Hawaii Island Journal
Encyclopedia
The Hawaii Island Journal was a free biweekly newspaper founded in 1999 and published on the Big Island
of Hawaii
. Originally based in the Kona
town of Captain Cook and later headquartered in Hilo, the Journal focused on political, environmental
, and cultural news. It currently exists as a website.
From 2002 to 2005, Gretchen Currie Kelly served as editor, expanding the paper's focus to include comprehensive coverage of Native Hawaiian issues as well as investigative reporting of development issues on the island. HIJs format allowed for in-depth exploration of topics that were only being superficially covered in the island's dailies, and the paper became a uniquely valuable source of information for island residents. Award-winning journalist Alan McNarie, who had begun writing for Ka'u Landing, continued with HIJ and was the paper's senior contributor.
Between 2001 and 2007, HIJs circulation grew to 24,000, making it the widest-circulation paper on Hawaii island.
Honolulu Weekly
acquired the Journal in the spring of 2005. Peter Serafin was named as HIJs new editor.
An article in the June 11, 2008 issue of The Honolulu Advertiser
reported that the Journal would close in June.
has offered to buy the Journal, but Honolulu Weekly refused its offer. She added, "Apparently Stephens sees the Journal as a threat to their printing and daily newspaper monopoly because they are launching what they refer to as an alternative (to what, one might ask?) publication. We suspect that whatever they come up with will be entertainment heavy and will avoid the serious issues that can draw criticism and cancelled advertising orders from the advertising community."
In December 2006 the aforementioned Stephens publication made its debut as Big Island Weekly.
Speaking on the Journals demise, Carlson told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that "[Stephens] can run something that was heavily subsidized and we can't. It's a very sad thing."
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Originally based in the Kona
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
town of Captain Cook and later headquartered in Hilo, the Journal focused on political, environmental
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, and cultural news. It currently exists as a website.
History
The Hawaii Island Journal grew out of the Big Island news and opinion magazine Ka'u Landing, which had been publishing since 1992. Both publications were established and edited by Michael Gibson. Ka'u Landing was noted for its glossy covers featuring works by local artists (the inside pages were newsprint). After seeing a marked decline in Ka'u Landings circulation over the past several years, Gibson decided to start an islandwide community newspaper. The content was eclectic, ranging from reprints of a contributor's grandmother's letters to lengthy articles on environmental issues. In 2001 Gibson sold the newspaper to Lane Wick and Karen Valentine, who shifted the Journal 's focus to local politics and environmental news.From 2002 to 2005, Gretchen Currie Kelly served as editor, expanding the paper's focus to include comprehensive coverage of Native Hawaiian issues as well as investigative reporting of development issues on the island. HIJs format allowed for in-depth exploration of topics that were only being superficially covered in the island's dailies, and the paper became a uniquely valuable source of information for island residents. Award-winning journalist Alan McNarie, who had begun writing for Ka'u Landing, continued with HIJ and was the paper's senior contributor.
Between 2001 and 2007, HIJs circulation grew to 24,000, making it the widest-circulation paper on Hawaii island.
Honolulu Weekly
Honolulu Weekly
Honolulu Weekly is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. Founded by Laurie V. Carlson, it began publishing in the summer of 1991, ostensibly to fill gaps in investigative reporting left by the two main dailies, Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Honolulu Advertiser, which were...
acquired the Journal in the spring of 2005. Peter Serafin was named as HIJs new editor.
An article in the June 11, 2008 issue of The Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu Advertiser
The Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
reported that the Journal would close in June.
Competition
In a letter published in the July 19, 2006 issue of Honolulu Weekly, publisher Laurie V. Carlson noted the Stephens Media GroupStephens Media (newspapers)
Stephens Media LLC is a Las Vegas, Nevada diversified media holding company that publishes over 11 daily and 64 weekly newspapers in 9 states, primarily in Nevada and Arkansas....
has offered to buy the Journal, but Honolulu Weekly refused its offer. She added, "Apparently Stephens sees the Journal as a threat to their printing and daily newspaper monopoly because they are launching what they refer to as an alternative (to what, one might ask?) publication. We suspect that whatever they come up with will be entertainment heavy and will avoid the serious issues that can draw criticism and cancelled advertising orders from the advertising community."
In December 2006 the aforementioned Stephens publication made its debut as Big Island Weekly.
Speaking on the Journals demise, Carlson told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that "[Stephens] can run something that was heavily subsidized and we can't. It's a very sad thing."