Rick Blangiardi has led a life of uncompromising service to Hawaii, his colleagues and especially his family. Decisively elected by the residents of Oahu, he is now leading the nearly one million people of the City and County of Honolulu, which ranks as the eleventh largest municipality in the country.

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.

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.

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.

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.