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KSSK-FM (92.3 MHz) is an adult contemporary formatted commercial radio station serving the Honolulu media market. It is owned by and licensed to Waipahu, Hawaii. Studios are located in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu, and the transmitter site is near Akupu, Hawaii.
KSSK-FM's programming is simulcast with KSSK (AM) in Honolulu, Hawaii. As is the case with many other iHeartMedia adult contemporary stations, KSSK-AM-FM play all Christmas music beginning each year in mid-November, and return to their regular format on December 26. Unlike other stations that broadcast a Christmas format, KSSK also plays Christmas standards featuring local musicians specializing in Hawaiian music. The song Honolulu City Lights by Keola Beamer and his brother Kapono Beamer is a staple on KSSK's Christmas music playlist.
The station uses the slogan "Hawaii's Feel Good Favorites of Yesterday & Today". Nielsen ratings consistently ranks KSSK-AM-FM as Honolulu's most listened-to radio station. A 2022 Inside Radio article named KSSK as the highest-rated AC Radio station in markets 51-100 KSSK's former jingle melody was adapted from that of WPLJ in New York City. KSSK-AM-FM used WPLJ's jingle packages until TM Century created a jingle package for KSSK, known as "Big Time Honolulu." In recent years, KSSK has converted to the KOST AC package from Reelworld.
In 2016, the KSSK Perry & Price morning show evolved to become Perry & the Posse in the wake of Larry Price's retirement. Michael W. Perry hosts the show with a cast that includes Jimmy "Da Geek" Bender, Sweetie Pacarro and Julia Norton-Dennis. Many of the long running features continue including On the Road with Mike Evans, The Real Jimmy Hollywood and the infamous Coconut Wireless News & Comment.
Air personalities throughout the day include Scotty "B" Blaisdell, Curt Williams and John Matthews. KSSK is programmed by iHeartMedia Senior Vice President of Programming Jamie Hyatt since 2007.
KSSK continues to serve the community as the primary civil defense radio station for the state of Hawaii. KSSK helps various causes and has most notably raised millions of dollars for the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children through their annual Radiothon for Kids
In 1979, Heftel Broadcasting purchased KULA, pairing it with KSSK, which Heftel had owned since 1965. "Hawaii Radio: Waipahu", Broadcasting Yearbook (1986 edition), page B-79. The company was owned by Cecil Heftel, a Hawaii businessman and one-time congressman. Heftel moved the station's studios to Honolulu and ended the automation, hiring a staff of DJs. The format later switched to soft adult contemporary using the slogan "Light Rock, Less Talk". In the late 1980s, KULA moved back to Top 40, becoming KXPW ("Power 92"), under long time Top 40 programmer Jay Stone. KXPW later re-branded to "92X", with initially Dean Stevens, and later, Brad Barrett as program director.
In 1993, New-Tex Communications bought both KSSK and KXPW for $7.5 million, and changed KXPW's call letters to KSSK-FM. At the time, the AM station was the market's #1 rated station, and the new owners wanted to capitalize on that success, especially as music listening was shifting to FM. The station moved back to an adult contemporary format, and began simulcasting part of the day with KSSK, including the top-rated "Perry & Price" morning show. Eventually, the simulcast was expanded to a 24-hour operation.
In 2000, Clear Channel Communications acquired KSSK-AM-FM. In 2014, the company was renamed iHeartMedia, Inc.
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