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Government

New Homes Coming for Habitat for Humanity

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

Molokai Habitat for Humanity (MHFH) received a grant that will allow the organization to build four to 10 homes over the next two years. In mid-April, MHFH was awarded $290,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), which will support the Molokai organization’s Native Hawaiian Housing Program. MHFH was one of five organizations awarded funds under OHA’s new Stability in Housing initiative.

Since taking the position of Executive Director of MHFH two years ago, Zhantell Dudoit said the organization has been working to restructure and build sustainable partnerships with agencies like OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL). She said with a lagging economy, funding has been harder to obtain while the cost of building is rising.…

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Changes to Wildlife Rules

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Changes to Wildlife Rules

Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is working to protect watersheds, native species and agriculture with proposed amendments to their administrative rules. The rule changes aim to prohibit the transport and release of introduced invasive wildlife, including mongoose, ants, snakes and ungulates, said Laura Goodmiller of DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

“Introduced species negatively affect Hawaii’s environment in a variety of ways, including predation and competition to indigenous species, damage to watersheds, the spread of pathogens and diseases, and threats to agriculture,” she said.

Goodmiller and other DLNR representatives presented the changes at a public forum on Molokai April 3.…

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Kupuna Take a Stand Against Drugs

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

 

Molokai residents concerned with methamphetamine use on the island are working to bring change to the way officials address the issue.

“We’re advocating for a full-time vice officer on Molokai to concentrate strictly on our drug problems now,” states a petition created by a group of kupuna that has garnered signatures and support across the island. Molokai kupuna Judy Caparida said she will present it at the upcoming Maui County Molokai budget meeting on April 15.

“If they were doing their job, we wouldn’t have this cycle,” she said of how police address the widespread use of drugs on Molokai.…

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Tonight’s DLNR Meeting on Wildlife Rule Amendment

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

 

DLNR News Release

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will host a public hearing tonight to receive testimony on proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 13, Subtitle 5, Part 2, Chapter 124, “Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, and Introduced Wild Birds.”

The primary purpose of the proposed amendments is to prohibit and deter the transport and release of introduced wildlife. Introduced species can impact Hawaii’s ecosystems and economy by introducing harmful predation and competition to indigenous species, damaging watersheds, spreading pathogens and diseases, and harming agriculture.

“The movement of live, introduced wildlife poses direct threats to our native ecosystems, and the proposed amendments will help prevent harm to our natural resources and economy,” said William J.…

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Molokai High Artists Earn District Honors

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard News Release

High school students through Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District competed in an arts competition sponsored by the district’s congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard. All three Molokai High School students who were among 16 finalists received honors in the contest, Gabbard announced last week. MHS’ Kierstyn Esteron earned third place, while she and fellow MHS students Rizpah Torres-Umi and Eliana Kalilikane-Garces won the “People’s Choice” contest on Gabbard’s Facebook page.

Eighty contest entries were received from high school students throughout the district. Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.…

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‘A`ole GMO’

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

‘A`ole GMO’

The main streets of Kaunakakai were closed Saturday morning as people young and old marched through town, carrying signs and shouting protests aimed toward Monsanto and calling for clear labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Molokai activist Walter Ritte and Oahu resident Dustin Barca organized the series of rallies called March in March that took place across the islands throughout the month. The marches on Maui and Kauai had more than 2,000 participants each.

“This is equal to the other islands because in its own way, it’s making just as much noise and raising just as much awareness,” Barca said about the Molokai rally, which had about 200 marchers.…

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Mateo’s Mana`o

Sunday, March 17th, 2013

Mateo’s Mana`o

 

Danny Mateo’s time as Maui County council chair ended at noon Jan. 2. The next minute he started his work in the Mayor’s office as an executive assistant and liaison for the county and State legislature.

“Retirement for me is not in the immediate future,” he said over coffee at Kanemitsu Bakery Saturday. “I still have a lot to offer. As long as there is fire in the fireplace I will continue what I do.”

This means Mateo will continue to be a voice for the people of Molokai and work to improve the island, something he did for 10 years as a councilmember before he reached his term limit.…

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Rep. Carroll Speaks Out Against Wind Turbines and Cables

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Rep. Carroll Speaks Out Against Wind Turbines and Cables

Office of Mele Carroll News Release

Rep. Mele Carroll (13th District) voiced many Molokai residents’ concerns in Honolulu today, urging the Governor and the public utilities commission to find alternatives to proposed wind turbines and undersea cables on the island. Carroll introduced House Concurrent Resolution 189, which urges that island-specific alternatives be considered in order to reduce negative impacts on Molokai and Lana`i.

“The message from both Lana`i and Molokai residents is very clear – no wind turbines, no undersea cables,” Carroll said. “I have been meeting with both islands’ community leaders, and as far as they are concerned, the potential risks that turbines and undersea cables pose outweigh the possible benefits.”

Act 165 of Hawaii Session Laws in 2013 authorizes the development and construction of an interisland high-voltage undersea cable to connect the wind turbines, providing energy to residents of Oahu from other islands.…

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State of the County Address

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

The following is Mayor Alan Arakawa’s state of the county address, which he delivered February 20 at the Baldwin High School Auditorium at 5 p.m. Check back soon for some comments from Mayor Arakawa about Molokai specifically. 

 

Aloha and good evening.

Please join me in giving Mr. Dean Wong a round of applause. He had some large shoes to fill in taking over emcee duties this year and he’s done a fine job.

Our last two State of the County events were emceed by the late

Martin Luna, a friend to this administration and our community.

Of course it is impossible not to think of Martin now as we begin tonight.…

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Kalaupapa Post Office Extends Hours

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Kalaupapa Post Office Extends Hours

 

When the Kalaupapa post office wasn’t shut down last year, the small, isolated community considered it a big victory. The patients and staff at the former Hansen’s Disease settlement recently celebrated again as they learned their post office – a vital communication lifeline for the area – will extend its operating time by two hours a day, a rare deal in this unstable time for the United States Postal Service (USPS)

Patients and employees voted at last Tuesday’s community meeting for the post office to be opened 6 a.m. until 12 p.m., which will allow them to bring by last minute mail before the plane comes at 7 a.m.…

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