Rick Blangiardi Bio
Richard John Blangiardi, commonly known as Rick Blangiardi, is an American television executive and politician who currently serves as the mayor of Honolulu, the capital and largest city of Hawaii. Born on September 15, 1946, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he built a long career in broadcast television before transitioning to public service. He is registered as a political independent and has described himself as socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Blangiardi first took office on January 2, 2021, and was reelected for a second term in 2024.
Before entering politics, Blangiardi spent more than four decades in the American television industry, holding station management and executive positions in Hawaii, Seattle, San Francisco, and St. Louis. He is widely recognized in Hawaii for helping to consolidate KHNL and KGMB into the unified news brand Hawaii News Now. His blend of business, media, and community leadership shaped his approach to governing the City and County of Honolulu.
Early Life and Background
Richard John Blangiardi was born on September 15, 1946, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was raised there in a tenement. He grew up in an immigrant household and spoke both Italian and English during his early years. His father worked as a munitions expert in the United States Navy, and the family later relocated to Hawaii when his father was transferred to Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Blangiardi had originally signed a letter of intent to play college football at Boston College, but the family move changed his path. He enrolled at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he played football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors as a linebacker and earned letters in 1965 and 1966. When his mother moved back to Massachusetts, he transferred to Springfield College, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in physical education and biology in 1969. He later returned to the University of Hawaiʻi to earn a Master of Arts in educational administration in 1973.
Path to US Politics
After his playing days ended, Blangiardi served as an assistant coach for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors from 1972 to 1976, working under head coaches Dave Holmes and Larry Price. He eventually became the defensive coordinator and associate head coach under Price. Needing more income to raise his family, he left coaching and moved into the television industry, beginning a decades-long career in broadcast management.
Blangiardi’s shift toward public service came after his retirement from the television industry in January 2020. The following month, he announced his candidacy in the 2020 Honolulu mayoral election. He drew endorsements from former Republican governor Linda Lingle, the University of Hawaiʻi Professional Assembly, and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, signaling a broad coalition of support across party lines.
Rick Blangiardi Career
Early Career (1977–2001)
Blangiardi began his television career in 1977 at KGMB in Hawaii, where he worked until 1984. He was then named vice president and general manager of KIKU, now known as KHNL, a position he held from 1984 to 1989. In October 1989, he left Hawaii to become the general manager of KING-TV in Seattle, but was let go in February 1992 when the station changed ownership.
CBS hired him in June 1992 as vice president of new business. He later became vice president and general manager at KPIX-TV in San Francisco in 1993. In 1994, he was named president of River City Broadcasting in St. Louis, and after its sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group, he served as chief executive officer of the Premier Horse Network in 1997. He also worked as chief operating officer and managing director of the talent firm Brad Marks International before joining Telemundo in 1999 to oversee eight affiliates.
Hawaii News Now Era (2002–2020)
Blangiardi returned to Hawaii in 2002 as the senior vice president and general manager of KHON-TV and KGMB. He left KHON in 2006 when Emmis Communications sold the station, but remained connected to the local news landscape. After the Great Recession, he led the consolidation of KGMB and KHNL into a single operation branded as Hawaii News Now, a move that reshaped local television news in the state.
His leadership at Hawaii News Now cemented his reputation as a major figure in Hawaii broadcasting. He continued to manage the station through the 2010s, building it into a prominent regional news outlet. In January 2020, he announced his retirement from the television industry, setting the stage for his entry into politics the following month.
Mayor of Honolulu Era (2021–Present)
Blangiardi was sworn in as mayor of Honolulu on January 2, 2021, after winning the 2020 election. In the August 8, 2020, nonpartisan blanket primary, he finished first with 25.7 percent of the vote. He then defeated Keith Amemiya in the November general election, 58.2 percent to 38.8 percent. On March 15, 2021, he delivered his first State of the City address, outlining priorities that included expanding affordable housing, addressing the funding gap in the Honolulu Rail Project, lifting pandemic restrictions, revitalizing Chinatown, and protecting the city from climate change.
He presented a 2.9 billion dollar budget to the City Council on March 2, 2022, while working to protect city workers from pay cuts amid pandemic-related revenue shortfalls. On March 31, 2023, he signed a bill establishing gun-free zones across a number of public places to restrict concealed carry. In April 2023, he announced candidates for the Oahu Historic Preservation Commission, a body that had been authorized in 1990 but only became active in 2023.
Blangiardi also navigated the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing the Safe Access Oʻahu program in October 2021 and later easing capacity restrictions in November 2021. He announced his bid for reelection in early 2023 and won a second term outright in the August 10 primary, capturing 79 percent of the vote against his closest challenger, Choon James, who received 13 percent. He was sworn in for his second term and continues to lead the city.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Blangiardi’s tenure was his role in leading Honolulu through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the launch and later rollback of the Safe Access Oʻahu program. His signature of the 2023 gun-free locations bill marked a major policy achievement, and his 2024 primary victory with 79 percent of the vote demonstrated broad public support for his leadership.
Rick Blangiardi Career Wins
Rick Blangiardi’s career is defined by a series of leadership milestones in both television and politics. From consolidating two major Hawaii stations into Hawaii News Now to winning two consecutive terms as mayor, his record reflects sustained success in management and public office.
Honolulu Mayoral Highlights
Blangiardi first won the Honolulu mayoral race in 2020, defeating Keith Amemiya by a margin of 58.2 percent to 38.8 percent. He won reelection in 2024, securing 79 percent of the vote in the August 10 primary against Choon James, who received 13 percent. His primary victory effectively clinched a second term in the nonpartisan race.
Other Achievements
Beyond electoral success, Blangiardi led the post-recession consolidation of KGMB and KHNL into Hawaii News Now, a significant restructuring in Hawaii broadcasting. He has also held leadership roles with public service organizations, including the YMCA, the American Red Cross, and a Hawaii food bank, reflecting a long commitment to community involvement.
Rick Blangiardi Family
Family Background and Lineage
Blangiardi was raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in a tenement and grew up in an immigrant household where Italian and English were both spoken. His father served as a munitions expert in the United States Navy, and the family’s transfer to Naval Station Pearl Harbor brought him to Hawaii as a young man. These early family experiences shaped his connection to both the mainland and the islands.
Personal Life
Blangiardi was previously married to Kathleen Franklin, with the marriage ending in divorce in 1991. He married Karen Chang in 2018, and the couple lives together in Honolulu. He has three children and six grandchildren, according to his mayor’s office biography. He has also maintained long-standing involvement with civic and charitable organizations, including the YMCA, the American Red Cross, and a Hawaii food bank.