If you have already sent a letter, mahalo! If you want to send it using the above auto mailer,  just click on the link and copy and paste your letter into the new e-mail window that will open when you click the link. If you don't want to use the subject I have provided,  just type in a new one.

Be sure to hit your "Reload or "Refresh" button to see additions as this page will be added to as more letters come in.

1.

Subject:            Give PEG Access back to the Public !
       Date:            Sat, 18 Dec 1999 15:32:12 -1000
       From:            "RayO'" <rayo@pixi.com>
 Organization:            http://www.pixi.com/~rayo/olx.htm
        To:           entire list of names
 

I am most concerned with the management at 'Olelo: The Corporation for Community Television  and believe that it is long past due for the Legislative Auditor to do a management and thorough finiancial audit of the corporation.

Sincerely,
Ray O'Leary

2.

Subject:        check olelo?
   Date:        Sat, 18 Dec 1999 01:36:19 -1000
   From:        angela <angela@hula.net>
    To:        Hawaii State Auditor Marion Higa <auditor@aloha.net>
    CC:        undisclosed & Governor Ben Cayetano <gov@aloha.net>,
       "Rep. Mark Takai" <reptakai@capitol.hawaii.gov>, repthielen <repthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov>,
       Senator David Ige <sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov>, Senator Sam Slom <senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov>,
       State Ethics Commission <ethics@ethics.mindwind.com>
 

Dear Mrs. Marion Higa,

    In light of recent administrative abuses, Olelo should be thoroughly examined.

  1). The somewhat 5-6 million dollar "not-for-profit" institution was created to serve and cater to the public.  But evidence proves otherwise.

        a. The public does not have access to all of the equiptment supposedly provided for them. What is it? Who gets to use it, and for what purposes?
        b. Scheduled reservations of "public" access equiptment are sometimes disregarded at the whim of administrative priorities.
        c. Staff hired as facilitators, now create programming themselves as an administrative  mission - taking studio time, equiptment and "on-air" time away from potential producers.
        d. Olelo has already taken a step towards commercialism - by condoning on-air " asking for money,"  which was previously forbidden.
        e. The board should set up reachable, open meetings with producers to offer better service for their "public clients" and minimize self-serving strategies.

   2) As a member of the public, I believe my rights to the benefits of "public access" are being threatened, now.

         a. The public access  format is currently undergoing changes, welcoming in bureacracy, and bias.  That means less opportunity, more intimidation, and unreasonable or possibly politically motivated censorship of programming.  The KHET merge would do just that, and the deal is still lingering around.

        b. Public Access is really the public's only way to somewhat counter this big city small town politics.

        c. It's an avenue for education that needs to be expanded, not compromised or shared with a "corporate" business mentality.

         As a teacher, my students learned about lobbying for a Kailua bill through a show called "The Young and the Old" hosted by the wonderful Kamuela Price, who has since passed away.   I created my lesson plan in a non-traditional learning environment with zero budget, and the help of Rep. Cynthia Thielen who not only encouraged all of us, but also got involved with our bill.
     Public access was a resource I was tremendously grateful for. It inspired the kids, and it was their first opportunity to be on television and make their beliefs known. Sometimes it's not so much the audience that benefits, but the people (children) who are able to convey their message without barriers or fear.

Thank you for your time.  Please help save public access.

Angela Elbern

p.s. by contacting you, supporters of Jeff Garland may be risking their right to use  public access facilities, equipment, and programming. So, many may have taken the safe route by not responding, understandably, but there are many who are very upset at these recent findings.

3.

Subject:            Please Audit Olelo!
       Date:           Sat, 18 Dec 1999 14:28:40 -1000
       From:           Prema Qadir <prema@hilobay.com>
 Organization:           Web Architects
        To:      entire list
 

Ms. Higa,

Aloha!

I am a public access producer.  I was certified in public access television production in 1989, back when Oceanic Cablevision managed public access programming in Honolulu.

Ever since the creation of Olelo, public access production has suffered, as far as I am concerned and I too, am very much concerned with changes at 'Olelo: The Corporation for Community Television, in the last several years, particularly in recent months.

Please move forward with a management audit of Olelo.  I think that the viewing public and our legislators deserve to know how Olelo has
conducted it's business all these years.

Mahalo

Subject:        Give PEG Access back to the Public !
       Date:           Sat, 18 Dec 1999 16:42:07 -1000
       From:          Jeff Garland <digitaleye@hi.net>
 Organization:           World 'O Vidiots
        To:     entire list
 

I am very concerned with the recent changes at 'Olelo: The Corporation for Community Television and believe that it is long past due for the
Legislative Auditor to do a management audit of the corporation.

