Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 2, 1 February 2009 — OHA rolls out CCN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA rolls out CCN

By Lisa Asatū Public lūformatioū Specialist OHA rolled out its first videoconference via the Conununity Consultation Network on lan. 21, bridsin2

8,000 miles across the Pacific and the continental United States to share infonnation and receive input about various topics affecting Native Hawaiians. The conversation took plaee between OHA's Hawaiian Governance Hale in Honolulu and OHA leaders and their family and friends on the chilly East Coast, where they had celebrated the inauguration of Barack Ohama the day before. "Aloha! You all look wonderful!" were the first words spoken over the wire, as Hawaiian Governance Hale Director Theresa Bigbie welcomed the faraway group to the videoconference that would cover important events in the history of Native Hawaiians, where Native Hawaiians are today and "where we would like to be as a people in the future."

Her introductory conunent that 400,162 Hawaiians are counted around the world, with 60 percent of them living in Hawai'i, struck a chord with Kohono Mossman, a Maui native who now lives in

the Washington, D.C., area. He said he found it "astounding" that 40 percent of Hawaiians live outside Hawai'i. And he suggested to the Hawaiian Governance Hale staff in Honolulu that individual Native Hawaiian groups on the continent collaborate more on programs like professional development, whieh would attract younger people into the conversation. The groups, he said, span from civic clubs, to congressional staff, to members of his own Hawai'i State Society. The Conununity Consultation Network, or CCN, is OHA's effort to use the array of media tools available to encourage twoway conununication between OHA, its beneficiaries and the puhlie worldwide. See CCN on pagE 15

CCN Cūntinued fram page 03

Available means for communication include: • Ka Wai Ola, OHA's monthly newspaper. • Ka Wai Ola Loa, OHA's new web-only midmonth edition of Ka Wai Ola. • Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino radio show, whieh ean be heard statewide and in Las Vegas. • Ho 'oulu Lāhui Aloha, OHA's community TV show. • OHA.org, OHA's web site. • Video conferencing • Pacific Network TV, a web-based TV network created by fihmnaker Edgy Lee and underwritten by OHA.

Through the CCN, OHA will reach out to people in their homes or at connnunity halls so they ean talk candidly about what's on their minds. Videoconferences are designed for eommunieation between sites on the same island, between islands or even further afield. The inaugural videoconference lasted about one hour, with at least 10 people asking questions from Washington and answering questions posed by OHA Hawaiian Governance Hale staff on topics of nation building and what role a Native Hawaiian govermnent should have - questions that have become increasingly important as Kau Inoa registration has topped the 100,000 mark. In Washington, Antoinette Lee of the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, said better eommunieahon between the parties is the key, as shown through the galvanizing speeches of Barack Obama, who exudes the aloha spirit on the world's stage. If eonnnunieahon is open and improved, she said, "I think we ean accomplish anything we want to." OHA will loan equipment to groups wanting to host videoconferencing meetings. For infonnation on hosting a meeting, eall 594-1759. OHA will provide a host packet and all necessary tools and equipment to hold a successful meeting. Infonnation gathered from the meetings will be posted on OHA's web site and other media. S

The inaugural CCN videoconference, ūs seen from 0'ahu's Honolulu office 0HA's Hawaiian Goverance Hale converses with people in the Washington D.C. area. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom