Sad news from our KHON2 ohana Monday.
Longtime news anchor and reporter Kirk Matthews has died. He passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side.
He was 69 years old and had been battling stage 4 lung cancer.
Matthews kept the public informed with his warm style of storytelling and reporting for more than 40 years.
He came to Hawaii in 1983 after a successful career in radio and television in Oregon, and joined KHON2 in the summer of 1987. He retired in 2014.
Matthews was known to many not just as a great newsman, but as “Uncle Kirk,” a close friend and mentor who could make anyone laugh.
He was a lover of the arts, and of University of Hawaii athletics. He was often seen cheering on the home team.
He was also a true humanitarian, having devoted countless hours raising money for numerous island charities and non-profit organizations.
“He was just a distinguished anchorman, very responsible, and then on lighter occasions, he would use his dry wit to make you belly laugh, and all of a sudden you’re belly laughing on television, and trying to get him to stop being so funny,” said former co-anchor and PBS Hawaii president and CEO Leslie Wilcox.
Similar messages of love and respect have been pouring into our station.
RIP to one of Hawaii’s greatest newsman🙏🏼Uncle Kirk Matthews thank you for bringing and sharing the news with Hawaii…you will be missed!!!— Shane Victorino (@ShaneVictorino) July 19, 2016
He is survived by his wife, Linda Coble, and two daughters.
Editor’s note: The following tribute video originally aired in September 2014 for his retirement.