Sincerely,

Jeff Garland

5.

Subject:        Please Audit Olelo!
   Date:        Sat, 18 Dec 1999 19:07:31 -1000
   From:        "Dr. Keola G.A. Downing, Ph.D." <keola@hilobay.com>
    To:        Hawaii State Auditor Marion Higa <auditor@aloha.net>
 

Aloha Ms. Higa,

It has come to my attention that you will be conducting a management audit of Olelo, the corporation for Community Access Television. I all of the Community Access Television Producers the viewing public and our legislators deserve to know how Olelo has conducted it's business all these years.  As sad as it seems, things were much better when Oceanic Cable conducted group trainings and facilitated more Public Access programming.

I am the television producer for the Hawaii County Council.  Several years ago I began to produce the Public Access Television Coverage of that body.  I have seen a very drastic need for the Statewide Plan which was promised by the DCCA under the administration of Kathy Matayoshi.  I looked forward so much to a leveling of the playing field.

Within a couple of months of when the Statewide Plan came out, Olelo had arranged with DCCA that all of the meeting would be conducted on Oahu and that the outer island would have to pay their own airfare to attend.  Within weeks of the protest by the outer islands Access Centers ( who could only ill afford to have to fly to Oahu every time a meeting was held ) to such an arrangement, the Statewide Plan began to disappear.  I always felt that Olelo was behind the demise of the Statewide Plan for Public Access.

When we questioned Ms. Matayoshi about it, she kept making the promise that soon we would be able to get the information about the Statewide Public Access Plan. It never came. We were not a part of the developments, and we were not included in on any communications.

Very soon there after, the merger with KHET became public information.  We were able to see communications that indicated that the DCCA and the KHET/OLELO merger team were in communication with each other while there was still promises out there that we would have a
Statewide Plan for Public Access.

Please include the information about all the Public Access Centers in your investigation.  I want to know why the plan to level the playing field by utilizing some of the vast wealth of Olelo for the outer island Access Centers, was allowed to die on the vine while the plans for the KHET/Merger were being developed without public input.  Who is really in charge hear DCCA, Olelo, or KHET.  One thing that I am very sure of - the outer island Access Facilities are offering Public Access programming and facilities with a small fraction of the money that  Olelo uses to come up with substantially the same programming.

We are always hearing of mistreatment of producers at Olelo, and we never see any of our outer island programming on KHET ( one of the false promises ).  As a matter of fact, we don't see much Olelo programming on KHET either.  What I have observed is that the merger only made things more restrictive at Olelo.  KHET can ask for money and do all kind of things that Public Access producers are restricted from doing.

Management is something else at Olelo, and I look forward to a person who we can all trust to find the bottom of this great mystery.  I have always enjoyed the depth with which you go after your assignments.  I know that we can trust you more than anyone else in government to get to the bottom of Olelo's money pit.

I ask you to go forward with your management audit of Olelo, keeping in mind that the roots of Olelo go all the way to each outer island facility.  Please include in your investigation the entire Cable Division of the DCCA.  They seem to find alternate uses for the money that they get from the franchise fees, that never have any support for the outer island Access Facilities included.  When were they going to get around to a "level playing field"?

Mahalo for your good efforts,

KD

Mahalo

6.

Subject:
       Re: URGENT ACTION NEEDED NOW Call for 'Olelo audit
   Date:        Sat, 18 Dec 1999 18:32:30 -1000
   From:        anonymous
    To:        entire list

 Jeff: would you please forward as you see fit?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

   As a former Director of Na Leo O`Hawaii (public access on the Island of Hawaii), I continue to be dismayed at the antics of the `Olelo management. Their incorporation with the local PBS station is contrary to the founding documents and principles of public access in Hawaii. The policies now in effect, and soon to be, are unreasonably restrictive, arbitrary and contrary to the legislative intent of public access. I fear that public input has become so limited as to violate the free speech we are constitutionaly guaranteed. Therefore I am very concerned with the recent changes at 'Olelo (The Corporation for Community Television), and believe that it is long past due for the Legislative Auditor to do a management audit of the corporation. Please begin at once.

Subject:        Audit Olelo for the sake of the Public!
   Date:        Sun, 19 Dec 1999 08:17:44 -1000
   From:        wendy arbeit <arbeit@pixi.com>
    To:       entire list

Ms Higa:

Since the formation of Olelo: The Corporation for Community Television over a decade ago, the Community Television Producers Association (CTPA) has attempted to work with Olelo to insure that the Public has access to the television medium on an equal footing with Education and Government to the full extent of Olelo’s ever-increasing multi-million dollar budget. Nevertheless, we have been met with increasing resistance and secrecy, and decreasing accountability and access. This has escalated since the hiring of Lurline McGregor.

