The Weekly Needs Your Help

There is no free lunch. To stay free and independent the Weekly needs your support. We are asking our readers to donate a total of $25,000 between now and April 30. Please do your part.

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Publisher's Letter

Every week, you get a bargain--a free paper filled with original local content--no wire service reprints. As your alternative newspaper, we tell the whole story, not just the version peddled by the powers that be.

Without the Weekly, who would give fair coverage to GMOs, big money changing our elections, the loss of farmland and the North Shore to development? Not the other guys. But for the past three years, along with many of Hawai‘i’s small businesses, we have been struggling. Our staff took pay cuts. I work without a salary, and we have reduced all expenses.

The good news is that the local economy is finally picking up, and we are signing new advertising contracts every week. The bad news is that the Weekly has been operating hand to mouth for a very long time. Our advertising income pays for our operations, but doesn’t cover long-deferred improvements.

Every week, we hear from readers who have trouble finding our latest issue. We have no funds for new distribution racks to improve our visibility and availability. We need to be more reader-friendly, but can’t afford to redesign the newspaper or website, much less upgrade our computers.

I have been approached by a number of supportive readers about doing ongoing fundraising for the Weekly to supplement our ad revenues. I must admit I envy the ability of public radio and television to meet their operating needs with public support. This also makes sense for the Weekly, a true community newspaper.

Take a moment to think about what the Weekly means to you. What do you read it for? Arts and music coverage, food reviews, events? Politics and controversial issues such as privatization of public lands and the gutting of zoning laws in Waikīkī? True sustainability vs. greenwashing? Tom Tomorrow and John Pritchett? Our commitment to having fun? Please consider making a donation. Our goal is to raise $25,000 in the next three weeks. About 19 months ago, when the Weekly had a large debt to pay, you, our friends and readers, really came through: We raised $27,000+ in a few weeks.

The ‘ohana tree above shows the core group of 12 that puts the Weekly out each week. That includes editorial, production, distribution, sales and accounting staff and regular freelancers, and one distribution manager who has literally broken her leg rushing to fill empty Weekly boxes.

Please help, and encourage your friends, network and neighbors to step up by April 17. All donations, big and small, are gratefully received. You can send a check to us at 1111 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813, or use the above PayPal buttons. Together, we can make the Weekly stronger and better equipped to move forward--and, I promise, without pledge drives.

Mahalo,
Laurie V. Carlson
Publisher, Honolulu Weekly