Publisher Closes Maui Weekly Newspaper

Maui Weekly. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Maui Weekly newspaper published its last issue on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, and its online version is no longer accessible via the internet.

The weekly newspaper was closed by its publisher, Joe Bradley of The Maui News after it went to press on Monday, according to former Maui Weekly editor and general manager Debra Lordan.

The publication was printed weekly and distributed free of charge to various businesses across the island.

The Maui Weekly had earned several awards over the years including eight Paʻi Awards from the Hawaiʻi Publishers Association between 2004 and 2014.

In a phone interview this morning with Bradley, he said the Maui Weekly “was just never able to achieve the advertising base to make it a viable operation.”

According to Bradley, the Maui Weekly employed three individuals, and used freelance writers for further news content.  He was unable to go into details about the affected employees, but said that they were notified of the closure on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014.

The Maui Weekly is published by Hawaiʻi Publications Inc., which also publishes The Maui Bulletin and the Lahaina News.

Lordan tells Maui Now that official duties of the publication ended after the last issue went out on Monday, but that she is still working to ensure that the publication in good standing with advertisers.  She said employees were informed of the closure an hour before going to press on Monday.

According to Lordan, employees are getting paid through Friday and will maintain their health coverage through the end of the month, which is on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2014.