Appeals to the DCCA to enforce the often-violated contract it holds with Olelo have been ignored, as have requests to the DCCA director to place an experienced volunteer on the Board.

Resolutions by the Legislature for Olelo to secure impartial financial and management audits have been rejected by Ms. McGregor with the Olelo Board assenting. We believe that with the proposed merger with HPBA, another organization whose practices call out for an auditor's sharp eye, Olelo’s activities will withdraw even farther into the shadows.

We therefore see a full audit by the State Auditor’s Office (and a subsequent reorganization of Olelo into a membership organization --
with its board elected by the membership) as the only possibility remaining to the public to uncover the perceived irregularities and to
obtain the access to the media mandated by Olelo’s mission statement.

Wendy Arbeit
President
CTPA

Subject:        Please forward anonymously
   Date:        Sun, 19 Dec 1999 15:32:06 EST
   From:       anonymous by request (Oahu)
    To:        entire list
 

Dear Mrs. Higa:
    I am a producer at Olelo having been associated for the last 6 years.
During the last several months there have been activities taken place that
have violated the policy and procedure manual.  These violations include
commercialization, and preferential treatment for projects that are generated
in house.       I am very concerned with the recent changes at 'Olelo: The
Corporation for Community Television and believe that it is long past due for
the Legislative Auditor to do a management audit of the corporation.
 

9.

Subject:        Please forward anonymously
   Date:        Sun, 19 Dec 1999 14:34:18 -1000
   From:        "Silent Do Good" (Oahu)
    To:        entire list
 
 
 

Is 'Olelo for public access or private use?  As a long time independent producer I have seen the free go to fee.  The training classes used to be free, now it cost an arm and a leg to get qualified.

They change editing policies without any consideration for the producers who have committed to a year long cultural show.  I have seen many good producers just give up producing good shows.  I am one of them.

What is happening to the millions of dollars that is collected for public access?   It is time to see where all the public funds are going and who is using it.

The plan to merge with KHTV is like going private and spending public access money illegally.  Have they changed the by-laws to allow this type of commercialism?

Why are Community Program Managers (CPMs) so hard to contact?  They are always in meetings or in class.  It is because they are forced to produce a certain amount of shows per month.  When you want to contact them, they are on the field.  You have to play telephone tag for days to contact your CPM.  There is a high turnover rates of CPMs at 'Olelo.  I know of many good and caring CPMs who have quit.  The new ones are not as knowledgeable as the previous ones.

The changes at 'Olelo are being viewed by many as corruption by the top administrator Lurline McGregor.  You are either with her or against her, and if it is the latter you will either be suspended or given inferior service when your project needs editing or playback time.  For that reason many of us prefer to remain anonymous.

Signed. ----"Silent Do Good".

10.
 

From: Andwele Gardner <andwele@prodigy.net>
To: entire list
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 1999 12:04 AM
Subject: Audit of Olelo
 

 Ms Higa,

   I have been an active public access producer along with my wife for over  seven years now. In addition to airing a series, I have volunteered many  hours as a technician to help others and also assisted the staff in  training. I used to enjoy the camaraderie among producers, technicians and  staff.

 I've noticed an air of unfriendliness toward certain producers in the past  year or so. Seems to be more and more closed door meetings and secret  agendas. I'm beginning to wonder if this is 'Public Access' or 'Private  Access.

 Olelo's books should be open to the public. A management audit is long overdue.

 Mahalo

Subject:        OLELO (COPY)
   Date:        Mon, 20 Dec 1999 15:46:47 EST
   From:        anonymous per request
    To:        entire list
 

Dear Ms. Higa:

I am writing out of concern about Olelo.  As a long time user of Olelo's
facilities, and as a one time employee, I have grave concerns about the
current administration and board in place at Olelo.

Olelo was created to provide a voice to public, education and government, who
would not normally have televised access to the public.  In the last two
years it has lost sight of its mission.  From a user's viewpoint, it has
become terribly mismanaged, employee and client morale is at an all time low,
there is no accountability for what are legislatively mandated cable
subscriber fees, their entire budget consists of 5 or 6 line items, and they
are totally unresponsive to input from the very people they were put in place
to serve.

In short, it is a terrible mess!

I urge you to look into the situation.
Thank you,
anonymous

Subject:            'OLELO ( PEG Access TV )belongs to Oahu's people!
       Date:            Mon, 20 Dec 1999 12:44:07 -1000
       From:            Conrado Bush <conbush@hi.net>
        To:              entire list plus others undisclosed
 

Hawaii State Auditor
Marion Higa

Dear Ms. Higa:

After watching you up close many times on Public Hearings Programs telecast via 'Olelo , I am convinced that you and your effective staff members are the only people that can help put a stop to the wrong doing currently taking place at the 'Olelo Public Access Facility.

As an active program provider/client user, a certified Producer/Director for the past Eight (8) plus years, this is my first time at speaking out, and I am reluctant to do so , because of the unfair, harsh and uncalled for punishment already administered to others who have dared to exercise their right of free speech.

In my many years of television production and public service experience, I have never witnessed such flagrant mismanagement of public resources , self serving interests and complete lack of accountability, as I have this past six months. There are many major and minor concerns, too many to list here, all stemming from the entire Board of  Directors and top Management personnel.  ( A list of concerns can be made available if needed)

I urge you in the strongest possible way , to make the 'Olelo Management Audit your number one or two priority in the year 2000, as you assess your continuing commitment to independence and service to the people of Hawaii.  As you know , there are a huge number of people affected here, more than Bishop Estate. These include Cable Fee Payers ( P.E.G. fees ), the General Public, Access Facilities Users / 'Olelo clients, Education , State and City and County Government entities, and of course the 'Olelo Staff members.

Please HELP !  Your prompt action and attention to this worsening matter, can uncover the facts, and save this valuable community based facility by restoring it to Oahu's people.

Mahalo nui loa for taking the time to read this personal request.

Sincerely,

Conrado Bush.
Public Access Producer.

From: taxtodamax
To: auditor@aloha.net
Subject: olello auditt
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 11:31:44 -1000
Message-ID: <19991220.113145.13526.0.taxtodamax@juno.com>

PHILIP B.  STERRY
435 A MANONO ST.
KAILUA, HI. 96734

STATE AUDITOR MARION HIGA
HONOLULU, HI.

SUBJECT:  OLELLO AUDIT

DEAR MS HIGA:

Pursuant to our conversation today, I am aware that an audit of Olello has been requested by some individuals.  I support the need for an audit only because it will clear the air and remove any doubt as to the management of  Olello.

Of course as a taxpayer, I feel that the Olello budget is small compared to other State offices and Divisions.  For the sake of satisfying the needs of a management audit, I would request that each and everyone who writes a letter to you requesting an audit ld attend Olello Board meetings in person and express their concerns to the board and on the record.  If their concerns are not answered by the Board of Directors, then I do believe that there is something going on that needs your expertise.

I am also a member of the ASAC committee and I only receive messages from Mr. Garland and no other producers.  Our job is to look into problems and attempt to find solutions.  The solution to any problem is usually more money.

Again an audit would be appreciated, but, before an audit is attempted, I feel that those complaining must directly confront the directors of the corporation.

Aloha
 

Philip B. Sterry

Subject:            Give PEG Access back to the Public !
       Date:           Wed, 22 Dec 1999 09:56:14 -1000
       From:            Jeff Garland <digitaleye@hi.net>
 Organization:            World 'O Vidiots
        To:     entire list
 
 

Forwarded by request (auto e-mail doesn't work with Outlook Express):

Subject:         Re: 'Olelo: the Corporation for Community Television
    Date:         Wed, 22 Dec 1999 08:24:41 -1000
    From:         "Jude Dady" <heyjude@pixi.com>
 Reply-To:         "Jude Dady" <heyjude@heyjudeinc.com>
     To:         "Jeff Garland" <digitaleye@hi.net>
 

I believe that it is good business practice to have a regularly scheduled management audit to assure that 'Olelo is fulfilling its mission.

Subject:            Give PEG Access back to the Public !
       Date:           Wed, 22 Dec 1999 12:02:03 -1000
       From:            Jeff Garland <digitaleye@hi.net>
 Organization:            World 'O Vidiots
        To:                entire list
 
 
 

Forwarded per request:
 

Subject:        Mrs. Higa
   Date:        Wed, 22 Dec 1999 09:08:24 -1000
   From:        "marsha joyner" <mrjoy@inix.com>
    To:        "Jeff Garland" <digitaleye@hi.net>
 
 

Ms. Higa,

  Aloha!

  I am a public access producer.  I was certified in public access television in 1988, by Oceanic Cablevision.  At that the whole operation was in the EZ access storage building.  I have watched Public Access through all of its growing pains.  In that time I have met some marvelous people, who gave freely of their time and energy to make it the multi-million dollar operation that it is today.

  However, as with so many institutions, it has become more interested in maintaining the "institution" than the people that its mission statement describes.

  In 1990 when I applied for a media grant from DEBET. I was told that the state could not make the grant because it was illegal for the state to control the air ways, or give the appearance that they were controlling in any way.

  Therefore, my questions to you are:

  (1) If the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, controls the money from Oceanic to 'Olelo, is that not State control? Or at least the appearance?

  (2) If this same agency appoints the majority of members to the Board of Directors, is this not state  and political control? Or at least the appearance?

  (3) And last, If the Public Broadcasting station KHET is merged with 'Olelo is that not state control? (At least one member of the state administration is on the BOD of KHET). Or at least the appearance?

  The policies now in effect, are unreasonably restrictive, arbitrary and contrary to the legislative intent of public access. i.e. 'Olelo: the corporation for community television, will be closed for two weeks during the holiday season. With the incredible array of interesting  programs being produced by the community for public interest at this time;  it seems to me a derelict of duties to force the community to miss them, by not having equipment available to public access producers, (space) technicians and staff.

  I trust that your audit will look into these issues.

   Please move forward with a management audit of Olelo.  I think that the viewing public and our legislators deserve to know how Olelo has conducted it's business all these years.

  Mahalo

  Marsha Joyner
 

-- end of forward

more to come....
 
 
 

and now for a treat:

           senanderson@capitol.hawaii.gov, senbuen@capitol.hawaii.gov, senbunda@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           senchumbley@capitol.hawaii.gov, senchun@capitol.hawaii.gov, senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov, senhanabusa@capitol.hawaii.gov, sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           senmige@capitol.hawaii.gov, senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov, seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           seniwase@capitol.hawaii.gov, senkanno@capitol.hawaii.gov, senkawamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           senlevin@capitol.hawaii.gov, senmatsunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov, senmatsuura@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           senmizuguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov, sennakata@capitol.hawaii.gov, sensakamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov, sentam@capitol.hawaii.gov, sentanaka@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov, repabinsay@capitol.hawaii.gov, repahuisa@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           reparakaki@capitol.hawaii.gov, repauwae@capitol.hawaii.gov, cacholr@aloha.net, repcase@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repcatalani@capitol.hawaii.gov, repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov, repfox@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repgarcia@capitol.hawaii.gov, repgoodenow@capitol.hawaii.gov, rephalford@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           rephamakawa@capitol.hawaii.gov, repherkes@capitol.hawaii.gov, rephiraki@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repito@capitol.hawaii.gov, repkahikina@capitol.hawaii.gov, repkahoohalahala@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repkanoho@capitol.hawaii.gov, repkawakami@capitol.hawaii.gov, replee@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repleong@capitol.hawaii.gov, repluke@capitol.hawaii.gov, repmarumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repmcdermott@capitol.hawaii.gov, repmenor@capitol.hawaii.gov, repmeyer@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repmorihara@capitol.hawaii.gov, repmorita@capitol.hawaii.gov, repmoses@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repnakasone@capitol.hawaii.gov, repokamura@capitol.hawaii.gov, repmoshiro@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repposhiro@capitol.hawaii.gov, reppendleton@capitol.hawaii.gov, reprath@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repsaiki@capitol.hawaii.gov, repsantiago@capitol.hawaii.gov, repsay@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repschatz@capitol.hawaii.gov, repsouki@capitol.hawaii.gov, repstegmaier@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repsuzuki@capitol.hawaii.gov, reptakai@capitol.hawaii.gov, reptakamine@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           reptakumi@capitol.hawaii.gov, repthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov, repwhalen@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           repyamane@capitol.hawaii.gov, repyonamine@capitol.hawaii.gov, repyoshinaga@capitol.hawaii.gov,
           Hawaii State Auditor Marion Higa <auditor@aloha.net>, State Ethics Commission <ethics@ethics.mindwind.com>,
           Ombudsman <ombuds@aloha.net>, Clyde Sonobe <dcca@dcca.state.hi.us>, Kathy Matayoshi <dcca@dcca.state.hi.us>,
           Congressman Neil Abercrombie <neil.abercrombie@mail.house.gov>, Governor Ben Cayetano <gov@aloha.net>,
           Mike Wilson <consumeradvocate@dcca.state.hi.us>, "Lt. Governor Mazie Hirono" <ltgov@pixi.com>,
           Ombudsman <ombuds@aloha.net>, OIP <oip@state.hi.us>, ctpa@aloha.net, arbeit@pixi.com, digitaleye@hi.net