Kahikina Enters Final Hours of His Attempt to Break Record for Longest Continued Broadcast

KAPA Hawaiian FM DJ Tommy “Kahikina” Ching is entering the final 24 hours of his nearly 10 days on air in an effort to break the world record for longest continued broadcast by one hour.

The radiothon has a goal to raise $50,000 for Hawai‘i Island United Way, HIUW. Kahikina has spent the past several days talking with United Way and their partner agencies.

HIUW raises money to give to other nonprofits. Funds collected during the radiation will go directly to local programs and organizations that help families in need on the Big Island.

As of this morning, Kahikina has raised about $35,000.

This is the second time Kahikina has stayed on air to raise funds for HIUW. In 1992, the 69-year-old was at the mic for 144 hours for KAPA when it was on AM radio. He raised $35,000.

Kahikina, who returned to Pacific Media Group this past March, didn’t have plans to do another marathon broadcast, however, that changed after reading a fact during his afternoon show for the “Things I Never Know” segment.

“A Honolulu DJ held the world record for longest continued broadcast,” Kahikina said, adding he already did 144, he knew he could beat that record.

In preparation for the radiathon, Kahikina got a personal trainer at Planet Fitness who showed him proper stretches to do when he started to get fatigued. He also spoke to a dietician about how and what to eat while doing his broadcast.

“I’ve been physically working toward this for the past five to six weeks,” he said.

Kahikina spends 18 hours in front of the mic. With a rollaway bed in the studio, he sleeps from 3:45 to 5:45 a.m.

“The show is divided into sections and I start it with a meal,” he explained. “If I start to feel tired, I do stretches get adrenaline and it transfers over the radio.”

HIUW office coordinator Carol Pacheco was in the KAPA studio with Kahikina on Wednesday to offer moral support. She said The DJ’s support has been huge.

“We have found a lot of people don’t know what we do,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco said the past several days have been great because it has provided an opportunity for HIUW to not only inform the public of what they do but give their partners a platform to talk about how they help the Big Island community.

Pacheco said Kahikina’s show is reaching the ears of a variety of people.

“Today (Wednesday) alone, we had two Hawai‘i police officers come by, a guy who has his own business and lady who came by because she heard him on the radio as she was driving by the studio,” she added. “It’s great to see people come together for one great thing.”

Kahikina said the support from the community has been incredible and he thinks they will reach their $50,000 fundraising goal.

Kahikina said first thing he plans to do after the radiothon ends is go golfing and “eat a big fat steak.”