since 2001

HPR-1 (News & Talk)

HPR-1 focuses on news and information by day, with jazz and other music in the evening and BBC World Service overnight. Daytime schedule includes NPR's weekday shows:

  • Morning Edition
  • All Things Considered
  • Here and Now
  • On Point
  • Fresh Air
  • The Conversation - HPR's own weekday news and current affairs program

HPR-2 (Classical Music)

HPR-2 is mostly classical music, with some hours supplied by Classical 24.

Frequencies by Island

IslandHPR-1 (News/Talk)HPR-2 (Classical)
Oʻahu88.1 KHPR89.3 KIPO
Kauaʻi89.9 KIPL, 88.1 KHPR101.7 K269GD, 89.3 KIPO
Lānaʻi90.7 KKUA, 103.1 KJHF89.7 KIPM
Maui90.7 KKUA, 103.1 KJHF89.7 KIPM, 88.3 KIPH (Hāna)
Molokaʻi90.7 KKUA, 103.1 KJHF89.7 KIPM
Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island)88.1 KHPR, 88.7 KHPH (Kailua-Kona, signed on Feb 13, 2013)89.3 KIPO

Visit Hawaii Public Radio Website

🎙️ Community Radio Stations

Community Radio Stations are not the same as Public Radio Stations (HPR) or Commercial radio stations. There are only 286 community radio stations licensed by the FCC. Community radio stations are operated, owned, and influenced by the communities they serve. They are generally nonprofit and provide a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own stories.

KTUH 90.3 FM - Honolulu

Type: Non-commercial, student-run, listener-supported

Owner: University of Hawaiʻi

Format: Freeform Radio

First Broadcast: July 7, 1969 (Hawaii's first non-commercial FM station)

Studios: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus

Power: 7,000 watts ERP

Transmitter: Mount Tantalus in Honolulu

Programming: As a diversified representative station in a multicultural environment, many musical genres are heard over the course of each week, including Jazz, Hawaiian, Latino Sounds, Hip-Hop, Punk, Alternative Rock, Metal, Goth, Reggae, Electronic, Alternative Country, World Music and more. Operates 24 hours a day, all year round.

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KKCR 90.9 FM - Kaua'i

Type: Community Radio

Owner: Kekahu Foundation

Format: Variety (Hawaiian, jazz, blues, R&B, rock, reggae, classical and world music)

Branding: "Ke Kani O Kauaʻi Nei ~ The Sound of Kauaʻi"

Frequencies: 90.9FM in Hanalei, 91.9FM islandwide, 92.7FM in Moloaʻa, 88.9FM on Oʻahu

Founded: Late 1980s by Janet Friend, Roy Richardson, Richard Fernandez, Jon and Lorraine Scott, and other Island residents

Mission: Create a radio station to serve Island residents, withstand extreme weather conditions and provide emergency information to isolated residents. Provides one of the primary Emergency Alert System signals on Kauaʻi.

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🌴 Maui County Radio Stations

Approximately 15 full-power FM and AM outlets provide broad coverage across Maui County's rugged terrain, fostering community connections and promoting Hawaiian genres such as slack-key guitar and hapa haole tunes. Stations extend coverage to Maui, Molokai, and Lanai islands.

Ownership: Pacific Media Group controls a significant portion of commercial stations, while Akamai Broadcasting's 2024 acquisition of six outlets from Visionary Related Entertainment has introduced new players and format refreshes.

