Black Press buys 2 Hawaii dailies and several Washington papers from Stephens Media

The owner of Hawaii's largest newspaper has bought two daily publications on Hawaii's Big Island and several newspapers in Washington state.

Oahu Publications, which owns the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said Wednesday it is buying West Hawaii Today and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald from Las Vegas-based Stephens Media.

Oahu Publications, a subsidiary of Black Press, owns The Garden Island newspaper on Kauai.

The purchase of The Daily World of Aberdeen, Washington, and three weeklies by another Black Press subsidiary closed Wednesday. The Hawaii sale closes Dec. 1.

Stephens Media CEO Ed Moss said in a statement the publications were no longer a strategic fit for the company.

Black Press CEO Rick O'Connor says Hawaii and Washington have been growth areas for the company. Both Hawaii papers will continue as dailies.