Three regional O'ahu newspapers — KaNupepa, the Leeward Current and the West Oahu Current — which have been publishing every other week will come out weekly begining this week.

The community papers published by Pacific Media Publishing will also change their names to KaNupepa People, Leeward People and West Oahu People in a renewed commitment to serving their districts, said publisher Ken Berry.

"It's probably overdue," he said. "Readers and advertisers have asked when we might step up our frequency. The name change reflects the direction we are headed as the papers focus increasingly on individuals and organizations who care about and contribute to their communities."

Berry also noted: "The papers are twice as big as they were two years ago and growing fast because we are doing a better job with local coverage."

Honolulu Advertiser subscribers in West, Leeward and Central O'ahu will receive their People newspapers in the Wednesday Advertiser.

The newspapers are distributed to non-subscribers on Thursdays via the postal service. Previously, those people received the papers in Island Weekly, which will no longer be delivered to those areas.

Pacific Media Publishing and The Honolulu Advertiser are owned by Gannett Pacific Corp. Mike Fisch, president of Gannett Pacific, said, "We're pleased to be expanding our local news offerings at the community level, and look forward to continuing to provide local readers and advertisers great offerings in print and online."

Pacific Media Publishing also produces the Hawaii Landscape newspaper, Agriculture Hawaii magazine, PennySaver, Buy & Sell Auto Shopper and weekly newspapers for Army, Air Force and Navy personnel in Hawai'i.