Maui FM Stations

FrequencyCall SignFormat/BrandingDetails
91.5 FMKEAOCommunity RadioMana'o Radio - Wailuku (91.7FM) - Maui's widest variety of music
92.5 FMKLHIHawaiian/ReggaeHI92 - Today's Island Hits
93.5 FMKPOAHawaiian MusicKPOA - Hawaiian Music, Maui Style
93.5 FMKONGVariousKong Radio Group
94.3 FMKDLXCountryMaui's Country
95.1 FMKAOIAdult ContemporaryAdult Contemporary and Hawaiian
95.9 FMSURFVariousSURF 95.9 - Kong Radio Group
98.3 FMKJMDRhythmic CHRDa Jam 98.3 - Real Hits, Rhythmic, Island, Reggae
102.1 FM-90s/2000s PopRetro 102.1 - Best rhythm and pop of the 90's and 2000's
103.3 FMSHAKARockSHAKA 103.3 - Kong Radio Group
103.7 FMKNUQRoots/Rock/ReggaeQ103 Maui
105.5 FMKPMWParty HitsWild 105 Party Station
106.5 FMKRYLModern CountryY-106.5 - Maui's only Modern Country station (80s, 90s, 2000s + today's hottest)

Maui AM Stations

FrequencyCall SignFormatDetails
900 AMKMVISports/NewsESPN Maui - News and sports coverage
1110 AMKAOIAdult ContemporaryKAOI-AM - Complements 95.1 FM

🌋 Big Island (Hawaii Island) Radio Stations

Big Island stations employ multiple transmitters or boosters to ensure coverage from the wet eastern side around Hilo to the drier western regions near Kailua-Kona, addressing the island's 4,028 square miles of challenging geography. Many incorporate bilingual programming in English and Hawaiian, with formats emphasizing island music, community news, and public affairs tailored to rural listeners.

Big Island FM Stations

FrequencyCall SignLocationFormatDetails
88.1 FMKHPRBig IslandNPR News/TalkHawaii Public Radio HPR-1
88.7 FMKHPHKailua-KonaNPR News/TalkHawaii Public Radio HPR-1 (signed on February 13, 2013 for West Hawaii)
89.3 FMKIPOBig IslandClassicalHawaii Public Radio HPR-2
92.1 FMKONAKonaHawaiian/Rock/Blues/Jazz/ReggaeKHBC Radio
92.7 FMKHBCHiloHawaiian/Rock/Blues/Jazz/ReggaeKHBC Radio
94.7 FMKWXXHiloIsland ContemporaryKWXX - Hawaii's Feel Good Island Music Station
97.1 FMKNWBHiloClassic HitsB97 Classic Hits East Hawaii
97.9 FMKKBGHiloAdult ContemporaryKBIG - Todays Hits - Yesterdays Favorites
101.5 FMKAOYKonaIsland ContemporaryKWXX Sister Station
105.3 FMLAVAKonaTop 40Biggest Hits
106.1 FMKLEOKonaAdult ContemporaryKBIG KONA
-KAPABig IslandHawaiian MusicKAPA Hawaiian FM - The Music of Hawai'i

Big Island AM Stations

FrequencyCall SignFormatDetails
1060 AMKHBCCollege RadioUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo Radio

🌊 Kauai Radio Stations

Kauai, the northernmost and oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, hosts a modest cluster of active full-power radio stations that serve its approximately 73,000 residents and eco-tourism visitors, emphasizing local Hawaiian music, community voices, and formats attuned to the island's remote, nature-oriented lifestyle.

Kauai FM Stations

FrequencyCall SignFormat/BrandingDetails
88.9 FMKKCRCommunity RadioKKCR Kaua'i Community Radio (also on Oahu)
89.9 FMKIPLNPR News/TalkHawaii Public Radio HPR-1
90.9 FMKKCRCommunity RadioKKCR - Music and News (Hanalei)
91.9 FMKKCRCommunity RadioKKCR Islandwide frequency
92.7 FMKKCRCommunity RadioKKCR Moloaʻa
93.5 FMKGNGContemporary/CountryKONG Radio
95.0 FMHI95Island HitsHI95 Kauai
101.7 FMK269GDClassicalHawaii Public Radio HPR-2
104.7 FMKAQACommunity RadioKAQA & KKCR Kaua'i Community Radio

🎧 Listen to Hawaii Radio Stations Online

Most Hawaii radio stations offer live streaming audio feeds accessible from anywhere in the world. Many stations are available through:

