Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2007 — Kau Inoa over coffee [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kau Inoa over coffee

By Hawaiian Gūvernance staff In November, OHA will begin a series of coffee hours designed to educate people about Kau Inoa and its plaee in the nation-building process. Coffee hours will be hosted by individuals who are supportive of the registration effort and want to share more about Kau Inoa with a small group of 10

to 15 friends. The hour will include a short presentation by a member of the community outreach staff, followed by a question and answer session. Clyde Nāmu'o, OHA Administrator, and Theresa Bigbie, Director of Hawaiian Governance, have agreed to host the first two coffee hours. When asked why she has committed to hosting a coffee hour, Bigbie explained: "The message we bear is to encourage Kau Inoa.

! The spirit we take is to educate, inspire, and give hope. Among family, friends and neighbors, our hope then

is that Kau Inoa will be freely embraced." N ā m u ' o stressed that "the coffee hour program is not just about build-

ing the registration program, Kau Inoa; even more importantly it is about identifying Hawaiian eoniniunity organizers. These meetings in private homes will create a non-threatening environment for people to get together to talk about issues whieh are important to the Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian community. If Hawaiians are to succeed in organizing a governing entity either under a 'nation within a

nation' model of governance or another model, organizing our communities must begin now." Coffee hours will be a good way for those who may not want to ask questions in a large public forum to have an open conversation in a private setting, Bigbie says: "The coffee hours are designed to reach those who are not always comfortable in large groups, but prefer instead an intimate setting where sharing is safe and acceptable. They

are sometimes identified as the silent majority. These are people who quietly go about their daily activities, avoiding the extreme voices of our society." For those interested in hosting a coffee hour, community outreach staff will make the process easy by taking care of all the details, from mailing out the invitations to ordering and picking up the food to eleaning up. Aulani Apoliona, Lead Advocate and Coordinator for

Hawaiian Governance's eommunity outreach team, explains: "When OHA's outreach staff is invited to facilitate a coffee hour in your home, we respect this offer as a most personal and generous gesture. Please let our outreach team assist you, the host, at every step. You ean rely on us to provide the support that will make your coffee hour a superbly positive experienee. And, of course, we will be responsible for conducting the informational presentation."

Aulani's outreach team includes Chad Lee, lohn Rosa, Nara Cardenas and Kailene Nihipali. Kau Inoa coffee hour hosts will be responsible for generating an invitee list and following up on invitations. On the day of the event, allow three hours from setup to elean-up; the actual coffee hour is just that - an hour. To host a coffee hour or for more information, eontact Dede Alo in the Hawaiian Governance Hale at 594-0219. ■

KAIĀULU • CDMMUNITY

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"...the coffee hour program is not just about building the registration program, Kau Inoa, even more imporlanlly il is ahoiit

identifying Hawaiian community organizers." — Clyde Nāmu'o