Got a minute? Let's chat.

In the coming weeks, you'll be noticing some new features in our online opinion site, as well as in our newspaper. All of these changes are designed to create and engage you in a "community conversation." And judging from the letters to the editor I receive daily, there's definitely no shortage of opinions out there.

Beginning tomorrow, you'll be able to go to our Web site (honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion) and check out our new blog: The Hot Seat. As part of this feature, I'll bring in your elected leaders, key decision makers and everyday people in the news — and let you ask the questions.

First on deck will be Mayor Mufi Hannemann. He'll be in The Hot Seat Wednesday from noon to 1 for a live blog chat, answering your questions about Honolulu's most expensive public works project proposed to date — the multibillion-dollar rail transit system.

Go online and leave a comment. If you want to get your questions in early, that's fine, too. E-mail them to me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser .com, and I'll try to post as many as I can that day. We'll also reprint some of your questions along with the mayor's responses in the paper.

Because this is a community-driven feature, we want to know whom you would like to see in The Hot Seat. So visit our blog and send me some ideas.

Also beginning tomorrow, all of our editorials online will have a Story Chat feature that allows you to respond to our opinions directly — with opinions of your own. It also will allow you to see what other readers are saying and gives you a chance to respond to their comments as well. Most of our local news stories already have this feature.

Try it. Visit us online, look for our editorials and click on the chat button. If you've never posted your online comments with us, there's a simple free registration process; only your screen name will be used online. No worries there.

Another segment of our community conversations will include a weekly forum topic — everything from transportation to education to health to environment. Each Sunday, in our Focus section and on our online site, we'll reveal the topic of the week for our online forum, then step back and and let you do the talking. Pati Poblete, our deputy editorial page editor, will coordinate our forums, so e-mail her with your topic suggestions at ppoblete@honoluluadvertiser.com.

There are other ways, of course, to join the conversation. We have a Teen Editorial Board, comprising high school students islandwide who will meet with us regularly to share their views, and our Community Editorial Board, comprising of readers who serve eight-week terms. These are folks just like you; they could even be neighbors. You can apply to join our boards online at honoluluadvertiser .com/opinion.

Why all the fuss? Simple. We want to connect with you and hear what you have to say. As someone born and raised in Hawai'i, I believe there's a great deal of responsibility that comes along with being Hawai'i's newspaper. Part of that responsibility is leading community conversations and working with you to improve our Hawai'i. So let's talk. We want to hear from you.

Reach Jeanne Mariani-Belding at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Jeanne Mariani-Belding is editor of The Advertiser's editorial and opinion section. Reach her at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser .com or 535-2445. Visit The Hot Seat at honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion.