Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 9, 1 September 2010 — ʻŌlelo TV thrives with Hawaiian values [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻŌlelo TV thrives with Hawaiian values

Keali i Lopez is taking community access TV to a new level

By Francine Murray KaWai Ola II 1 h #hen our voice thrives, so \ / \ / does our community" is \ I \ I the catchphrase at 'Ōlelo \/ \/ Community Media. "It is V V not just having people involved in telling stories, but it's what you get when you are a part of making a difference when you tell the story," said Keali'i S. Lopez, the President and CEO of 'Ōlelo. "Our eommunities thrive when we are engaged. Talking to eaeh other, we see why something is important to someone else. I think videos are a good way to tell that because the pictures and the audio bring it all together." 'Ōlelo Community Media is one of the largest community access providers in the nation. In the 1970s, a movement began where ordinary people could create television content. Community access television now provides a First Amendment forum on loeal eahle systems. Taking it to the next level, 'Ōlelo, whieh started in 1989 by sharing airtime with another ehannel, now has six eahle channels and ondemand viewing worldwide via its searchable web site. By working with aloha, 'Ōlelo is not just providing a service, but helping the community thrive. "To me, an important thing that 'Ōlelo does is use video to make positive change in the community, and a rich part of that is telling stories," says Lopez, who has served the eommunity for 18 years at 'Ōlelo. "Mālama, to care for eaeh other, is really something we all grew up doing. You take care of the people in your family and your neighbors. Growing up in a community where people are caring for eaeh other," says Lopez, who has brought her Hawaiian values to work with her. "At 'Ōlelo the staff has to mālama the community, and the managers have to mālama the staff." Ho'omau (persevere), hana 'o'ole'a (work hard) and hō'ihi (respect) are some of the values Lopez says are the keys to success. "Responsibility and respect, that is something we want to make sure we teach people. It's not only teaching them how to use the eam-

eras, but how to be responsible in their speech and respectful." Role models are important, especially at home. One educational project for youth that 'Ōlelo offers is 'Ohana Journals. An oral history on video, students interview family members about their culture and personal histories. It has brought relatives closer, instilling in many a sense of family pride. "Our purpose is creating a sense of professional growth," says Lopez. "We hope a lot of these young people heeome leaders in their communities, and more importantly that they understand their responsibility and have respect for eaeh other." Lopez challenges the youth to heeome alaka'i, leaders in the community. "Be proud of where you eome from, take some responsibility and heeome a leader." And ha'aheo, have pride. "Work to continue to have reasons to be proud about the community they eome from." Lopez admires her great grandmother, grandmother and mother, who were the foundation of her 'ohana and kept the families together. "For me it was those really strong female role models" who had that ability to make people feel they are a part of something special, and they inspired people to want to contribute. Speaking of role models, Lopez is one of the three finalists for a five-year Board of Trustees position at Kamehameha Schools. The other finalists are Dawn N.S. Chang, Princi-

pal of Ku'iwalu, a consulting company, and Janeen-Ann Ahulani 01ds, General Counsel of Waimana Enterprises. The Native Hawaiian CEO of 'Ōlelo, Lopez, graduated from Kaiser High School, began her joy of filmmaking at Windward Community College and earned her bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, while working at Oeeanie Cable in their community programming department. "The one thing I really love about my job is the staff at 'Ōlelo," says Lopez. "They are so committed. I guess it's like anywhere: when you love what you do and you really believe in what you do, people will turn around and do amazing things." 'Ōlelo programs and services include Vote Smart to promote an informed electorate with candidate forums and community discussions, unique special event coverage, video on-demand, Island Info for noncommercial events and volunteer opportunities, Giving Aloha for nonprofits, and Capitol Commentary featuring interviews with lawmakers. 'Ōlelo is also working on technology that would allow citizens to submit testimony to the Legislature live via the Internet. The future is just around the bend. "Keep being positive about what's possible for you," Lopez says. "You ean go really far." ■

'Ōlelo - a community resource To use the video and other equipment at 'Ūlelo, attend a training program and most of their services are free to the community. Contact one of the seven media centers: Māpunapuna, 834-0007 Wai'anae, 696-1003 Waipahu, 671-3950 Kahuku/North Shore, 293-9357 Windward, 236-1463 Pālolo/Kaimuki, 737-8803 For information, a list of programs orto watch on-demand, visit www.olelo.org.

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N A T I V E H A W A I I A N S A T T H E TOP OF T H E I R GAME KŪLIA I K A NU'U l STRIVE T0 REACH THE SUMMIT

Keali'i Lopez says, "Our communities thrive when we are engaged." - Courtesy photo