Office of the MAYOR

Blangiardi took office January 2, 2021 and immediately went to work hiring a dedicated leadership team of more than 40 highly accomplished and experienced professionals to address the short and long term challenges facing the City. The top priorities include the COVID-19 pandemic and its health and economic impacts, affordable housing and homelessness, public safety, rail, elder care, and modernizing services to bring the City’s technology into the 21st century.

Blangiardi’s first run for public office produced a definitive victory over a crowded field of candidates, promising a results driven leadership philosophy void of the politics of the past.

Prior to being elected Mayor Blangiardi led a distinguished and award winning career as a media executive that spanned more than four decades. He began his broadcast career at KGMB in 1977 and from there went on to become a nationally recognized leader, succeeding in senior executive positions in many of the nation’s most competitive markets including Seattle, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Blangiardi’s last mainland position was President of Telemundo Holdings Inc. (the nation’s second largest Hispanic television network). He was based in Los Angeles, and responsible for the operations and dramatic turnaround of Telemundo’s 11 owned and operated stations throughout 10 major markets in the United States and Puerto Rico. A key highlight of Blangiardi’s tenure, was leading the sale of Telemundo in 2001 to NBC for $2.7 billion, the largest deal in NBC’s history at the time by a factor of four.

Returning to Honolulu, Blangiardi was Senior Vice President & GM of both KHON2 (FOX affiliate) and KGMB9 (CBS) from 2002 through the sale of KHON2 in 2006. From 2006 through 2009, he served as GM of KGMB; and in 2009 became the GM of the newly created Hawaii News Now – KGMB (CBS) and KHNL (NBC), the state’s largest multi-media company.

Practicing what he preaches, he has an extensive resume of involvement with Hawaii’s leading non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and youth development programs including chairman, past president and director positions for the ‘Ahahui Koa Anuenue, Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross; Hawaii Chapter, Central Pacific Bank, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Bank, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, Na Koa; University of Hawaii Football Booster Club and the YMCA Honolulu.

Forever a coach, Blangiardi began his football coaching career in the early 1970’s at the University of Connecticut and then went on to the University of Hawaii, rising in the coaching ranks to become the Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Football Coach. You will still hear him speak to his staff and the public as if he is motivating his players to give nothing short of their very best effort.

Blangiardi is a veteran of the United States Naval Reserve, serving more than six years before being honorably discharged on August 1, 1970.

Blangiardi initially enrolled as a freshman at University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1965, then transferred two years later and earned his Bachelors of Science degree from Springfield College in 1969. He returned to Hawaii and received his Master’s in Educational Administration (M.Ed.) from the University of Hawaii in 1973.

During his most recent ten year tenure at Hawaii New Now, before retiring to run for Mayor, Blangiardi and his team garnered more than 100 Emmy Awards, Mark Twain AP Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalistic excellence competing against major west coast markets.

Some of Blangiardi’s most notable recognition’s include:

2010 – Sales and Marketing Executives International Chapter: “Salesperson of the Year” This highly coveted and prestigious award is presented annually to an individual ‘who has greatly enhanced the image of Hawaii and the quality of life in our community’

2014 – University of Hawaii – Distinguished Alumni Award

2015 – Boy Scouts of America – Aloha Council: “Hawaii’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year”

2016 – Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS): Lifetime Achievement Award from the Silver Circle Society

2018 – University of Hawaii: Sports Circle of Honor

2019 – Springfield College: Distinguished Alumni recipient

2019 – March of Dimes: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award for Distinguished Community Service

2019 – Consular Corps. Of Hawaii: Distinguished Service Award

Humbled and proud of his family, Rick lives in Honolulu with his wife Karen Chang. He has three children; Matt, Ryan and Laura and five grandchildren.