An urgent message from 'Olelo Community Media‏

Comment

Comment by Kaohi on February 9, 2010 at 10:23pm

I took my testimony over to Olelo tonight and had my Kupuna read it and several other younger people read it too.

I did not know the heart of the problem until someone from Olelo explained it on the board. Even though, I went to the very first meeting, I still didn't understand the differences betwee Education (HANK) and the Government, I am sadden that public media broadcast is getting the hatchet from these powerful corporate entities. As I see it is our Na Kupuna voices that are being snuffed out and replaced with hard and dry voices of the corporate minds that leads to abuse and neglect of the peoples voices. HB 29o2 should be opposed by all Na Kupuna and people that enjoy Hawaiian culture values and practices.

Love you much, Kaohi

Comment by Kaohi on February 9, 2010 at 6:36pm

Luwella K Leonardi
85-1363 Halapoe Pl
Waianae, Hawaii 96792
808-696-2744
phonicsworks@gmail.com


Social Media is important to Waianae residence. I’m embarrassed to say that Waianae’s is a bit backwards when it comes to technology services within our own communities. A few summers ago, I went to Mexico, Ensenada an impoverished and foreign community. On each block they had high technology services for commercial use, every house had a dish, and every known adult were hard wired with mobile devices. Driving from Nanakuli to my home in Waianae I literally cried to see my community with not a single advertisement of internet services. I woke up to our backward and low Tec community in today’s world. Waianae commercial district are not connected to today’s modern world. Somehow, I came to realize how important Olelo’s media production and public service are to our communities.

I teach a class in English as a Second Language at night. I am a bit embarrassed when my Adult English Language Learners enter my room. We are simply not connected in Waianae and our classrooms do not have the connections for my students to use. My own students told me how Olelo is an important station to them because it is a linked to their culture and sometimes in their own language.

I am proud of our Olelo staff because here in Waianae they give horrendous volunteer effort and time for many days and long hours of service to our community. They’re always there for me when I need an answer to my questions. I ask questions about my community all the time, it’s my way of keeping my community at the edge in terms of safety and health.

Military families are discouraged in visiting our community by their superiors because of so many unsafe hazards. Olelo maintains that safety net for our community residence and their visitors. Olelo shares much needed information to visitors that do come to our community for recreation and family visits. They in fact, turn our community into a safe haven for all families in Waianae and those that visit our beautiful place. They build a sense of place that is trusting in their productions and public viewing on Olelo station. People develop relationships with each other and visitors to Hawaii.

Social media and technology can only be at the leading edge through sharing their interest in ‘ideals’ that are innovative and a new found thought. A thought that could be meaningful in a global way of thinking may not be heard or expressly felt, should Olelo lessens their resources and availability to their public audience. What more can I ask of the staff, but to forestall complacency and continue to gain trust in themselves and their service to our community. An active thinking is an outlet or avenue for our viewing audience to change or become engaged in today’s realities. A connection to a powerful and trusting tradition of Hawaiian values and their mo’olelo’s is a gift transfer of human spirit. Waianae is rich with these values and practices because we still have our Na Kupuna that give--their expertise and compassion for the young leaders of Waianae Coast Communities.

I ask that you consider a wise decision in human development and innovated means of participation in social media. At times the only resources available in Waianae are our Na Kupuna and these moments of sharing are the things that hold our community together. Olelo is the only factor for a continuation of sharing Hawaiian culture and values with our global community.

Thank you for ones consideration,

Luwella K Leonardi
Educator

Comment by Kaohi on February 8, 2010 at 9:17pm

I just came from Waianae Olelo, do they know about this?