Olelo Community Media

What Olelo Community Media does

ʻŌlelo Community Media is a Hawaii nonprofit corporation founded in 1989 that operates as Oʻahu's designated Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access provider under cable franchise obligations. The organization operates four community cable channels (ʻŌlelo49, 53, 54, 55) carried by Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom, an online video-on-demand platform called ʻŌleloNet, free iOS and Android mobile applications with push notifications for live government proceedings, a YouTube channel, and a live stream of City and County of Honolulu traffic cameras. It runs six physical Community Media Centers and Hubs across Oʻahu (Kaimukī, Kāneʻohe, Māpunapuna, Nānākuli, Wahiawā, Waipahu) that provide studios, equipment, green-screen capabilities, and mobile production units to community producers. Core programming spans government coverage (Hawaii State House, Senate, Honolulu City Council), civic programming (Candidates in Focus election coverage, Oʻahu Free Speech open-mic service, Giving Voice PSA Service), youth programs (Youth Xchange statewide contest, Civic Media Lab documentary filmmaking, the legacy Youth Capitol Commentary), and cultural broadcasts (King Kamehameha Day, Yabusame Hawaiʻi).

The underlying technology stack combines owned broadcast infrastructure with third-party SaaS: Granicus powers live streaming for all four channels and government proceedings; Media Center Manager (MCM) is the member portal for project creation, equipment/studio reservations, training signup, and program submission; Eventbrite handles public training registration; HR Symphony hosts the careers page; Microsoft Forms powers Oʻahu Free Speech intake; PayPal and Venmo handle donations; and Elevation Web designed the website. Membership, training classes for individuals, the Mini Studio, and most programs are free for Oʻahu residents, while facilitated training for non-profit and government organizations is fee-based (minimum 5 participants) and commercial use of facilities is charged at fair market value as a deterrent under PEG non-commercialism rules.

The revenue model is mission-driven and institutionally anchored: PEG franchise-related funding supports baseline operations; donations arrive via PayPal (paypal.me/olelocommunitymedia), Venmo (@olelocommunity), and check; Youth Xchange sponsorships and client service invoices supplement income; and fee-based facilitated training plus fair-market commercial-use charges capture institutional and commercial users. Leadership consists of a five-person executive team led by President & CEO Roger McKeague (appointed 2021) and an 11-member Board of Directors chaired by Olin Kealoha Lagon with former Hawaii Governor John David Waiheʻe III as Vice Chair. The organization serves approximately 101–250 employees and tens of thousands of community producers, candidates, students, and free-speech users across Oʻahu.

Name

Olelo Community Media

Legal name

ʻŌlelo Community Media

Website

https://olelo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ʻŌlelo Community Media is Oʻahu's nonprofit PEG access provider, operating four cable channels, VOD, mobile apps, and six Community Media Centers that equip residents with free training, studios, and broadcast distribution for civic, cultural, and youth programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Public Access Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational/Public-Service Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG), Media Center & Audiovisual Lending Operations (Equipment Checkout, Production Support) (EDAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Community media broadcasting
• PEG access television
• Video production training
• Cable channel operations
• Civic media programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Voluntary monetary contributions from community members accepted via PayPal, Venmo, and check by mail, framed as advancing the mission to share authentic Hawaiʻi stories.
2. PEG (Public, Education, Government) Access Funding: As Oʻahu's designated non-profit PEG access provider since 1989, ʻŌlelo receives franchise-related support to operate community cable channels, fulfilling public, education, and government access obligations.
3. Facilitated Training Fees (Organizations): Fee-based facilitated training sessions delivered to non-profit and government organizations (minimum 5 participants), with pricing available on request.
4. Fair-Market Facility Use for Commercial Content: Charges fair market value when community producers use facilities for commercial purposes (e.g., promoting a for-profit business), as a deterrent to commercialism under PEG rules.
5. Invoice Payments from Clients: Clients are billed for production-related services via invoice numbers processed through an online payment form (USD-denominated).
6. Youth Xchange Sponsorships: Sponsors support Youth Xchange 2027 and beyond, providing real-world media experience, mentorship, and a platform for student voices across Hawaiʻi.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ʻŌlelo Community Media operates Oʻahu's nonprofit Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access media operation, broadcasting four cable channels (ʻŌlelo49, 53, 54, 55), an online video-on-demand service (ʻŌleloNet), and free iOS and Android mobile apps. The organization provides free media production training, studio and equipment access, mobile production support, and live coverage of government proceedings and community events, while also running civic-engagement programs such as Candidates in Focus, Oʻahu Free Speech, Civic Media Lab, Youth Xchange, and Giving Voice PSAs.

