“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.”  ~ Helen Dyer

Volunteerism is what ‘Ōlelo Community Media is built upon. For nearly 24 years,  ‘Ōlelo Volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours assisting with community production work, mentoring new trainees, and teaming up with ‘Ōlelo  staff to bring awareness to the many issues affecting our island residents. They serve as role models, mentors, and symbols of what it really takes to make a difference in our community. | 2012 Spirit of Volunteerism Winners

National Volunteer Week will take place during the week of April 21^st-27^th. If you are an ‘Ōlelo Volunteer, please take the time to share your volunteer experience on the Hands On Network website at http://www.handsonnetwork.org/tell-your-story.  Sharing your experiences will benefit other communities around the nation and show the importance of Community Access Television.

Gather your students, get your popcorn, sit down and be prepared to be entertained by this year’s ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Video Competition’s  658 amazing entries presented by Sony.  The time will fly by as the students demonstrate their creativity and express their views of the issues facing our state.

This year’s record number of entries, once again demonstrates the growing interest amongst teachers and students to have their voices heard and the power of video as a means to express their opinions. Congratulations to all those who participated and we thank you for the time and effort it takes to prepare your entries.  We’re very honored to be able to showcase your efforts and wish you all well in the competition.

‘Olelo will premiere all entries beginning this Saturday at 6am

Saturday, March 23rd on ‘Olelo Channel 53 | Online Stream

Be A Jerk – 6:00 am
Energy Conservation – 6:31 am
Saving Outdoors – 6:53 am
Start Living Healthy – 7:07 am
I Ola Hawai`i – 7:38 am
Peacemaker – 8:40 am
Traffic Safety – 10:43 am
Mini Documentary – 11:21 am

Sunday, March 24th on ‘Olelo Focus 49 | Online Stream

Animation – 6:00 am
News – 6:38 am
PSA – 7:32 am
Short – 8:46 am
Junior Expert – 11:45 am
Expert – 11:48 am

Come see our newest community media center (cmc) at Kaimuki High School on Wednesday, February 27th. This cmc replaces ‘Olelo’s facility at Jarrett Middle School and represents an exciting new partnership with Kaimuki High School and DOE TeleSchool Branch. We hope you can join us in celebrating this new chapter in our service to Oahu communities.

5:30pm – Oli/Blessing
6:00pm – ‘Olelo Board of Directors
7:00pm – Recess for Dinner
7:30pm – Public Testimony

Map to ‘Olelo location on Kaimuki High School campus

The joint inauguration, a first for a Honolulu Mayor and the City Council, will take place in the Mission Memorial Auditorium.

‘Ōlelo Community Media will cablecast LIVE the public viewing of Senator Daniel K. Inouye as he lies in state at the State Capitol on Saturday, Dec. 22 from 5pm through midnight. According to Governor Abercrombie, at the request of the late Senator Inouye’s family, the cablecast will be aired without commentary.

TV Broadcast: Saturday Dec. 22 at 5pm | ‘Olelo Ch. 54
Online Stream: http://www.olelo.org/views54

The staff at ‘Olelo are committed to making a difference in our community.  Everyday we work to insure free speech is protected and that our community’s stories are told.  This holiday season we hope to also make a difference for those less fortunate by volunteering our time at the Hawaii Foodbank.  Besides spending time helping at their warehouse, every community media center is gathering donations of badly needed food products for those less fortunate than we are.

Join us in making a difference!  On your next visit, please bring a donation of packaged food items.

 Mahalo in advance for Helping us help others!

For those who use or watch Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Access, we are blessed with the ability to practice our right to free speech and expression any day of the week. So for the week of October 22 – 28, we all should celebrate! Free Speech Week will be promoting ‘Olelo on their website at http://www.freespeechweek.org. We are honored to be able share our mission on a national level.

Here are a few videos from our staff promoting Free Speech Week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA7eQi_oSlw&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FML9ztAp2A0&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUA-wsc5RJQ&feature=plcp

As ‘Olelo Community Media producers and viewers, you are our biggest advocates for free speech. We hope that you will continue to use our resources and watch our channels. Help us in sharing these videos so that your family and friends may understand the importance and value of free speech, and maybe even use ‘Olelo resources to share their viewpoints with the community.

Everyone has a story to tell, and yet, the way narratives figure into our lives has changed dramatically in our increasingly digital world, leaving many meaningful voices unheard. “You don’t see children sitting down by their grandparents to listen to their stories of old,” said Alice Unawai, one of the ten kupuna selected for the program. “They’re into the visuals.”

Unawai, a former special education teacher who specialized in teaching deaf-blind students to communicate, is not averse to a challenge. They are, in fact, what drove her to perform and teach kapa haka when Maori language and culture were on the wane—to compete in her first triathlon at 40, and go on to complete six more. It was the inherent difficulty of those acheivements, and of filmmaking, that spurred her to apply for the program. Unawai’s film, As the Years Go By, an autobiographical mini-documentary of the joys found in overcoming the many obstacles in life, also represents a challenge to other kupuna: “Never be satisfied just because you’re 70, or you’re 85. Don’t sit back, but just keep moving, keep doing, keep creating.”

Her film will be one of ten shown in a free screening on October 20, in a showcase of the films produced throughout the Kupuna Lens Film Program.

Mahalo for supporting our local voices!

Nominations for a seat on ‘Ōlelo’s Board of Directors are now being accepted. Your participation matters!

Only eligible ‘Ōlelo clients may run for and vote for this particular Board seat. “Eligible ‘Ōlelo clients” are defined as someone who, within the 24 month period between August 1, 2010 and August 1, 2012, has:

• Successfully completed any ‘Ōlelo training, or
• Presented a program for broadcast, including anyone who is the primary ‘Ōlelo contact on behalf of an institutional programmer (such as the University of Hawaii, Department of Education, City Administration, City Council and Hawaii State Legislature), or
• Volunteered (as a certified ‘Ōlelo client) at an ‘Ōlelo facility or on a community access production using ‘Ōlelo video production, or
• Completed a reservation for ‘Ōlelo video production, AND
• Is 18 years or older, AND
• Is an O’ahu resident

The deadline to submit your nomination is August 30, 2012. Please email board@olelo.org with any election questions.

Important 2012 Board Election Dates:

• Nomination period closes August 30
• Candidate photos taken no later than September 7
• Candidate information distributed by ‘Ōlelo September 11
• Voting Period: October 1 – October 14
• Election Results: October 16