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Publisher’s Letter

This past year both Honolulu Weekly and Hawai’i Island Journal experienced a number of positive changes. We made the transition from one publication to two and are now a little bigger and a little more stable as a result.

We have owned the Journal for just over a year and are pleased with its progress. We increased circulation by another thousand copies, bringing the total to 23,000 per issue. Bud Linschoten, the original architect and designer of the Weekly, produced a handsome redesign for the Journal. Peter Serafin, Hawai’i Island Journal’s new editor, brings enthusiasm, skill and a profound desire to make a difference to the Hawai’i Island community.

Stephens Media Corporation, owner of the two Big Island dailies, has offered to buy the Journal more than once. They enjoy a near monopoly of print media on the Big Island and don’t like sharing their turf with other publications. Last year I approached them about printing the Journal at one of their two presses on the island of Hawai’i. The Las Vegas-based corporation said that they would consider printing only if they could buy a portion of the Journal. We said, ‘No thanks.’ We’ll continue to print on O’ahu and barge the Journal over to the Big Island.

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.

Meanwhile, our staff will continue their productive collaboration, sharing ideas, stories and talent between our two islands.

Honolulu Weekly celebrates its 15th anniversary this week. We are still strong after encountering many obstacles and hurdles over the past decade and a half.

We proudly announce an annual lecture event with the purpose of expanding perspectives and promoting conversation on issues that affect our island home. Our first speaker will be scheduled for 2007. Details will follow when we have dates and a speaker confirmed.

As one of the Weekly’s key efforts to promote the idea of locally grown and produced food, our second annual Little Kitchens celebration came together beautifully this past June at the State Art Museum. Next year we will continue to expand and develop this event, showcasing local foods as well as Hawai’i’s great culinary traditions.

Little Kitchens raised over $6,000 for Slow Food O’ahu, nearly doubling last year’s donation. This funding will help underwrite tickets for four O’ahu farmers who will go to Italy this fall. They will represent Hawai’i in the biennial Slow Food Terra Madre convention, a gathering of thousands of food producers, farmers and chefs from around the world.

This year, for the first time, the Weekly will endorse political candidates, whose focus includes limiting growth, improving our natural and physical environment, preserving and creating affordable housing and sustainable agriculture. Look for our special election issue on September 6. It will contain candidate endorsements and a guide to deciphering the always-challenging city charter amendments.

The Weekly classified department now has a greater online presence with a new free ad service. Readers, advertisers and anyone else can place free online classified ads by going to [www.honoluluweekly.com] and clicking on Classifieds. By mid-August, we will launch our new online personals service. Bookmark our web page and check in often.

Happy 15th anniversary! Here’s a toast to all of our talented and hard-working staff, writers, artists, photographers, delivery drivers and other members of our growing organization. Our special thanks to you, our readers and advertisers, for all the encouragement and support along the way.

-Laurie V. Carlson

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