The "Hawaii Island Journal" grew out of the Big Island news and opinion magazine "Ka'u Landing", which had been publishing since 1992. Both publications were established and edited by Michael Gibson. "Ka'u Landing" was noted for its glossy covers featuring works by local artists (the inside pages were newsprint). After seeing a marked decline in "Ka'u Landings circulation over the past several years, Gibson decided to start an islandwide community newspaper. The content was eclectic, ranging from reprints of a contributor's grandmother's letters to lengthy articles on environmental issues. In 2001 Gibson sold the newspaper to Lane Wick and Karen Valentine, who shifted the "Journal" 's focus to local politics and environmental news.