Gannett and Stephens Media to Launch Hawaii.com

Posted on June 7, 2002

Hawaii.com, an Internet travel portal for Hawaii, has officially launched its new website. Hawaii.com is a partnership formed in January 2002 between Gannett Co. Inc. and Stephens Media Group. The new Hawaii.com site was launched at a news conference in the Governor's office, with Rhett Long, president and CEO of Hawaii.com, and Mike Fisch, president and publisher of The Honolulu Advertiser.

"I am confident that Hawaii.com will become an invaluable resource for travel to Hawaii by making it easier for people all over the world to plan their visits here," said Hawaii Governor Ben Cayetano. "This will provide a significant and immediate boost to Hawaii's economy."

The site's mission statement, "If it's in Hawaii, it's on Hawaii.com," gives visitors an idea of what's on the comprehensive website. The site contains over 1700 pages to date including: Hawaii's history, culture, and natural beauty; guides on each of the major islands; in addition to sections on travel, transportation, accommodations, activities, entertainment, events, golf, weddings/honeymoons, spas, attractions, conventions/meetings, and shopping. Hawaii.com also plans to add real estate and employment sections, integrating these elements with their Hawaii newspaper partners. Hawaii.com will also offer complete travel booking capabilities.

The launch of Hawaii.com coincided with the promotion of the site nationwide in USA Today, and media buys in Hawaii's prime target market, primarily 30 cities and communities in the western U.S. mainland, and travel industry trade publications.