Akaku board appoints Jay April president, CEO

WAILUKU — Jay April has received a two-year contract to continue as president and CEO of Akaku: Maui Community Television.

The station’s board of directors voted Friday to appoint April to the position he has held in an interim capacity for more than a year. Board members praised April for leading the organization through difficult times and “breathing life” into an ailing program.

“Since the board appointed Jay April as interim president in January 2007, Akaku has experienced renewed activity with its producers and viewers, restored relationships with decision makers in the community, and has developed strong internals support to take the organization to new heights,” Chairman John Bruce said in a statement.

April said he was pleased to receive the appointment.

“I think we have a bright future, and if I could be a small part of that, I’m really honored,” April said in a statement.

April took the helm of Akaku in the wake of a bitter dispute over the use of funds for public-access, educational and government television programming that divided the board. The dispute was later resolved through mediation, but Akaku has since filed lawsuits over moves by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to put out for competitive bids the contracts for managing the public-access channels.

In granting permits for cable television companies to operate in the islands, the state requires cable operators to provide five channels for public, educational and government access, with 3 percent of cable revenues designated for operations of the access channels. The state previously issued contracts for public access stations to nonprofit organizations like Akaku created to handle the operations.

April has a background as a television producer and was a founding member of the Alliance for Community Media. He served on the Akaku board from 2001 to 2006.

Since taking over as CEO, April has overseen renovations of the Akaku facility, equipment upgrades, increased community outreach and efforts to improve staff morale.

For more information, visit www.akaku.org.