From 2002 to 2005, Gretchen Currie Kelly served as editor, expanding the paper's focus to include comprehensive coverage of Native Hawaiian issues as well as investigative reporting of development issues on the island. "HIJ"'s format allowed for in-depth exploration of topics that were only being superficially covered in the island's dailies, and the paper became a uniquely valuable source of information for island residents. Award-winning journalist Alan McNarie, who had begun writing for "Ka'u Landing", continued with "HIJ" and was the paper's senior contributor.