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OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o introduces remote video conference guests in the OHA boardroom during a demonstration of the CCN at the 49th annual Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention held on Kaua'i in October. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom |
Nāmu'o unveils CCN, the
Community Consultation Network
By Blaine Fergerstrom / Ka Wai Ola
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o unveiled OHA's plans for better communicating with constituents, which 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 communicate 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 came up with CCN. “This CCN is an attempt to reach people in their homes. Where are we most comfortable? Where can we really speak our minds?” he asked. “Where we live.”
“If you live in Waimānalo and you want to have a video conference 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 community 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 connection.”
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, which, 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 structure of the LLCs and the reason for their existence, which 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, much 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, announcing 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 challenging this time around. He said that OHA plans to reach out to the community in November to discuss the negotiations for a settlement, in many cases via the Community Consultation Network.
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