Maui Nui Elections

Akaku would like to thank Maui County’s communities for their support and participation during this year’s coverage of the nation’s and Maui Nui’s General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4. With simulcasts on KAOI 1110 AM, KAKU-LP 88.5 FM and a Live webstream airing on akaku.org and generous cash and in-kind donations from local businesses, residents of Maui County were able to enjoy the excitement of covering and viewing the elections returns in their homes, cars and in their communities.

“We encourage folks to take a moment to recognize the contribution of these local businesses to Maui’s communities,” says Jay April, President & CEO. “Thanking them for helping Akaku is a win-win-win proposition that encourages social responsibility for local businesses, supports local nonprofits, and helps strengthen the issues that matter to the community.”

Mahalo!

View Video Contributions Online!

In addition to producing issue-oriented programs, “Meet the Candidates,” “Ask the Candidates,” workshops and forums during the elections, Akaku harnessed the skills of volunteer citizen correspondents who developed video segments from polling places across the island. Interviews, PSAs and other video segments produced by youth and adults aired on Akaku’s channels, and is still available on akaku.org through Video On-Demand.

Jeff King from Maui TV News and Kathy Collins of Mana`o Radio hosted the Live elections programs, interviewing candidates in Akaku’s studios in Kahului, as well as other community members via internet video-conference. Former Mayor Alan Arakawa and attorney Lance Collins provided political analysis, while citizen journalist Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez and Samantha Sunn handled interviews and questions from the large party crowd gathered outside Akaku’s studio. Maui Time Weekly staff’s “Twitter” commentary was still mixed in with the election results and crawled across the bottom of viewer television screens throughout the evening.

Get Involved!

“Thanks to the energetic support of many members of Maui’s communities and Akaku’s committed staff, dedicated community producers, and more than 60 supportive vendors, ‘Maui Nui Elections ‘08′ was an inclusive, interactive, inter-island production that broke down geographical, political and economical barriers-real and perceived,” said Jay April, Akaku’s President & CEO. “Everybody had a hand in putting the words ‘community’ and ‘access’ back into ‘community access television’-and the food was terrific too!”

Mahalo to:

Media Partners and Supporters:
KAOI 1110 AM
KAKU-LP 88.5 FM
Maui Time Weekly
MauiNuiElections.com
The Moloka`i Dispatch
Home Pumehana Senior Center

On-Air Talent/ Hosts & Live Entertainment:
Kathy Collins, Mana`o Radio
Jeff King, Maui TV News
Former Mayor Alan Arakawa, On-air political analyst
Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez, On-air political analyst
Dave Coennen, Akaku: Maui Community Television co-host
Lance D. Collins, local attorney & On-air political analyst
Tia Christensen, Akaku: Maui Community Television, co-host
Scott Crawford, Live Skype Citizen Reporter (Hana)
Unopposed County Council Incumbent Danny Mateo & Live Skype Candidate Commentator (Moloka`i)
Mark Sako, Live Skype Citizen Reporter (Lana`i)
Samantha Sunn, Akaku: Maui Community Television co-host
Todd Yamashita, The Moloka`i Dispatch & Live Skype Guest Reporter (Moloka`i)
Nikhilananda
Laki Ka`ahumanu
Tait Maxfeldt
Halemanu
Poni Brendan

Reporting from the Polls!

Volunteer Citizen & Youth Correspondents & Interns:
Royal Afaga
Benjamin Booth
Emily Booth
Wayne Cardellini
Ashely Correa from Kamehameha Schools Maui
Shirley Dumo
Taona Fiederer-Sheppard, Akaku Youth Producer
Kenny Hultquist
Joseph Imhoff
Catherine Inman, Akaku Youth Producer
Keoni Kuoha’s Political Science class at Kamehameha Schools Maui High School
Alison Miller
Diane Morgan
Chris Morris from Horizons Academy
Gabe Mott
Adam Novinec from Lana`i School
Dayton Pascual
Miles Plauche, Akaku Youth Producer from Kihei Charter School
Rachelle Quinn
Feona Rehfuss, Akaku Youth Producer
Preston Tavares from Kamehameha Schools Maui
Stacie Thorlakson
Bree Ullman
Susan Welck
Dana Wettlaufer
Amanda Wilson
Camie Yokole, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui Kid Reporter
Lori Young-Ajifu

Maui Nui Elections '08! We couldn't have done it without your support! Mahalo!

Food, Beverage & Event Supplies Donors:
Alexander’s Fish and Chips
Aloha Shell
Aloha Waste Systems, Inc.
Amigos Restaurant
Aroma D’Italia Ristorante
Ba-Le Sandwiches
Bada Bing
Banana Bungalow
Bangkok Cuisine
Big Wave Café
Bridget and Bernard’s Garden Café
Café 808
Charley’s Restaurant
Costco
Cupies Drive-in/ Bentos and Banquets By Bernard
Da Kitchen
Down To Earth Natural Foods
East Ocean Chinese Restaurant
Eskimo Candy Seafood Market & Café
FedEx Kinkos
Flatbread Co.
Fresh Mint Inc.
Foodland
Genki Sushi
Hali`imaile General Store
Hang Loose Lounge
Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods
Home Pumehana Senior Center
K-Mart
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Koko Ichiban Ya Restaurant
Longs Drugs
MC&A, Inc.
Main Street Bistro
Mama’s Fish House
Mana Foods
Maui Coffee Roasters
Maui Eats
Maui Farmers Cooperative
Maui Rents and Sales
Maui Soda and Ice Works, Ltd.
Maui Thai Restaurant
Milagros Food Company
Mind-EZE Business Services
Miyako Sushi
Moana Cafe
Moose McGillycuddy’s
Pa`ia Fish Market
Paradise Beverages
Pizza In Paradise
Protea of Hawaii
Pukalani Superette
Quizno’s Subs
Ron Sombrano, Akaku Celebrity Chef
Ren’s Sushi at Wow-Wee Maui’s Kava Bar & Grill
Round Table Pizza
A Saigon Café
Sam Sato’s Inc.
Shaka Sandwich & Pizza
Sheiks Restaurant
Stella Blues Café
Sunset Tropicals
Tasty Crust
Tommy Bahama’s Café
Tommy Bahama’s Chef Ray Baysa
Wal-Mart
Waterfront Restaurant
Wow-Wee Maui’s Kava Bar & Grill

Event Staging & Equipment:
Airgas Gaspro
Village Audio & Lighting
Rizzo Staging
Merkaba Live Visuals
Soundwave

Volunteers:
Darren Gibo
Sheree, Danny & Forest Gumtang
Kim Nakagawa
Carly Werner
Mark Werner
David Heckman
Tracy Falite
Esther Powers
Maile Burns & Family
Maui High Girls Soccer Team
Audrey Powers
Jackie Prouty

# # #

Top three photos by Stephen Luksic, last photo by Darren Corrao.

Akaku: Maui Community Television (Akaku) empowers the community’s voice through access to media. Akaku is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that airs content created by the community for the community. Community members on Maui, Moloka’i, and Lana’i are encouraged to submit programming to the station, create their own television shows and have their voices heard by fellow community members. For more information, please visit www.Akaku.org.

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