The Honolulu City Council adopted Resolution 15-80 urging the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) to begin televising immediately its meetings via Oelo or other public media at its April 2015 meeting. The resolution was proposed by Councilmember Trevor Ozawa.
The $5.2 billion rail transit project is the largest and most expensive capital project in Honolulu’s history. HART was established through an amendment to the Honolulu Charter and is authorized to develop, operate, maintain and expand the project. Since July 1, 2011, HART has held 100 committee meetings and 55 Board of Directors meetings, all of which have been held on weekdays when many people are at work and are therefore unable to attend the meetings. HART does not televise its board and committee meetings for public viewing on either a live or delayed basis, unlike City Council meetings and hearings.
Over the years, major issues have arisen regarding the project, including contract cost overruns, core systems contractor viability, and significant projected financial deficits and project delays, which have potential impacts on the public. Olelo Community Media, whose mission is to advance community engagement, has been used by the city to provide community access to government meetings, including Honolulu City Council and City Administration programming.
Ozawa stated that the size, expense and importance of the Honolulu Rail Transit project merits televising HART board and committee meetings to achieve government transparency and public trust, and that community access television offers a viable and cost-effective way to provide access to HART meetings.
