Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2009 — 'Āha'i 'Ōlelo Ola in D.C.! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Āha'i 'Ōlelo Ola in D.C.!

By Amy Kalili Special ta Ka Wai ūla Despite being 8,000 miles away from Hawai'i, events surrounding President Obama's inauguration were covered in a uniquely Hawaiian style, through our 'ōlelo Hawai'i. 'Āha'i 'Ōlelo Ola, ourHawaiian language news program on KGMB9, sent a three-man crew to Washington, D.C. to report on the historical occasion. Yours truly was extremely fortunate to be a part of the team as Anchor/Reporter along with Producer/Photographer/ Editor Nā'ālehu Anthony and Field Reporter/Producer Lākea Trask. We were joined by KGMB9 anchors Grace Lee and Stacy Loe and Photographer/Editor George Hurd for the days that we provided live coverage back to the station. It has been an amazing journey on so many levels. We worked

extremely long days during our 10 days in D.C., gathering stories on issues and people important to our conununity at home. And while we are a bit tattered and torn, we thoroughly enjoyed every minute and are thankful that we were able to witness the events that will no doubt mark a point of critical change in America's history. On inauguration morning we took to the streets with our camera and as we walked around the east end of the Capitol, it was as if you could reach out and touch the energy in the air. There were thousands walking around, trying to get to the spots that they would witness the swearing-in from, and as they searched for entrances and stood in lines, everyone was buzzing with happiness, hope and a sense of belonging. And when President Obama made his speech, referencing the diversity that defines us and called upon everyone to be a

part of the change that will take plaee, you could see how people took it to heart. While it was 29°F - and felt like an even chillier 19° with the wind ehill - there was a true sense of warmth in the air. In addition to doing the live shots with the KGMB9 crew the day before and the day of the inauguration, we also gathered stories prior to and subsequent to the day. We got shots and interviews on the National Mall, met up with Hawaiians living in the D.C. area, visited the OHA D.C. Bureau, talked with 'ohana and friends from Hawai'i who made the trip to D.C., sat down for interviews with all the members of Hawai'i's congressional delegation and even talked with several of our OHA trustees. By the time this article goes to print we will have aired most of these stories and we hope you enjoyed them and that we were able to bring D.C. a little closer to home for all of you. Needless to say, we were honored to not only be there physi-

cally for this momentous occasion but to take our 'ōlelo Hawai'i to an even larger arena and reassure viewers everywhere that Hawai'i does have its own language and it is now a language of news broadcasting that covers stories important to all of us, including events and issues taking plaee thousands of miles away that have a direct impact on us at home.

If you missed any of our segments, mai poina, they are available online at KGMB9.com. Me ke aloha pumehana nō, " 'O au kēia 'o Amy Kalili no 'Āha'i 'Ōlelo Ola ma KGMB9 mai Wakinekona, D.C., nei." Amy Kalili is the reporter and anchor for Āha'i 'Ōieio Ola, the Hawaiian-language news segment on Sunrise on KGMB9. S

NŪ HOU - NEWS

The KGAAB crew poses for ū shot in D.C. From left, Lōkea Trask, Grace Lee, Nō'ōlehu Anthony, Amy Kalili, Stacy Loe, and George Hurd. - Photo: Courtesy Amy Kalili