Lawmakers talk art, music and the future of Hawaii at Fresh Café

Representatives Tom Brower and Marcus Oshiro joined Neil Abercrombie, Colleen Hanabusa, Kim Coco Iwamoto, Jon Osorio, Mari Matsuda, and Ramsay Taum for We Value Hawai‘i, an evening of art, politics and music at Fresh Café on Queen Street last Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. The event was hosted by Creative Modern Activism Hawaii (CMA HI) to address the big issues that Hawaii faces, including public education, the future of the arts, tourism and the environment. CMA HI was inspired to sponsor the event because of the recently released book The Value of Hawai'i, edited by Craig Howes and Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio.

Photo (l-r):  Rep. Marcus Oshiro, Rep. Tom Brower, Kim Coco Iwamoto and Senate President Colleen Hanabusa answer questions from the public about the future of Hawai'i during a forum at Fresh Café.

A panel discussion titled "Creating Hawai'i: The Future for Arts and Artists" was held from 6-8 p.m. The public joined scholars, activists, and politicians for a discussion of the future of creative arts in Hawai'i, with a focus on the problems many young artists face in our economy and a second focus on solutions. The questions the panelists considered: What do we value about the arts in Hawai'i, and what are we willing to do to protect what we value? What do we value about Hawai‘i?