TheBuzz
TheBuzz
The 150-member Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce has launched its own Web site, which may eventually become part of a network of Chamber of Commerce sites statewide. The URL is the organization's name spelled out completely: www.nativehawaiianchamberofcommerce.org. Native Hawaiian
Web site hints
at big plansChamber President Ainsley Ahlo said the board recently "decided to catch up with the times" and establish the site to communicate with members and the public, and to provide a common scheduling tool.
"One goal was getting a common calendar of Hawaiian events so that other organizations and civic clubs could see what we and others are planning," Ahlo said. That will help avoid scheduling events at the same time, or too close together.
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Board Chairman Scott May, a past president of the chamber, said the plan is to provide links from the main chamber Web site, www .cochawaii.com, to affiliate chambers such as the Native Hawaiian chamber and other so-called "ethnic" chambers, and to individual members' own Web sites.
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii is evaluating an upgrade for its current computer system, which is too limited for such a widely linked network.
May said online networking would serve as a complement to the cohesion the chamber and its affiliates enjoyed during the past legislative session.
May said this year for the first time, affiliate chambers were involved in planning an overall political agenda and it really worked well.
"Everybody was solidly behind the privatization bill and civil service reform -- all the things that made it," he said.
May said the affiliate chambers also received support for issues which might affect only their chamber. "So it's a give and take, we're working together and we're off and running for the first time. We're trying to unify the business community, and it's working."
What hasn't worked for the past two days, is access to the Native Hawaiian chamber site. Ron Jarrett, a past president, hosts the site "manuahi," for free, from his Kailua-based Jarrett Technology Solutions Inc. He said connection difficulties are being worked out with local and national Verizon technicians.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
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