Kamasami Kong

Kong with Seawind in 1977.

Kong began his radio career in 1965 with the radio station WMOH. He moved to Hawaii in the late 1970s, becoming a household name in the throughout 1970s and ‘80s as Hawaii’s premiere DJ. Kong became the most listened to broadcaster on KIKI-FM while working alongside Michael W. Perry on KKUA.[7] In 1980, he became the president of Nickong Enterprises and hosted the high school talent competition Brown Bags to Stardom in 1981[8][9][10] and was the original host of the TV show Breakin’ Hawaii in 1984.[11][12]

In the early 2000s, Kong moved from Hawaii to Osaka due to frustration with the U.S. stations, where he became a DJ for JOFV-FM while being sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors. He wasn't allowed to be streamed except for a KTUH alumni show.[13]

From April 2005 to March 2006, Kong was the host of the show Ride On Saturday alongside Charles St. Anthony, which interviewed Swing Out Sister, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Pussycat Dolls, Akon, Ne-Yo, Olivia Newton-John and Bananarama.[14] In August 2007, he launched the radio show Official Hawaii Podcast for Japanese listeners with Peter Williams and Dave Erdman.[15]

After 81⁄2 years, his Osaka show was cancelled after Mitsubishi Motors pulled funds for the show, and Kong created a podcasting show while starting to write for a column for the Japanese magazine Metropolis.[16] He has also opened up a food chain in Taiwan called Kona Connection.[17]