Oahu Publications

What Oahu Publications does

Oahu Publications, Inc. (OPI) is a privately held, Hawaii-based media company and the state's largest print operator, wholly owned by Carpenter Media Group. Its portfolio centers on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser — formed in June 2010 from the merger of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin (est. 1882) and The Honolulu Advertiser (est. 1856) following OPI's acquisition of the Advertiser from Gannett Corp. — which is the only daily newspaper on Oahu. The company has since extended its geographic footprint through acquisitions of The Garden Island (Kauai, 2013) and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and West Hawaii Today (Hawaii Island, 2014), and operates a diversified magazine portfolio including HILuxury, 101 Things To Do, Drive, Go Kailua, Go Kapolei, Kahala Life, VERT Kaka'ako, One-Six, and the Oahu Menu Guide. Adjacent products include the in-room Signature Magazines for Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kahala Life for the Kahala Hotel & Resort, digital platforms HawaiiCars.com and Hawaii.com, and a Digital Billboard Network launched in 2018.

OPI's core technology is a state-of-the-art Roland RegioMAN offset printing press housed in a 147,000 sq-ft production and distribution facility in Kapolei (built by Gannett in 2004), capable of producing 70,000 papers per hour with 48-page full-color output — providing both internal cost advantage and a third-party custom printing business. Digital infrastructure is built on standard ad-tech: programmatic header bidding (Prebid, PubMatic), identity resolution (LiveRamp), and analytics (Google Analytics, Chartbeat, comScore). The technology posture is conventional for a regional newspaper group; no proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

The business model is multi-stream: (1) advertising revenue from display, classifieds, legal notices, and preprint inserts across print and digital properties, with zip-code and niche-market targeting; (2) recurring print and digital subscriptions, including a 2011 paywall for staradvertiser.com; (3) custom commercial printing, insert, and direct-mail services; (4) digital out-of-home advertising through the Billboard Network; and (5) niche marketplace revenue from HawaiiCars.com and Hawaii.com. The go-to-market is sales-led with dedicated sales teams per publication, supported by direct-to-consumer home delivery and digital subscription funnels. Customer segments span local Hawaii consumers (readers), local and national advertisers (SMB through enterprise), and luxury/hospitality clients (Hilton, Kahala). The company employs 251-500 people and is headquartered in Honolulu.

Name

Oahu Publications

Legal name

Oahu Publications, Incorporated

Website

https://oahupublications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Oahu Publications is Hawaii's largest privately held print media company, operating the only daily newspaper on Oahu (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) plus daily papers on Kauai and Hawaii Island, a portfolio of lifestyle and luxury magazines, and in-house offset printing serving advertisers and readers across the Hawaiian Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Primary revenue stream from display advertising, classifieds, legal notices, and preprint inserts across all print and digital publications. Advertisers can target specific zip codes or niche markets.
2. Subscriptions: Digital and print subscriptions for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and other publications. The company implemented a paywall for staradvertiser.com in 2011.
3. Custom Printing Services: Full spectrum of custom printing services, insert, and direct-mail options offered to advertisers and third parties.
4. Digital Billboard Advertising: Digital Billboard Network providing out-of-home advertising options that achieved over $1.2 million in annual incremental revenue during its first year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Oahu Publications Inc. (OPI) is Hawaii's largest print media company, publishing the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (the only daily newspaper on Oahu), regional daily newspapers (The Garden Island, Hawaii Tribune-Herald, West Hawaii Today), and a portfolio of weekly, luxury, community, and lifestyle magazines. The company also sells advertising across print and digital channels, operates custom printing and direct-mail services through a state-of-the-art Roland offset press, and runs digital properties including HawaiiCars.com and Hawaii.com.

Product overview

Oahu Publications, Inc. (OPI) is Hawaii's largest print media company operating a diversified portfolio of newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms. The core offering centers on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the only daily newspaper on Oahu established in 2010 through the merger of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin (1882) and The Honolulu Advertiser (1856), supplemented by regional daily newspapers including The Garden Island (Kauai), Hawaii Tribune-Herald, and West Hawaii Today. OPI's magazine division spans luxury publications (HILuxury, Kahala Life), travel/lifestyle magazines (101 Things To Do across Oahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Big Island; Drive magazines for each island), hyperlocal community magazines (Go Kailua, Go Kapolei, VERT Kaka'ako, One-Six Kaimuki to Kahala), and niche guides (Oahu Menu Guide). The company also operates digital properties including HawaiiCars.com, Hawaii.com, and a Digital Billboard Network. Print capabilities include state-of-the-art Roland offset presses producing 70,000 papers per hour, with custom printing, insert, and direct-mail advertising services. The portfolio allows advertisers to reach mass audiences or target specific zip codes and niche markets across Hawaii.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Flagship daily newspaper, the only daily newspaper on Oahu, established in 2010 after merger of Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Honolulu Advertiser.
• MidWeek
• HILuxury
• 101 Things To Do
• Drive
• Go Kailua
• Go Kapolei
• Kahala Life
• VERT Kaka'ako
• One-Six Kaimuki to Kahala

