The committee had difficulty with interpretation of MIRA standards about team membership, leading to initial confusion over such matters as the number of team members allowed. Later, attendance requirements became a point of contention, especially as it became clear that two teams would not qualify for project grants and as two others were questionable. Even so, at least one member of a disqualified team maintained her loyalty to the Steering Committee, attending each workshop and participating fully in Steering Committee meetings.

Communication between meetings, which were typically held over lunch during workshops, was complicated by the fact that members on both sides of the island had to travel several hours one way to get to the other side. (In some ways, the island in total is a communications wasteland. Radio and television reception is poor in many communities, and some residents have no telephone service. Cellular service is spotty, at best, given the island's terrain.)

Some Steering Committee members complained that the entire project got off to a bad start because the first workshop was poorly received, even though formal participant evaluations were higher than 3 on a 5-point scale. The facility was not adequate, however, as lighting and sound system were poor. One person complained that they could not hear at all. Another said presentation materials were hard to see, Others said in interviews that the first workshop was too academic. One said they should have heard more about program purposes and expectations at the first workshop.

Complaints were also heard about what might be called lack of courtesy or respect. At one Steering Committee meeting, members of one team arrived late and their presence was never acknowledged. Someone complained that Steering Committee members did not always display respect for diversity. (People with native blood were careful to let you know, at some point, and it was a matter of considerable pride. Anyone else may be considered an outsider, for which Hawaiians have a native term: "houle" or foreigner. In one community, natives appeared to resent the fact that all the new businesses were owned by non-native peoples, so they did most of their shopping elsewhere.)

Some Steering Committee members also complained about the use of non-local trainers. Hawaii received extra funding for travel expenses; trainers from the islands could have done the job at less cost in travel. From at least one member, there was an unstated resentment of the fact that trainers often took some personal time when they came, making the experience into a working vacation for them. Others, however, seemed pleased that trainers were able to make the trip into a personal adventure as well, and offered tips on where to go and what to see or volunteered to take visitors on excursions. One Steering Committee member was impressed that an evaluator explored back roads to learn more about the island and its people. Another took time to take us on a tour of her community, pointing out local sites and offering comments on history, culture and economics.

In interviews conducted during the sixth workshop, several Steering Committee members complained about the attendance requirement, suggesting rules should have provided an alternative, such as the opportunity to attend a make-up workshop in the event of a conflict that could not be avoided.

On the positive side, Steering Committee members said they had learned a lot about the entire island and other communities, developing networks that would serve them well into the future. Many felt that their communities would savor many long-term benefits, from contacts made during the process as well as from projects developed with grant support. "Our communities really should be working together," volunteered another, suggesting that MIRA had brought them together.

"We're learning a lot," said one Steering Committee member. "MIRA is addressing our most apparent needs."

The Grants Committee, which held its initial meeting over lunch at the sixth workshop, got off to a somewhat chaotic start with lots of questions about criteria and grant-making standards. A strong chairperson kept the group on task, and they set a schedule for establishing criteria, accepting proposals and approving grants. An evaluation team member offered to send sample proposals from other Clusters once back home, and one team member asked for information on writing proposals.

At its concurrent meeting, the Steering Committee allocated funds to send one member of each team to an upcoming grant-writing workshop to be conducted through a community college. The committee also planned a Cluster celebration to mark the end of the workshop phase.

The Hawaii Steering Committee made excellent use of its Cluster website, which served as a running record of Cluster activities and accomplishments, a necessity to overcome problems of time and distance on the island.