TV stations in Hawaii
Hawaii has 40 licensed over-the-air TV transmitters, including 10 network affiliates carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, CW and Trinity. Pick a city below for its local channel lineup, tower distances and the direction to point your antenna.
Over-the-air TV in Hawaii at a glance
Hawaii has 40 licensed TV transmitters: 25 full-power, 0 Class A, 1 low-power and 14 translator stations. Translators make up 35% of the total, close to the national share of 41%.
Most full-power and Class A stations are licensed to Honolulu (12), Wailuku (6), Hilo (5) and Kailua-Kona (1). Those cities are where the main broadcast hubs sit, and most viewers aim their antennas toward one of them.
The most powerful full-power transmitter in Hawaii is KAAH-TV (Trinity) in Honolulu, at 262 kW effective radiated power. The tallest is KLEI-TV near Kailua-Kona, 825 m (2,707 ft) above the surrounding terrain.
We ran a reception estimate for all 121 cities and towns in Hawaii. A typical place gets 7 stations at fair strength or better (national median: 17), and its nearest major network tower is about 12 miles away. 31% of places can use an indoor antenna, 44% need an amplified or attic antenna, 25% an outdoor directional antenna and 0% a long-range setup.
Weighted by population, the share of residents with a listed affiliate at fair strength or better is: ABC 89%, CBS 72% and NBC 86%.
Honolulu has the most stations in reach (14). Hawaiian Ocean View is the hardest place to get network TV over the air: its nearest major network tower is 61 miles away.
Largest cities in Hawaii
- Honolulu
- East Honolulu
- Pearl City
- Hilo
- Kailua
- Waipahu
- Kaneohe
- Mililani Town
- Kahului
- ‘Ewa Gentry
- Kīhei
- Makakilo
- Wahiawā
- Schofield Barracks
- Makakilo City
- Wailuku
- Kapolei
- ‘Ewa Beach
- Royal Kunia
- Hālawa
- Waimalu
- Hālawa Heights
- Waianae
- Nānākuli
- Kailua-Kona
- Lahaina
- Waipio
- Hawaiian Paradise Park
- Village Park
- Kapa‘a
- Kalaoa
- Marine Corps Base Hawaii - MCBH
- Mā‘ili
- ‘Aiea
- Waimea
- Waihee-Waiehu
- ‘Āhuimanu
- Hōlualoa
- Ocean Pointe
- Mākaha
Network affiliates in Hawaii
| Station | Channel | City of license | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC KHVO ABC | 4 | Hilo | Full power |
| ABC KITV ABC | 4 | Honolulu | Full power |
| ABC KMAU ABC | 4 | Wailuku | Full power |
| CBS KGMB CBS | 5 | Honolulu | Full power |
| NBC KHNL NBC | 13 | Honolulu | Full power |
| NBC KOGG NBC | 13 | Wailuku | Full power |
| CW KAII-TV CW | 7.2 | Wailuku | Full power |
| CW KHAW-TV CW | 11.2 | Hilo | Full power |
| CW KHON-TV CW | 2.2 | Honolulu | Full power |
| TBN KAAH-TV Trinity | 26 | Honolulu | Full power |
Other full-power and Class A stations
Stations without a network tag in our data: often public television, religious, shopping, foreign-language or independent stations.
- KALOHonolulu
- KBFD-DTHonolulu
- KGMD-TVHilo
- KGMVWailuku
- KHBC-TVHilo
- KHETHonolulu
- KHII-TVHonolulu
- KIKUHonolulu
- KLEIWailuku
- KLEI-TVKailua-Kona
- KMEBWailuku
- KUPUWaimanalo
- KWBNHonolulu
- KWHDHilo
- KWHEHonolulu
All cities and towns in Hawaii (121)
- ‘Āhuimanu
- ‘Aiea
- ‘Ele‘ele
- ‘Ewa Beach
- ‘Ewa Gentry
- ‘Ewa Villages
- ‘Ōma‘o
- Ainaloa
- Anahola
- Captain Cook
- East Honolulu
- Fern Acres
- Haiku-Pauwela
- Hālawa
- Hālawa Heights
- Hale‘iwa
- Hana
- Hanamā‘ulu
- Hanapēpē
- Hanapēpē Heights
- Hau‘ula
- Hawaiian Acres
- Hawaiian Beaches
- Hawaiian Ocean View
- Hawaiian Paradise Park
- Hāwī
- He‘eia
- Hickam Field
- Hilo
- Hōlualoa
- Honalo
- Honaunau-Napoopoo
- Honoka‘a
- Honolulu
- Iroquois Point
- Ka‘a‘awa
- Kā‘anapali
- Kaanapali Landing
- Kahalu‘u
- Kahaluu-Keauhou
- Kahuku
- Kahului
- Kailua
- Kailua-Kona
- Kalāheo
- Kalaoa
- Kaneohe
- Kapa‘a
- Kapaau
- Kapolei
- Kaunakakai
- Kea‘au
- Kealakekua
- Kekaha
- Kēōkea
- Kīhei
- Kīlauea
- Ko Olina
- Koloa
- Kualapu‘u
- Kula
- Kurtistown
- Lā‘ie
- Lahaina
- Lanai City
- Lawai
- Leilani Estates
- Lihue
- Mā‘ili
- Mākaha
- Mākaha Valley
- Makakilo
- Makakilo City
- Makawao
- Marine Corps Base Hawaii - MCBH
- Maunawili
- Mililani Town
- Mokulēia
- Mountain View
- Nānākuli
- Nanawale Estates
- Napili-Honokowai
- Ocean Pointe
- Orchidlands Estates
- Pāhala
- Paia
- Pāpa‘ikou
- Pearl City
- Pepeekeo
- Princeville
- Puhi
- Pukalani
- Punalu‘u
- Punaluu
- Pupukea
- Royal Kunia
- Schofield Barracks
- Village Park
- Volcano
- Wahiawā
- Waialua
- Waialua
- Waianae
- Waihee-Waiehu
- Waikapū
- Waikoloa
- Wailea
- Wailua
- Wailua
- Wailua Homesteads
- Wailuku
- Waimalu
- Waimanalo
- Waimānalo Beach
- Waimea
- Waimea
- Wainaku
- Waipahu
- Waipi‘o Acres
- Waipio
- Whitmore Village
Frequently asked questions
How many TV stations are in Hawaii?
Hawaii has 40 licensed TV transmitters: 25 full-power, 0 Class A, 1 low-power and 14 translator stations.
Which TV networks broadcast over the air in Hawaii?
ABC (3 stations), CBS (1 station), NBC (2 stations), CW (3 stations) and Trinity (1 station). Some public, religious and independent stations are not tagged with a network in our data.
What channels can I get with an antenna in Honolulu?
See the Honolulu channel guide for every tower within 70 miles, with channel numbers, distances and antenna directions.
Do I need an outdoor antenna in Hawaii?
In 25% of Hawaii's cities and towns, yes. 75% can manage with an indoor or attic antenna. It depends on how far you are from the towers: each city page below gives a recommendation for that location.