A beacon of free speech on the best islands in the world where anyone can come and talk story, Akakū Maui Community Media is the place people turn to learn how to produce and submit a video on just about anything. Most of it local, all of it non-discriminatory, non-commercial, uncensored, and unfiltered.
Akakū is the place where every Maui Nui resident, rich or poor, young or old, can have a voice and showcase the diversity of our islands. A place to talk, to show, to tell, to discuss, to innovate, to play, to bring media literacy and civic engagement to the people. Our mission is to: “Empower Our Community’s Voice Through Access to Media”
Akakū is an independent, non-profit Public, Education and Government (PEG) Access television station governed by a local board of directors and designated by the State of Hawaii to program three cable television access channels (53, 54 and 55) serving more than 53,000 Spectrum Cable homes on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
As part of that agreement, Akakū is the recipient of 3% of basic cable revenue (annual franchise fees) paid to the non-profit by the cable operator as “rent” for the commercial use of the public rights of way it uses to conduct its monopoly business. In addition, Akakū receives capital funds of $3.00 per subscriber per annum from the cable operator.
According to the terms of a separate agreement, Akakū allocates 25% of these cable funds in direct payments to education partners, University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) and the Maui Department of Education (MDOE)
Akakū generates additional revenues through production contracts and services, class tuition, membership fees, donations, grants, underwriting support, sales of merchandise and other services.
Akakū streams “live” and “Video on Demand” (VOD) content online through the www.akaku.org website and on select social media. Akakū is also the parent of low power, listener-supported, non-commercial, talk radio station, KAKU 88.5 FM, “The Voice of Maui” that broadcasts an eclectic blend of over-the-air, national and local community fare to central Maui and across the world on its web companion, www.KAKUfm.org.
AKAKŪ MEDIA CENTER
Akakū’s solar powered, main media access facilities are located at Akakū Center, 333 Dairy Road, Suite 104, in Kahului. They include administrative offices; a TV and radio studio; an audio recording booth; several portable studio units; field camera packages; mobile video kits; post-production; Live U cellular bonding broadcast systems; DVD duplication facilities; a Mac-based media lab and screening room; a master control playback system; a new convening space, and a wired conference room that can accommodate up to twenty people. Akakū also staffs and maintains a media center on Molokai at 40 Ala Moana Street in Kaunakakai, Suite 109.
Akakū staffs and maintains video/audio recording and playback facilities located at the County of Maui Council Chambers for “live” gavel-to-gavel cablecasts of Maui County Council and other Government meetings.
In addition, Akakū is capable of broadcasting “live” (using LiveU cellular bonding technology) from any location that has robust cell phone reception to sister PEG stations in the state and to hundreds of TV stations in the mainland United States.
Akakū Center in Kahului is a commercial retail/office complex wholly owned by the non-profit’s subsidiary, Akakū Holdings, LLC. Space in the complex is available for lease by qualified tenants.
AKAKŪ CABLE TELEVISION CHANNELS*
CHANNEL 53 - AKAKU GREEN / GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Akakū Green is the channel dedicated to Government and Public Affairs. We provide “live” gavel to gavel coverage of County Council meetings and replay them multiple times. We cover all Planning Commission meetings, select Boards and Commissions meetings, the Mayor’s Annual State of the County address and Public Affairs programs. Every meeting is made available online to view on demand.
CHANNEL 54 - AKAKU RED / ALL ACCESS ALL THE TIME
Akakū Red is the channel dedicated to Community submitted videos. Almost everything submitted by the residents of Maui County, regardless of program length or subject matter, will be played on this channel. Occasionally we will transmit programs originating from Oahu, the state capitol, neighbor islands or from other jurisdictions if they are of interest to Maui residents. Most Saturdays from noon to midnight are dedicated exclusively to programming produced on Molokai.
CHANNEL 55 – AKAKU BLUE / LIVE & LOCAL
Akakū Blue is the Live and Local Channel. This is our curated Maui Nui Showcase Channel. “Live” community events, most series programs of traditional broadcast length, “live” and pre-recorded topical programs, talk shows, sporting events, special programs, “Democracy Now”, breaking news, and the Best of Akakū are usually broadcast on this channel.
*available on Spectrum Cable and online and on mobile devices at www.akaku.org
AKAKŪ EDUCATION
Media Education is one of the foundational pillars of Akakū. We offer relevant, state of the art media literacy programs, video, and radio production courses, groundbreaking mobile video instruction, salons, seminars, mentorships and custom training that provide our community producers and the public access to storytelling skills, production equipment, facilities and distribution channels to display their work. Specialty training classes for community organizations, agencies and businesses can be designed as a fee-for-service or through grant partnerships. Whether it is through our video training, innovative youth mobile journalism programs, special media maker initiatives, specialized workshops, or traditional class offerings, Akakū takes pride in our role as an incubator for professional careers and internships. Full and partial scholarships are available to applicants in need of financial assistance. Class offerings can be found on our website: www.akaku.org/classes
VIDEO PRODUCTION SERVICES, EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES
Akakū maintains a gold standard of up-to-date, high-definition studio production, field production, and post-production equipment and services. Akakū’s multi-platform media distribution capabilities include in-studio, field and portable studio configurations, “live” remote broadcasting and mobile video that can post directly from most any handheld device to television and/or the web. Information about Akakū video production services and equipment can be found on our website.
MEDIA CONSULTATION
Akakū Maui Community Media is staffed with a highly trained group of veteran media professionals and technicians in the Film, Video, Television, Internet and Radio fields. Experienced senior staff are early adopters and innovators in the use of mobile, digital, and emerging media technologies to solve communications needs. Akakū is the go-to team on Maui that has the experience to guide any project from concept to completion. The team is available for consultation and media planning for a nominal fee.
See our Policies and Procedures