The Rick Hamada Program

On this edition of Sustaining Hawaii, presented by Bayer, we talk about the Hawaiʻi Agriculture Conference as it makes its move to Hawaiʻi Island, and about resources helping all Hawaiʻi farmers strengthen food safety and connect with Farm to School opportunities.  Rick Hamada speaks with Lisa Rhoden, Executive Director of North Shore EVP and President of the Board of Directors of the Agricul...

As a final wrap-up to Election Day morning coverage, Rick Hamada gets real with you: it's all about the trajectory of the nation and Hawaii.  Rick talks about the West on the verge of being conquered by its enemies, not through military force, but through a three-pronged strategy of overpopulation, the erosion of traditional values, and the acceptance of anti-American ideologies.  Rick t...

As Election Day dawns, Rick Hamada starts the show talking about preparing his ballot for voting...and the absolute necessity for transparency and accountability in local government, particularly when it comes to proposed amendments to the city charter. The speaker shares their personal experience with voting this year and the opaque language used for 20 City Charter amendments and the potential c...

Rick Hamada continues his observations on the 2026 Election Day landscape, including the energy and enthusiasm of the president as he campaigns in red states, and how this might be affecting his approval ratings. At the same time, Rick also talks about the Democratic Party's strategy, pointing out that their focus on anti-Donald Trump rhetoric. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada once again welcomes Aloha State Daily Editor-In-Chief Kam Napier and politics reporter Michael Brestovansky to the program as Hawaii gets ready for Election Day 2026.  The conversation covers a lot of ground, from low voter turnout and the factors that might be driving it, to the role of unionized labor, the impact of negative campaigning, and the importance of a secret ballot. Se...

Rick Hamada discusses another angle of the 2026 midterm election -- the makeup of the Hawaii Legislature and how that may affect the Honolulu Rail Project...a project that has ballooned in costs over the past two decades and costs Oahu citizens a surcharge on G.E.T.  Rick talks about the project's impact on the community, including the lack of ridership and the perceived benefits...and makes...

In this clip from the pre-Election Day Rick Hamada program, Rick continues his thoughts on what is driving everything from voter apathy, world events, and costs that are major issues in this election.  Rick's attention turns towards another issue: the efforts of the Office Of Elections and Scott Nago to basically "lock out" the Hawaii Elections Commission from doing its job.  Rick reacts...

Rick Hamada shares a candid perspective on the state of Hawaii's economy and the impact of rising costs on its residents...including the deceptively low state unemployment rate, which is touted as a success story, but Rick argues that it's a misleading narrative.  Corruption, lack of transparency, costs on top of taxes, on top of other factors are driving Hawaii residents completely out of th...

Rick Hamada talks with Billy Gardell, stand up comedian and star of "Mike And Molly"...who is coming to the Blue Note next week! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada talks with Chad Blair from Honolulu Civil Beat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada is joined by HPD Chief David Lazar on this week's edition of Ask The Chief! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi returns to our studios on Ask the Mayor, this week talking about the past year's progress and the work still to be done. He also discusses the city's efforts to combat homelessness, including the recent 22% drop in unsheltered homelessness, and the importance of providing affordable housing options like the Ho'oiki and Kalihi Palama projects...looking to create...

Ask The Mayor with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Rick Hamada is full of your calls and timely conversation--including the steps the City and County of Honolulu has taken in light of the expected heavy rain through Thursday.  Your calls are always the priority and the mayor takes calls on  concerns about property taxes, parking issues in Kapolei, and affordable housing.  Mayor B...

Rick Hamada is joined by Andrew Pereira about his work with the Hawaii Employers Council, an organization that provides human resource services and support to businesses across the state. He invites listeners to learn more about the council and its resources, including a free Disaster Preparedness Toolkit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada is joined by FOX News star Brian Kilmeade, who has a new book hitting shelves now, titled "Uniting the States: Six Crucial Moments That Forged the American Miracle."  Brian and Rick discuss the significance of this latest book from Brian which explores six pivotal moments in American history that shaped the nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada talks with Michael Kitchens...and the big event is this afternoon!  The film "Drifter" will be screened at the NEX -- and the star of the film -- Sung Kang -- will be on hand for a special meet and greet! Rick and Mike discuss the importance of community and the passion that drives people to modify and customize their vehicles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada is joined by the talented Talmata Gray--a local music legend for his work with Common Kings and now working with the band FIVA.  Listen to Mata talk about his upbringing in a musical household and continuing his work in music and preserving Pacific Islander traditions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Hamada welcomes attorney Glenn Honda to the studio for a conversation about Glenn's practice, and...as Halloween approaches...the danger that will be present with both pedestrians, party people, and plenty of cars on the roads.  Glenn talks about accident prevention, but also about being proactive in seeking help after an accident, and the importance of documenting incidents, even if the...

Rick Hamada speaks with Doug Pasnik of the Aloha Freedom Coalition and co-host of the Freedom Hour on NewsRadio 830 KHVH.  Doug breaks down the current situation with the state Elections Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the Office of Elections. However, the Commission has not met in over five months, and the Office of Elections has been denying staff support to the Commission....

Rick Hamada once again welcomes Kam Napier from Aloha State Daily to the show, with topics as wide-ranging as affordable housing, voter turnout, and discussing potential impact of the RISE bond on the state's infrastructure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a must-listen for anyone trying to decipher all the upcoming Honolulu Charter amendments on the ballot and the efforts towards rebuilding Lahaina.  Rick Hamada talks with Jonathan Helton of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, who breaks down the complexities of the charter amendments and shares his insights on how they might impact the community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Rick Hamada is joined by Sung Kang, talented actor and filmmaker, who shares his passion for cars and how it led him to create the high-octane action ride, Drifter.  Meet Sung at the NEX this coming Wednesday October 28th! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 98 (August 29, 2026): Today’s Freedom Hour— Building an Affordable Hawsi’i: From Relief to Real Reform We know Hawaiʻi is expensive. But what if our cost-of-living problem is really part of a larger cost-of-doing-everything problem? Today, John and Gary move beyond the burden to explore solutions—what drives the cost of housing, food, energy, business, and everyday life; what Hawaiʻi can a...

Episode 97 (August 22, 2026): Today’s Freedom Hour— Meet Daniel Anthony: A Conversation About Service, Leadership, and Hawaiʻi’s Future Daniel Anthony joins The Freedom Hour following his Republican primary victory for Lieutenant Governor. But this isn't a campaign interview. It's an opportunity to discover the man—his story, community involvement, experiences, and vision for Hawaiʻi. Discover whe...

Episode 96 (August 15, 2026): Today’s Freedom Hour— Lahaina Three Years Later: What Happened—and Who Decides What Comes Next? Three years after the devastating Lahaina fire, Doug Pasnik and Gary Cordery examine what Hawaiʻi’s official investigation revealed about the failures surrounding the disaster—and turn to the difficult questions shaping Lahaina’s future. From Front Street rebuilding and sho...