“Ke Ola” Magazine Expands Beyond Sustainability to Maui Wedding Market

Ke Ola magazine cover. Ke Ola engages new readers as a bridal/Maui County wedding resource magazine. Mike Sidney’s photograph of a bride and groom at Olowalu Landing. Courtesy image.

By Maui Now Staff

Ke Ola magazine announced that beginning with Maui County’s December/January issue, the arts, culture and sustainability magazine will now include a wedding and special occasion section.

The magazine publisher said the new feature is aimed at meeting the needs of Maui’s thriving wedding industry.

In an effort to attract increased awareness of destination weddings and vow renewal options, the magazine will also be mailed to travel agents and event planners along the Pacific Coast and in Las Vegas.

Ke Ola was launched in 2008, and currently offers complimentary distribution that meets niche markets in Hawaiʻi.

Publishers say the magazine’s mission is to “share inspirational stories about these islands, while providing an affordable means for marketing for local businesses.”

As part of its commitment to the resident population, all stories are written by residents, and are illustrated with original artwork and photos by local artists and photographers.

Ke Ola maintains an average of 100-pages on Hawaiʻi Island, but publishers say the Maui County issue, which launched last year, has not had the same level of rapid growth.

Ke Ola front cover painting by Moloka‘i-born artist Philip Sabado. Courtesy image.

“We had to look at our business plan very critically,” said Barbara Garcia, Owner-Publisher in a press release. “This edition of Ke Ola is about life in Maui County for people who live here, and people who love it here. There are many second homeowners and frequent visitors who come back year after year who are also our readers. We decided to do what we do best–focus on a niche market that has been overlooked.”

She continued saying, “Wedding and honeymoons are a great market – with approximately 9,500 weddings and honeymoons in Maui County every year, and a thriving wedding industry looking for ways to communicate with happy couples.”

December/January issue of Ke Ola with feature two front covers: one, the familiar Ke Ola format with  articles about Maui events and people; and another cover on the back side featuring Mike Sidney’s photograph of a bride and groom at Olowalu Landing, and featuring stories about cultural aspects and customs of Hawaiian weddings.

Garcia plans to grow both the original edition and the new wedding section, then to split them into two separate magazines.

Debra Lordan, former editor of the now out of print Maui Weekly, is Ke Ola’s new Editor and Art Director; and Miranda Kawaiola is the publication’s Sales Manager.

Ke Ola magazine currently distributes 20,000 complimentary copies to readers on Maui, Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi every two months at more than 100 locations. Also, U.S. subscriptions may be purchased for $18, and all magazines are mailed First Class. Readers can also find a “flip-view” magazine on the website. For further information please visit www.keolamagazine.com