HAWAII

FM Stations - Detail         FM Stations - Printable

Main stations in bold followed by associated repeaters and translators
Facilities in italics operated by out‑of‑state broadcasters
Location in ( ) - actual location of transmitting facilities
N - New facility since 1989 study     # - Station now meets study criteria

FM Stations
KKCR	N	90.9	Hanalei		KHPR		88.1	Honolulu
KAQA	N	91.9	Kilauea		KANO	N	91.1	Hilo
KAQA1	N	91.9	Kilauea		KIPO	N	89.3	Honolulu
					KKUA		90.7	Wailuku
					K204BB		88.7	Haleiwa

AM Stations  

None  

General Comments
Hawaii's public radio stations are licensed to two community organizations.  Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) provides multiple program services from two stations, a translator on the island of Oahu and repeater stations on the islands of Maui and Hawaii (the Big Island). These stations also serve the islands of Lanai and Molokai.  The Kekahu Foundation has two stations and a booster station to serve the islands of Kauai and Ni'ihau. With 78% of the state’s population, Oahu is the most populated island in the state. Signal coverage in Hawaii is subject to shadowing by mountain peaks on the state's volcanic islands.     

FM Service 

Public radio service in Hawaii has expanded from two stations reported in the 1989 PTFP study to six stations and a translator.  New stations have been added to provide the first public radio service to the island of Kauai and also to Hilo, the state's second largest city on the eastern shore of the island of Hawaii.  Since the 1989 study, Hawaii's public broadcasters have increased the percentage of population receiving a public radio signal from 90% to 92.5%, though the unserved population has remained steady:  94,000 in 1989 and 91,373 currently.     

AM Service  

None.  HPR operated an AM station in Honolulu for several years but sold the station in 2002.    

Service from Adjacent States

None

Unserved Areas

Region A

The island of Kauai consists of a single volcanic crater in the center of the island with the population living along the shoreline.  Approximately 20,000 residents of Kauai, most of whom live on the eastern shore of the island, remain without public radio service. The Keanu Foundation has received a construction permit to install a translator at Molokai, Kauai, which will extend service to 5,500 residents.

Region B  

Most of Oahu's population is on the southern shore near Honolulu.  On Oahu, HPR hopes to secure an additional transmitter site to enhance its coverage to the 7,000 people on the island without service. The Kekahu Foundation has been issued a construction permit to install a translator at Mt. Ka’ala, Oahu to extend service to 1,000 residents.

Region C 

The island of Maui consists of two volcanic craters which block signals.  HPR plans to build a second repeater to reach Maui's 36,000 unserved residents.

Region D  

The west side of the island of Hawaii receives public radio service from repeater station KKUA located on Maui.  The east side of the island receives service from repeater station KANO in Hilo.  Signals from both stations are blocked by volcanic peaks on the island, some extending to 13,000 ft. above sea level.  HPR is applying for a translator at Waimea to serve the 28,000 unserved residents on the island.