  • Station websites - Direct streaming from individual station sites
  • iHeartRadio - Hosts many commercial Hawaii stations
  • TuneIn Radio - Aggregates Hawaii stations
  • Cable TV - Charter Spectrum (digital channels 864/865) and Hawaiian Telcom TV (channels 661/662) carry Hawaii Public Radio statewide

Browse All USA Live Streaming Radio Stations

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

As of 2025, Hawaii hosts 81 operational radio stations, consisting of 26 AM stations and 55 FM stations across the eight major islands. Oahu alone has approximately 37 active full-power AM and FM outlets, making it the dominant radio market in the state due to its population of over 1 million residents in the Honolulu metropolitan area. The remaining stations are distributed across Maui County (approximately 15 stations), Hawaii Island/Big Island (multiple stations with transmitters covering both Hilo and Kona sides), and Kauai (modest cluster serving 73,000 residents).

KSSK 92.3 FM / 590 AM is the most popular radio station in Hawaii, consistently holding the top position in overall Hawaii radio rankings. The iHeartMedia-owned Adult Contemporary station achieves a 13.1 share among persons 12+, making it the only AC station in Nielsen's markets 51-100 with a double-digit share. KSSK's dominance is powered by the morning show "Perry and Price" (formerly "Perry and the Posse") with 39-year KSSK veteran Michael W. Perry. The station's branding as "Hawaii's Feel Good Favorites" resonates with a broad demographic across Oahu, and its simulcast on 590 AM extends reach even further.

Hawaii has several dedicated Hawaiian music radio stations:
  • Hawaiian 105 KINE (105.1 FM) - The premier Hawaiian Adult Contemporary station, praised as "the only radio station in Hawaii that strictly plays music by Hawaiian artists." KINE plays Hawaiian songs from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, targeting 25-54 listeners of Hawaiian descent. Owned by SummitMedia with studios in Downtown Honolulu.
  • KCCN FM100 (100.3 FM) - Hawaiian Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) targeting younger adults with upbeat contemporary Hawaiian music. Sister station to KINE-FM but aims at a younger demographic with "All of Today's Hawaiian Hit Music."
  • KPOA (93.5 FM) - Maui-based station playing "Hawaiian Music, Maui Style," featuring traditional and contemporary tracks.
  • KAPA Hawaiian FM - Big Island station broadcasting "The Music of Hawai'i" including slack-key guitar and hapa haole tunes.
  • Island 98.5 KDNN (98.5 FM) - Oahu station playing Hawaiian Style and Reggae music.
  • KHBC (92.1 FM Kona / 92.7 FM Hilo) - Big Island stations featuring Hawaiian, Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Reggae.

Yes, Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) has been streaming live on the Internet since 2001. Both HPR-1 (News & Talk) and HPR-2 (Classical Music) are available for free streaming worldwide through the Hawaii Public Radio website. In addition to online streaming, HPR is available statewide on 15 FM frequencies across all major islands, and through cable TV services: Charter Spectrum digital channels 864 (HPR-1) and 865 (HPR-2), and Hawaiian Telcom TV digital channels 661 (HPR-1) and 662 (HPR-2). This provides multiple options for accessing NPR programming, classical music, jazz, and local shows like "The Conversation" from anywhere in Hawaii or around the world.

KINE-FM (105.1) and KCCN-FM (100.3) are sister stations owned by SummitMedia that both play Hawaiian music, but target different demographics:

KINE-FM 105.1 (Hawaiian 105 KINE):
  • Format: Hawaiian Adult Contemporary
  • Target: 25-54 listeners of Hawaiian descent (older audience)
  • Music: Classic Hawaiian songs from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s
  • Style: Traditional adult-appeal presentation
  • Known as "The Hawaiian Music Station"
KCCN-FM 100.3 (FM100 The Legend):
  • Format: Hawaiian Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR)
  • Target: Young adults of Hawaiian/Pacific Islander descent (younger audience)
  • Music: Upbeat contemporary Hawaiian music, today's hits
  • Style: More youthful Top 40/CHR-style presentation
  • Known for "All of Today's Hawaiian Hit Music"
The stations became sister stations in 1993 when KINE-FM was purchased by then KCCN-FM owner B.J. Glascock. This relationship allows them to serve the full spectrum of Hawaiian music listeners without competing directly for the same audience.