Product overview

ʻŌlelo Community Media is a single integrated nonprofit PEG (Public, Education, and Government) access platform, anchored by four cable channels (ʻŌlelo49, ʻŌlelo53, ʻŌlelo54, ʻŌlelo55), the ʻŌleloNet on Demand VOD service, and a companion mobile app that streams all channels plus live traffic camera feeds. The offering extends into production and storytelling services (Tell Your Story production services, Giving Voice PSA Service, Mini Studio, Executive Productions), member/civic engagement programs (Candidates in Focus, Oʻahu Free Speech, Youth Xchange, Civic Media Lab, Youth Capitol Commentary), and education/training classes for educators, organizations, and youth. Six Community Media Centers and Hubs across Oʻahu (Kaimukī, Kāneʻohe, Māpunapuna, Nānākuli, Wahiawā, Waipahu) supply the physical studios and equipment that feed all of the above, while a Media Center Manager (MCM) member database ties reservations, training signup, and client services together. Live streaming is delivered via Granicus, and distribution extends to Spectrum, Hawaiian Telcom, and the ʻŌlelo YouTube channel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ʻŌleloNet: Online video on-demand streaming platform operated by ʻŌlelo Community Media, providing access to locally-produced community programming beyond traditional cable television channels.

Products and services

• ʻŌlelo Community Media Organization Oʻahu's nonprofit community Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access provider, launched in 1989, offering cable channels, online video, mobile streaming, training, production facilities, and civic engagement programs to empower community voices.
• ʻŌleloNet on Demand Online video-on-demand platform that lets viewers search for, watch, and stream local programs created by community producers, plus legislative and city council content via Gov Archives.
• ʻŌlelo Mobile App Free iOS and Android app delivering on-demand streaming of the four ʻŌlelo channels, push notifications for live programming, live traffic camera feeds, news, TV listings, and MCM client resource access.
• Candidates in Focus Free non-commercial service giving candidates running for office in Oʻahu or statewide a five-minute unedited platform segment that airs across ʻŌlelo49, ʻŌleloNet, and YouTube during the Primary and General Election seasons.
• Oʻahu Free Speech Free open-mic service available to any Oʻahu resident to record up to a five-minute message that airs as an independent short on ʻŌlelo channels for 30 days and is assembled into a monthly program on ʻŌlelo53.
• Mini Studio Easy-access service that lets community members record a thirty-minute live-to-tape program at any Community Media Center with staff technical support, with no editing required before airing.
• Civic Media Lab Youth documentary filmmaking and civic storytelling program for Oʻahu high school students, run in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Honolulu, culminating in a public Hoʻike screening and offering a $500 stipend per participant.
• Youth Xchange Hawaiʻi's statewide student video competition and youth media program, open to elementary, middle, high, and college students, with categories including Mini Documentary, Public Service Announcement, and Short, culminating in an annual Spotlight Awards Show.
• Tell Your Story / Production Services Suite of customizable production services at ʻŌlelo's Media Service Centers, including live in-studio and green screen capabilities, mobile production units and vans, and support for PSAs, narrative shorts, and long-form documentaries.
• Giving Voice – PSA Service Public Service Announcement service for community organizations to deliver non-commercial messaging on ʻŌlelo's channels and platforms.
• Education & Training Services Education program offering Basic Media camera certification, Creative Media, Editing, Producer Lab, and educator-specific training sessions (Creative Media for Educators, Multicamera Production for Educators), plus facilitated organizational training and certification.
• Traffic Cam Live stream of the City and County of Honolulu's traffic camera feeds, available via the website and the ʻŌlelo mobile app.
• Government Productions Coverage of government proceedings including legislative hearings, city council meetings, concerts, and conferences, accessible via the channels, mobile app push notifications, and ʻŌleloNet Gov Archives.
• Community Media Centers & Hubs Physical production facilities across Oʻahu in Kaimukī, Kāneʻohe, Māpunapuna, Nānākuli, Wahiawā, and Waipahu, providing studios, equipment, training, and reservations for community producers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 cable channels distributed across Oʻahu via Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• League of Women Voters of HonoluluflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator and ongoing partner of the Civic Media Lab, which empowers Hawaiʻi high school students through documentary filmmaking, media literacy, and civic storytelling. The partnership brings students directly into engagement with local civic leaders and government.
• Common Cause HawaiʻicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Civic Media Lab program kickoff at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, helping students explore civic issues, understand the role of government, and learn how media can inform and engage the community.
• Hawaii Workers CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGuest speaker organization for Civic Media Lab's Community Organizing Session (January 21, 2026); shared how working with directly impacted communities leads to meaningful change.
• Lāhui FoundationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGuest speaker organization for Civic Media Lab's Community Organizing Session (January 21, 2026); shared how working with directly impacted communities leads to meaningful change.
• Liliʻuokalani TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerʻŌlelo runs the Liliʻuokalani Trust's Mana Media Program as a facilitated training offering under its education services, empowering Native Hawaiian beneficiaries through media production training.
