Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 11, 1 November 2008 — Nāmuʻo unveils CCN, the Community Consultation Network [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nāmuʻo unveils CCN, the Community Consultation Network

By Blaine Fergerstrūm Ka Wai ūla staff Office of Hawaiian Affairs Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o unveiled OHA's plans for better coimnunicating with constituents, whieh he outlined during the Oct. 23 keynote address at the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention on Kaua'i. "We will use all media venues at our disposal" to eommunicate with our Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, said Nāmu'o. The new initiative is called the Community Consultation Network, or CCN. "When we want to contact our constituents across Hawai'i and on the continent, it hasn't always been easy," he said. "Community meetings don't always bring out everyone," so the agency eame up with CCN. "This CCN is an attempt to reach

people in their homes. Where are we most comfortable? Where ean we really speak our minds?" he asked. "Where we live." "If you live in Waimānalo and you want to have a video conferenee meeting or conversation, OHA will help set it up," Nāmu'o said. One goal of the CCN is to set

up remote meetings between OHA officials and the Hawaiian eonimunity via video conferencing over the Internet. During the keynote on Kaua'i, Nāmu'o held a live videoconference with a group in the OHA boardroom in Honolulu. "We will actually mail equipment from O'ahu that includes

the projector as well as the laptop to somebody who says, 'I'm willing to host a meeting.' The only requirement is that you must have an Internet eonneehon." The first initiative tackled via the CCN will be a discussion on nation building. Other components of the CCN are the Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino radio network; OHA's web site, oha. org; OHA's Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha television show; Pacific Network TV, an Internet television network; and Ka Wai Ola newspaper, whieh, Nāmu'o announced, will soon begin publishing a monthly electronic edition. During his speech, Nāmu'o also discussed other OHA initiatives. He announced that "100,000 people have signed up for Kau Inoa, more or less." Nāmu'o also talked about the state of OHA's limited liability corporations and the properties they manage, Makaweli Poi and Waimea Valley. He explained the See CCN on page lū

NŪHOU - NEWS

OHA Administrator Clyde Namu'o introduces remote video conference guests in the OHA boardroom during ū demonstration of the CCN at the 49th annual Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention held on Kaua'i in October. - Phoio: Blaine Fergerstrom

structure of the LLCs and the reason for their existence, whieh is to protect OHA from liability associated with running the businesses. Nāmu'o reported that after substantial startup costs associated with the LLCs, visible progress was being made at both sites. At Makaweli, on Kaua'i, the poi factory held its grand opening in August and was in full operation. At Waimea Valley, on O'ahu, he reported that OHA has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in restarting operations, mueh of that consumed by insurance. He said that OHA has also invested substantially in repaving roads and paths, in the upgrade of the gift shop and kūpuna hāwanawana area, in repair of park facilities and restoration of Hale o Lono heiau. He also highlighted past-due ceded lands payments, announeing that the state had pulled the

Campbell feedlot property at Kalaeloa off the list for consideration. The state said it considers the property too valuable and OHA has been asked to select another property. Nāmu'o said that the current state of the economy may

make negotiations extremely ehallenging this time around. He said that OHA plans to reach out to the coimnunity in November to discuss the negotiations for a settlement, in many cases via the Coimnunity Consultation Network. E3

CCN

CūntinuEd fram page Ū3

Ben Baker, representative for the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Mainland Council, presents ū blonket adorned with northwest native designs to Lionel Kaohi, pelekikena, Kaua'i District Council, and Aliee Brown, associate director of Kaua'i Council, at the opening ceremonies of the civic clubs' 49th annual convention on Kaua'i in October. - Pholo: Blaine Fergerstrom. For ū story on tbe convention, see tbe November online edition at oha.org/kawaiola.