Six decades after its founding in 1966, This Week Hawaii is marking its 60th anniversary by expanding its hybrid media model, which now includes enhanced digital tracking tools for advertisers. The publication, which began as a simple print guide for travelers arriving in the Hawaiian Islands, has grown into the state's largest visitor publication distribution network, producing more than 1,300 pages of curated content annually across Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai.
The anniversary initiative deepens the brand's integration of print and digital platforms. Since launching its digital platform, thisweekhawaii.com, in 2005, This Week Hawaii has operated a hybrid model where print editions distributed through airports, hotels, and visitor centers are complemented by QR codes that link to digital content. These codes now allow businesses to track engagement and measure advertising performance, giving local advertisers data-informed insights alongside the tangible reach of print.
General Manager Ed Chung emphasized the trust behind the milestone. "Reaching this 60-year milestone is a reflection of the trust that travelers and local businesses have placed in us since 1966," he said. "With more than 1,300 pages of editorial content distributed across four islands and a digital platform that launched 20 years ago, we have spent six decades earning the right to call ourselves Hawaii's visitor guide."
A key differentiator for This Week Hawaii is its island-specific editorial approach. Rather than a single statewide publication, the brand maintains four distinct print editions—Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai—each produced by locally embedded editorial teams. This structure ensures that a traveler on Kauai receives content shaped by writers who understand the Na Pali Coast intimately, while the Oahu edition reflects the pulse of Honolulu. This localized storytelling has positioned the publication as a cultural bridge rather than a conventional travel guide.
For businesses that have partnered with This Week Hawaii across generations—from family-run restaurants to activity operators—the hybrid model offers continuity with evolution. As the publication enters its seventh decade, it continues to help visitors navigate Hawaii's distinct islands while providing advertisers with measurable engagement through digital tools. The integration of QR code tracking and digital analytics represents a significant shift from the print-only origins, enabling advertisers to gauge the effectiveness of their placements.
This Week Hawaii operates under the Hagadone Media Group and distributes through the largest visitor publication network in the state. Its six-decade legacy is built on the trust of travelers and local businesses, a trust that now spans generations, from those who carried a print copy in the 1970s to those accessing the same institution via smartphone today.