• Honolulu FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Yabusame Hawaiʻi 2026 at Kualoa Ranch; ʻŌlelo televised the event live on ʻŌlelo53, with rebroadcasts scheduled through August 2026.
• King Kamehameha Celebration Commission (Hawaiʻi)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerʻŌlelo is the official broadcast partner for King Kamehameha Day celebrations, providing live coverage of the Lei Draping Ceremony and the 109th King Kamehameha Floral Parade, with rebroadcasts on ʻŌlelo53 and ʻŌlelo54.
• SpectrumflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpectrum carries ʻŌlelo's four PEG access channels (ʻŌlelo49, 53, 54, 55) to Oʻahu cable subscribers as part of PEG franchise obligations; programs also stream live through Granicus.
• Hawaiian TelcomflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHawaiian Telcom carries ʻŌlelo's four PEG access channels (ʻŌlelo49, 53, 54, 55) to Oʻahu cable subscribers as part of PEG franchise obligations.
• GranicusflagshipTechnology or IntegrationGranicus powers the live streaming infrastructure for ʻŌlelo's four cable channels (publish_ids 88, 89, 91, 92, 98) plus government proceedings (House view_id 31, Senate view_id 13), as embedded player URLs across the website and mobile app.
• Media Center Manager (my Media Center Manager)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationMCM is the third-party SaaS platform powering ʻŌlelo's member database, equipment/studio reservations, training registration, and program submissions under app.mymediacentermanager.com.
• Kaimukī High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Kaimukī Community Media Hub on its campus (2705 Kaimukī Avenue, Building K), giving students and the surrounding community access to PEG facilities.
• EventbritecoreTechnology or IntegrationEventbrite powers online registration and ticketing for all public training classes (Creative Media, Basic Media, Editing, Producer Lab) and Educator workshops hosted by ʻŌlelo.
• HR SymphonycoreTechnology or IntegrationHR Symphony hosts ʻŌlelo's careers page at hrsymphony.com/hrs/careers/Olelo, where all open positions are posted and applications are accepted.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayPal powers online donation payments via paypal.me/olelocommunitymedia for ʻŌlelo Community Media's fundraising.
• VenmocoreTechnology or IntegrationVenmo (account.venmo.com/u/olelocommunity) supports mobile-friendly donations to ʻŌlelo Community Media.
• Elevation WebminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerElevation Web designed the ʻŌlelo.org website and is credited in the footer as the creator of "Best nonprofit websites."
• Office of Elections (City & County of Honolulu)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides voter registration, ballot notifications, and election resources linked from ʻŌlelo's Candidates in Focus 2026 page to support civic engagement around election coverage.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TV Tacoma: Tacoma's nonprofit PEG access broadcaster providing cable channels, government coverage, and community programming. Similar to ʻŌlelo in being a mid-sized PEG operator focused on local civic content and government proceedings.
• Access Humboldt: Humboldt County, California's nonprofit PEG access organization operating cable channels and providing community production training. Operates the same combined cable + training + civic engagement model as ʻŌlelo in a smaller geographic footprint.
• Berkeley Community Media: Berkeley's nonprofit PEG access provider operating cable channels and community media training programs for city residents. Comparable to ʻŌlelo in PEG franchise funding model, free resident training, and emphasis on local civic storytelling.
• PBS Hawaii: Hawaiʻi's statewide PBS member station, also a nonprofit public broadcaster serving the same islands with educational programming and community content. Directly comparable mission (public-interest media), funding model (donations + underwriting + grants), and geographic overlap with ʻŌlelo's Oʻahu focus.
• Austin Community Television (ACTV): Austin's nonprofit PEG access organization providing cable channels, community media training, and production facilities to residents. Comparable in offering community producers free access to professional equipment, training, and broadcast distribution under a PEG mandate.
• Cambridge Community Television (CCTV): Cambridge, Massachusetts' nonprofit community media center with cable channels, production training, and youth programs for residents. Closely mirrors ʻŌlelo's combined broadcast + training + youth civic-engagement offering under a PEG access framework.
• St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN): St. Paul's nonprofit community media center providing cable channels, production training, and youth media programs. Comparable to ʻŌlelo in providing full-stack community media services — channels, classes, equipment access, and youth programs — under PEG funding.
• PhillyCAM: Philadelphia's nonprofit community PEG access provider offering cable channels, production training, equipment checkout, and civic programming. Functionally analogous to ʻŌlelo: PEG franchise-based, free training for residents, multi-platform distribution, and government coverage.
• Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN): New York City's nonprofit community PEG access network operating multiple cable channels, production facilities, and training programs for residents. Mirrors ʻŌlelo's end-to-end model — channels, training, equipment access, civic programming, and youth services — at larger urban scale.

Emerging players

• Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC): Honolulu-based nonprofit that supports Pacific Islander media content and producers, including public broadcasting funding and training. Closely aligned with ʻŌlelo's community-media mission and Hawaiʻi-specific focus, though PIC operates more as a content fund and producer-development organization than a channel operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/olelocm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olelo-community-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olelo Community Media