Products and services

• Honolulu Star-Advertiser Flagship daily newspaper of Oahu, the only daily newspaper on Oahu, with daily, Friday, and Sunday editions covering local news, business, sports, national/world report, dining, travel, and real estate. Distributed via home delivery, newsstands, and digital subscriptions.
• MidWeek Oahu's most-read weekly publication with nearly 270,000 weekly circulation, delivered to nearly every Oahu home via second class mail. Covers local politics, entertainment, medicine, sports, dining, and cooking with over 100 photos weekly.
• The Garden Island Daily newspaper on Kauai, acquired by OPI in January 2013, providing comprehensive local news coverage for the island.
• Hawaii Tribune-Herald Daily newspaper serving Hawaii Island, acquired by OPI in October 2014 along with West Hawaii Today.
• West Hawaii Today Daily newspaper serving West Hawaii, acquired by OPI in October 2014 along with Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
• HILuxury Magazine Flagship luxury magazine by OPI, featuring high-end lifestyle content including exclusive interviews, luxury travel, dining, and experiences in Hawaii.
• 101 Things To Do (multiple islands) Travel and lifestyle magazine family covering activities and experiences on Oahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Big Island.
• Drive Magazine (multiple islands) Automotive and lifestyle magazine covering driving destinations and automotive content for Oahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Big Island.
• Go Kailua Magazine Local community magazine targeting the Kailua area of Oahu with hyperlocal content for residents and visitors.
• Go Kapolei Magazine Local community magazine targeting the Kapolei area of Oahu with hyperlocal content for residents and visitors.
• VERT Kaka'ako Urban lifestyle magazine targeting the Kaka'ako neighborhood of Honolulu, covering art, design, dining, and urban living.
• Kahala Life Luxury resort magazine created in partnership with The Kahala Hotel & Resort, distributed as in-room content for hotel guests.
• One-Six Kaimuki to Kahala Local community magazine covering the Kaimuki to Kahala corridor of Oahu.
• Oahu Menu Guide Dining guide and restaurant directory for Oahu, helping readers discover restaurants and dining options.
• USA Today (Hawaii Edition) Hawaii-specific edition of USA Today, providing national news content tailored to Hawaii readers.
• Digital Billboard Network Digital out-of-home advertising network providing measurable advertising options.
• HawaiiCars.com Online marketplace for new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles in Hawaii.
• Hawaii.com Comprehensive Hawaii travel website featuring travel guides, booking capabilities, and visitor information.
• Custom Printing Services Full spectrum of custom printing services using state-of-the-art Roland offset printing press capable of printing 70,000 papers per hour, housed in a 147,000 square-foot production facility in Kapolei. Also includes insert and direct-mail options for advertisers and third parties.
• Digital Subscriptions (staradvertiser.com) Digital subscription service for staradvertiser.com with paywalled premium content, implemented in July 2011.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38.9% circulation growth from December 2010 to December 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration40 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kahala Hotel & ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Kahala Life in-room magazine in January 2016, distributed to hotel guests.
• Hilton Hawaiian VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch signature magazine for the Hilton Hawaiian Village property.
• Hilton Waikoloa VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch signature magazine for the Hilton Waikoloa Village property.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Adams Publishing Group: Private family-owned publisher of community newspapers, magazines, and digital products across the US. Comparable as a multi-state regional newspaper operator with similar product breadth (dailies, weeklies, shoppers, magazines) and similar mid-market advertiser focus.
• Ogden Newspapers: Family-owned regional newspaper chain operating dailies and weeklies across multiple US states. Comparable as a privately held multi-title regional publisher with vertical integration in printing and similar reliance on local advertising monopolies in mid-sized markets.
• Schurz Communications: Private family-owned regional media company operating newspapers, broadcasting, and digital media properties. Comparable as a diversified regional media operator with community newspaper portfolio, vertical integration, and similar mid-sized market focus.
• Lee Enterprises: Publicly traded operator of local newspapers across the US Midwest, South, and Northeast. Highly comparable as a regional newspaper group with diversified print and digital advertising revenue, subscription base, and reliance on local market monopoly positions similar to OPI's Hawaii footprint.
• MNG Enterprises (Digital First Media): Operator of local newspapers and digital media sites across the US under the MediaNews Group brand. Comparable as a regional newspaper consolidator with focus on digital transformation of legacy print assets and similar local market advertiser monetization.

Broad incumbents

• Tribune Publishing: Operates major metropolitan daily newspapers and digital platforms. Comparable as a regional daily newspaper portfolio with a mix of print, digital subscriptions, and advertising revenue—similar structural exposure to print decline but with larger scale and broader geographic diversification.
• BH Media Group: Berkshire Hathaway-owned regional newspaper operator (sold to Lee Enterprises in 2020). Comparable as a multi-title regional newspaper portfolio with similar print and digital advertising mix and similar mid-market community newspaper positioning.
• Carpenter Media Group: Parent company and acquirer of Oahu Publications; a holding company that rolls up regional newspapers across the US. Comparable as a broader portfolio of similar newspaper assets with shared centralization of operations, printing, and back-office functions.
• Gannett Co. Largest US newspaper publisher (USA TODAY network) and former owner of The Honolulu Advertiser. Comparable as a multi-title regional and national newspaper operator with overlapping advertising, subscription, and printing operations; OPI acquired the Honolulu Advertiser assets from Gannett in 2010.

Regional players

• Honolulu Civil Beat: Hawaii-focused digital news outlet covering politics, government, and community issues. Comparable as a Hawaii-market news provider competing for the same local audience and advertiser budgets, though differentiated by digital-only distribution and nonprofit-supported model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oahu-publications-inc.

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oahu Publications