Senate Bill 707 (SB707) and House Bill 564 (HB564) were introduced this week as the 2009 Legislative Session commenced. Both bills will clarify the legislature’s policy for the agency and the public, and they will create clear and minimal guidelines that keep the “community” in “community access media”.

“Our hope this year is to clarify once and for all that the marketplace of ideas is not up for bid and to emphasize the need to implement meaningful rules that puts public access in public hands,” said Jay April, CEO and President of Akaku.

SB707 and HB564 address the same issue as last year’s Senate Bill 1789, which in 2008 witnessed wide public support from hundreds of Hawaii residents, but failed to pass in the legislature. Instead, the legislature passed a resolution calling for a task force to study alternatives to procurement and recommend meaningful policies for community access television.

Visit Akaku’s Take Action Page and find out more about:

• SB707 & HB564 – This year’s bills introduced in the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives.
• SB1789 – Last year’s bill that received wide support.
• HCR358 – The resolution calling for a task force to come up with meaningful recommendations for community access policy.

Akaku is optimistic this year in getting the necessary support from its allies in the House and Senate to pass both bills through the legislature. “We are encouraged by the support from Representatives McKelvey, Berg, Carroll, Morita, Bertram and M.Lee in the House of Representatives, and Senators English, Baker, Tsutsui, and Sakamoto, who are passionate about the voices of the Maui and Hawaii communities,” continued April.

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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.

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

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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.

Akaku Airs Live Democracy Now! Coverage of General Elections on Akaku Ch 54, 2-6 p.m.!

From 2 – 6 p.m. on Election Day, Akaku: Maui Community Television will air on Channel 54 Democracy Now!’s special broadcast of the 2008 General Elections results as they come in. With live coverage of the results as the polls on the mainland close, viewers will enjoy nationwide reports, reactions and analysis before Akaku’s Live coverage of Maui Nui Elections commence at 6 p.m. on Akaku Channels 52, 53 and 54.

• Tune into Akaku Ch 54, or watch General Elections coverage at www.akaku.org, by clicking on “Watch a Stream” and selecting Channel 54 for viewing online.
• Attend Akaku’s community party at 333 Dairy Road, Kahului, to watch democracy in action and be a part of the excitement!

For more information, call 808-871-5554, or visit Akaku: Maui Community Television at 333 Dairy Road, Kahului.

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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.

Party at Akaku Center Starts at 6 pm! Free, Open to the Public

Akaku will be throwing another free, rocking party as the Statewide polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 6 pm at 333 Dairy Road, Kahului. Akaku will air the evening’s General Elections celebration and serve as the broadcast hub for multi-media coverage of island events through:

• Live cablecast on Akaku channels 52, 53 and 54.
• Live radio simulcast on KAOI 1110 AM & KAKU-LP 88.5 FM.
• Live webcast on www.akaku.org.
• Live interviews via Skype from rural Maui communities, including the off-island communities on Moloka`i and Lana`i.
• Live Twitter updates through login name: “MauiNuiElection”.
• Same-day live-to-tape segments recorded by citizen correspondents and youth, and submitted to Akaku for inclusion in the evening’s coverage.

As Maui County bears witness to national, state and local elections results, there will be free food and live music (courtesy of the in-kind donations from dozens of local restaurants, island businesses, and musicians) as well as scheduled and surprise guest appearances by local celebrities, political analysts, newly elected, re-elected lawmakers and other public servants who work to make a positive difference in our communities.

“As a media access organization, our goals have always been to serve as a platform where information is shared and media skills are exchanged. But I think we’ve managed to amplify the ‘access’ definition in our strategy to help the community see its own potential in creating the news-to the extent that they are active participants in media and across Maui Nui,” says Jay April, President/CEO of Akaku.

General Elections Coverage Based on Successes of State Primaries Coverage

The three pillars of Akaku’s Elections coverage strategy focused on the words: inclusive, integrated and interactive, which will be incorporated in Tuesday’s programming. Features include:

• Local media mavens Jeff King from Maui TV News and Kathy Collins of Mana`o Radio, who are confirmed to anchor Akaku’s Live coverage of events,
• Live interviews from such far-reaching corners of Maui County, including Hana, Moloka`i and Lana`i with the use of Skype online video conferencing technologies,
• Video feeds supplied by independent citizen correspondents, whether community cameramen and reporters posted at various locations throughout Maui Nui, with the addition of youth-supplied videos.
• Audio feeds for radio broadcast on KAOI 1110 AM, and Akaku’s low power radio station, KAKU-LP 88.5 FM.
• More guest and surprise guest appearances.

“The successes we created as a community in covering the State Primaries, helped build support as we continue in our struggle to protect PEG access for Maui County,” continued April, alluding to Akaku’s regulatory, legislative and legal battles with the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and State Procurement Office, which both seek to put the organization out to bid in a procurement process.

“Since then, we have witnessed a renewed outpouring of support at public hearings defending this free speech asset.”

# # #

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.

Akaku Honors Independent Producers During October Media Salon Guest Series, Friday, Oct. 24, 6-8:30 pm, Free Event! Community Welcome!

Akaku: Maui Community Television (Akaku) will host on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, from 6-8:30 pm, a team of independent citizen correspondents at a special Media Salon Guest Speaker Series acknowledging their important contribution to Akaku’s live coverage of the State primary elections. Seven pairs of independent community producers were dispatched to polling stations across the island to obtain footage and report on events, which they provided to Akaku for inclusion in its live, interactive Primary coverage.

During Friday’s Media Salon, Akaku’s community producers’ segments will be featured for recognition and discussion. The event is free, open to the public, and will take place at Akaku’s digital lounge at 333 Dairy Road, Kahului. Interested individuals are encouraged to confirm their attendance as space will be limited.

“Our community producers understand the importance of community access television, and the role it plays in strengthening the public voice,” says Jay April, President/ CEO of Akaku. “Their footage provided real insight into the perspectives and voices emerging from polling stations around Maui during the State primaries and gave us a real and local look at our own diversity.”

Akaku coordinated with the County Clerk to send small teams of volunteer reporters and videographers to 26 polling places around Maui, where they interviewed poll workers and voters about their experience at the polls. Akaku’s field-certified community producers who had volunteered to participate attended an ethics workshop earlier in September and learned about “in-camera editing” and other techniques used by professional video journalists.

“Project-based learning is the best approach there is, and what better way to empower the community’s voice than through projects like this one?” asks Sara Tekula, Akaku’s Education Director, who coordinated many aspects of this effort.

The result was a collection of videos capturing the diversity of Maui’s residents engaged in the voting process. The videos were rushed back to the station, where they were edited and later incorporated into Akaku’s live election broadcast later in the evening. Tekula plans to use the same model-this time including Maui’s youth-for the General Elections on Nov. 4.

“Our family of citizen journalists is growing stronger and more active in the local community,” continues Tekula. “It’s an honor for us to celebrate their work and dedication during the next media salon. I hope this inspires more of Maui to take the power of the media into their own hands.”

Independent producers on Maui come together on a monthly basis for Producer Night, usually held on the second Friday of each month. This time, the producers are the guest speakers for Akaku’s semi-monthly media salon series offered to independent community producers and county residents interested in media issues. Previous Media Salon Guest Series have included such community media voices as Kathy Collins of Mana`o Radio, Tommy Russo of Maui Time Weekly, and Gary Kubota, journalist with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

To register, or for more information, please call Akaku at 871-5554 or stop by our studio offices at 333 Dairy Road, Kahului.

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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.