
KHCM (AM)

KHCM is a Chinese-Language radio station serving Honolulu, Hawaii. The Salem Communications outlet broadcasts at 880 kHz with a power level of 2 kW. Its studios are in Honolulu's Kalihi district, and its transmitter is in the Kakaako neighborhood.
History.
KHCM's history can be traced back to its days on 870 kHz as KAIM, whose previous format was Religious programming. When Salem bought the station in 2000, it wanted to sign the station off the air so it can allow its sister station in Los Angeles, California, to increase its signal coverage. At the last minute they decided to reduce the station's power, shift its frequency to 880 kHz and let the station stay on the air. In 2004 Salem bought Modern Rock outlet KPOI and flipped the format to a FM News/Talk outlet, its first in Hawaii. KAIM became its simulcast after the switch was made. On Sept. 3, 2007 Country outlet KHCM switched from 690 AM to both 880 AM to 97.5 FM, keeping its format intact. Salem in turn moved the News/Talk format and KHNR calls to 690AM.
On July 1, 2009, after nearly 3 years of simulcasting, KHCM split from KHCM-FM and adopted a Chinese-language format, broadcasting it under the "Radio China International" banner. The format targets Honolulu's growing Chinese-American population in both Chinese and English and is a simulcast of the Chinese government-sponsored China Radio International. In addition to the Chinese programming, KHCM also broadcasts Japanese and Korean programming.