KTUH (90.3 FM) is a non-commercial, student-run, listener-supported radio station owned by the University of Hawaiʻi. It broadcasts a freeform radio format and was Hawaii's first non-commercial FM station, signing on the air on July 7, 1969. Programming originates from studios on the campus at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and it operates 24 hours a day, all year round with 7,000 watts ERP from a transmitter on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu. As a diversified representative station in a multicultural environment, many musical genres are heard over the course of each week, including Jazz, Hawaiian, Latino Sounds, Hip-Hop, Punk, Alternative Rock, Metal, Goth, Reggae, Electronic, Alternative Country, World Music and more. KTUH provides a platform for students to gain broadcasting experience and serves as an alternative to commercial radio in Honolulu.

The Big Island (Hawaii Island) has numerous radio stations that employ multiple transmitters or boosters to ensure coverage across the island's 4,028 square miles, from the wet eastern side around Hilo to the drier western regions near Kailua-Kona. Key stations include:

East Hawaii (Hilo area):
  • KWXX 94.7 FM - Island Contemporary, "Hawaii's Feel Good Island Music Station"
  • KNWB 97.1 FM (B97) - Classic Hits East Hawaii
  • KKBG 97.9 FM (KBIG) - Today's Hits - Yesterday's Favorites
  • KHBC 92.7 FM - Hawaiian, Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Reggae
  • KHBC 1060 AM - University of Hawaii at Hilo Radio
West Hawaii (Kona area):
  • KONA 92.1 FM - Hawaiian, Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Reggae
  • KAOY 101.5 FM - Island Contemporary
  • LAVA 105.3 FM - Biggest Hits
  • KLEO 106.1 FM (KBIG KONA) - Adult Contemporary
  • KHPH 88.7 FM - Hawaii Public Radio HPR-1 (signed on Feb 13, 2013 for West Hawaii)
Islandwide:
  • KAPA Hawaiian FM - The Music of Hawai'i
  • KHPR 88.1 FM & KIPO 89.3 FM - Hawaii Public Radio NPR/Classical

Yes, Hawaii has community radio stations, which are different from Public Radio Stations (HPR) or commercial radio stations. There are only 286 community radio stations licensed by the FCC nationwide. Community radio stations are operated, owned, and influenced by the communities they serve and are generally nonprofit, providing a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own stories. Hawaii's notable community radio stations include:

KKCR (90.9 FM) - Kaua'i Community Radio:
  • Licensed to Kekahu Foundation in Hanalei, serving Kauaʻi and parts of Oahu
  • Broadcasts on multiple frequencies: 90.9FM in Hanalei, 91.9FM islandwide, 92.7FM in Moloaʻa, 88.9FM on Oʻahu
  • Branding: "Ke Kani O Kauaʻi Nei ~ The Sound of Kauaʻi"
  • Format: Variety including Hawaiian, jazz, blues, R&B, rock, reggae, classical and world music, plus locally produced talk programs
  • Founded in late 1980s to serve Island residents, withstand extreme weather conditions and provide emergency information to isolated residents
  • Provides one of the primary Emergency Alert System signals on Kauaʻi
KMNO Mana'o Radio (91.7 FM) - Maui:
  • Based in Wailuku, Maui
  • Offers Maui's widest variety of music that you won't hear anywhere else on the local dial
  • Independent community-focused programming
Note: KTUH 90.3 FM is a college/student-run station, which is a different category from community radio, though it shares non-commercial and alternative programming characteristics.

Related Resources

Last updated on November 27, 2025