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Transportation

Mokulele to Provide Wheelchair Access

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

When Makani Kai Air began flying into Kalaupapa in 2011, owner Richard Schuman identified the need for a simple, light and easy to operate wheelchair lift to assist patient passengers onto the airline’s small Cessna aircraft. It didn’t exist. So he designed and built one.

Now, with wheelchair accessible options dwindling for Molokai air passengers, the “Schuman lift” will be used by Mokulele Airlines on topside Molokai, Honolulu, Kahului and Lanai.

Mokulele’s policy previously stated it could not accommodate passengers needing wheelchairs due to logistical challenges with its small aircraft. But when ‘Ohana by Hawaiian made an announcement two weeks ago that the company will temporarily halt service starting Nov.…

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‘Ohana by Hawaiian to Suspend Service

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

‘Ohana by Hawaiian to Suspend Service

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

‘Ohana by Hawaiian, one of the two passenger air carriers serving Molokai, announced last Friday it will temporarily stop service beginning Nov. 1 due to low travel demand from COVID-19. Flights between Honolulu, Molokai and Lanai will be affected.

‘Ohana’s 48-seat ATR-42 turboprop aircraft represent the only planes currently serving Molokai that accommodate passengers boarding in a wheelchair and those weighing more than 350 pounds. Along with concerns that its suspension of service will leave those who are wheelchair bound without travel options, ‘Ohana’s termination would also leave its Molokai employees, as well as local TSA agents, jobless.…

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No New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged no new COVID-19 cases last week, as statewide, the total cases as of last Friday reached 13,300 and COVID-19-related deaths in Hawaii totaled 166 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Starting this week on Oct. 15, the state will allow a pre-testing program for residents and visitors entering Hawaii that will allow travelers to bypass the 14-day quarantine if they show a negative COVID test within 72 hours of travel. Mayor Michael Victorino requested for an additional layer of safety for Maui County by also requiring a post-arrival test, but that request was denied by Gov.…

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Molokai Mechanics Inspire Electric Vehicle Donation

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

Molokai Mechanics Inspire Electric Vehicle Donation

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric recently presented a donation of two 2012 Nissan Leaf electric vehicles (EV) to the University of Hawaii Maui College’s (UHMC) Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Educational Program to provide mechanics hands-on experience in maintaining and repairing EVs.

The new program addresses a need that came up during discussions Hawaiian Electric conducted with the Molokai community.

“There was interest in EVs, but residents pointed out if they invested in the vehicles there were no on-island EV technicians who could provide servicing and repairs,” said Gregg Kresge, Hawaiian Electric’s electrification of transportation project delivery manager. “In further discussions with the vehicle mechanics on Molokai, all were enthusiastic about participating in EV training if it was available.…

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One New Molokai Case Last Week

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

One New Molokai Case Last Week

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged one new COVID-19 case last Wednesday, Sept. 23, bringing the island’s total case count to 17.

Despite requests to break down the island’s total and active cases, the Dept. of Health has not yet begun providing that information so it remains unclear how many of Molokai’s cases are active.

Last week, Gov. David Ige signed a proclamation extending the COVID-19 emergency period through Oct. 31, leaving in place the 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for both out of state and interisland travelers. However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow out of state travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine by providing a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to travel to Hawaii.…

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Molokai Up 3 New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

After a surge of cases the previous week, Molokai had three new COVID-19 positives last week — two logged on Monday, Sept. 14 and one on Friday, bringing the island’s total to 16 since the pandemic began.

Requests have been made to the Dept. of Health to separate Molokai’s case count by total cases versus active cases but that breakdown is not yet available as of press deadline Sunday. Rep. Lynn DeCoite said the DOH told her “they are working on that” and should have it updated this week.

DeCoite said to her knowledge, none of the recent Molokai cases have required hospitalization.…

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New Online Travel Application Mandatory

Wednesday, September 9th, 2020

State of Hawaii News Release

A new online Safe Travels application will be mandatory for all travelers on Sept. 1, the State of Hawaii announced. This new digital application, which collects the required health and travel information, is critical to protecting the health of our residents and visitors alike. Safe Travels is one part of a multi-layered screening process which includes arrival temperature checks, and secondary screening for those with symptoms or temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The application can be found at travel.hawaii.gov.

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Young Brothers Granted 46% Rate Hike

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In the latest in a saga of Young Brothers barge troubles, the company was granted a 46 percent rate increase, with conditions. The increase, approved last week by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC), will be effective Sept. 1. YB must fulfill several mandates as part of the rate hike, which has been granted on a emergency basis for 12 months.

“We understand that Young Brothers is the only carrier required to serve all islands and discontinuation of service would discontinue all service to Molokai and Lanai,” said Molokai Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez in an informal virtual community meeting she held to dis-cuss the rate increase last Thursday.…

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New HI Case Record, Molokai Hospital Prepared

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

New HI Case Record, Molokai Hospital Prepared

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The state reached a new record last Thursday with 355 new COVID-19 cases reported in a single day. On Maui, 71 cases have been reported in the last 30 days, as of last Friday, and county officials expect that number to grow. Molokai confirmed cases remain at two.

“We would like to commend the community on their efforts to keep us COVID-19 free,” said Janice Kalanihuia, president of Molokai General Hospital. “We know it has been a long five months, but now is not the time to let our guard down. There have been a lot of visitors from other islands to Molokai over the past month so it is best for us to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, keep socially distant and wear a mask when out in public.…

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Interisland Travel Quarantine in Effect Again

Thursday, August 13th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

With numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the state continuing to skyrocket, a partial interisland travel quarantine was reinstated by Gov. David Ige last week, effective Tuesday, Aug. 11. The mandatory 14-day quarantine affects Molokai residents traveling anywhere in the state except Oahu. If you’re flying into Honolulu, you don’t have to quarantine, but upon your return to Molokai, the 14-day quarantine would be required.

“With Oahu’s 200 new cases reported today and 1,618 active cases statewide, reinstituting the interisland quarantine was necessary to protect our community and healthcare system,” Mayor Michael Victorino said last Friday. “I also want to let our residents know that we are discouraging any non-essential travel, but we understand if you need to travel for work or medical care.”…

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