BUSINESS BRIEFS
Hawaii Island Journal closing
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i Island Journal, a free alternative paper founded in 1999 and distributed across the Big Island, will close after its next edition is published Saturday.
The Journal, published three Saturdays a month, is owned by Pacific Catalyst Publishing LLC, which also owns Honolulu Weekly.
The Journal's Web site bills it as a paper that "fights to protect the environment, promote political activism, champion native Hawaiian causes, take David's side against Goliath and spotlight dollar-driven schemes that imperil the island's character, culture and charm."
Publisher Laurie V. Carlson was unavailable for comment yesterday evening, but the Journal faced a direct challenge for more than a year from the new Big Island Weekly published by Stephens Media Group. The Stephens chain also publishes the daily Hawaii Tribune-Herald distributed in East Hawai'i, and the daily West Hawaii Today distributed mostly in West Hawai'i.
Hawai'i Island Journal has a circulation of 24,000, and a salaried staff of less than a half-dozen people who were notified of the closing this week. The Journal employs a large crew of Big Island freelance writers, but production and printing are done on O'ahu.
TRAVELERS STILL RATE ISLES HIGH
The number of Mainland visitors traveling to Hawai'i may be off a little, but that doesn't mean the state isn't among the most desired vacations for travelers, new surveys show.
A poll of travel agents by the Automobile Club of Southern California found Hawai'i is the top designation in terms of providing the most satisfying destinations, while a similar survey of agents in Texas found the Aloha State was No. 2 behind Alaska cruises and tours.
The survey of ABA travel agency employees looked at the top spots that had vacationers telling travel agents they had excellent trips.
Another report out today from the Cruise Lines International Association found the state was among the top choices for people taking cruises, ranking behind the Caribbean, Alaska and the Bahamas.
RESIDENTS CAN PICK GRANT RECIPIENT
Clothing retailer Patagonia said it will give local residents a chance to decide which environmental organization will receive a $4,000 grant by allowing them to cast ballots at its Hale'iwa store through July 19.
Shoppers can vote for the North Shore Community Land Trust, KAHEA, Earthjustice, the Defend Oahu Coalition or the Sierra Club of Hawaii, with the grant being announced in August. The campaign is part of the company's environmental grants program under which Patagonia contributes 1 percent of annual sales to environmental organizations.
LICINA NAMED CEO AT KAHI MOHALA
Leonard Licina was named as chief executive officer of Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health after serving as interim CEO since late last year.
Licina will oversee operations of the 88-bed facility in 'Ewa Beach that provides mental healthcare services. The facility is part of Northern California-based Sutter Health's family of not-for-profit hospitals. Prior to his most recent post, Licina served as Kahi Mohala's chief financial officer.
In October, Kahi Mohala will celebrate its 25th anniversary of caring for those in Hawai'i who suffer due to emotional, physical and behavioral health challenges.
