New Flight Service, Old-Fashioned Style

Sunday, June 9th, 2013

New Flight Service, Old-Fashioned Style

A new flight service is landing on Molokai, bringing in a small business attitude that has already proven successful in Kalaupapa. Makani Kai Air is offering five flights daily to Honolulu and back, which began June 8, while keeping its twice daily Kalaupapa flights.

The decision to expand its service came after an agreement to provide aircraft and staff to Mokulele Airlines fell through, said Makani Kai President Richard Schuman. He said he was not going to lay off his employees, so he found a way to keep everyone working while providing flights to an area receiving decreased air service.

“I read the paper where Island Air was backing off its runs and Pacific Wings announced its departure,” Schuman said.…

Molokai Customers to Get Electric Refund

Sunday, June 9th, 2013

An electric bill refund is on the way for Molokai customers of Maui Electric Company (MECO). A recent decision by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Maui County electric rates will result in an estimated $39 to $49 refund.

Last year, MECO applied for a rate increase with the PUC. An interim rate of 3.16 percent in annual revenues, or $13.1 million, was approved by the PUC and charged to customers in their bills since June 2012. In a final rate decision issued last week, however, the PUC approved a MECO revenue increase of about half that — 1.29 percent revenue increase, or $5.3 million.…

Island Legend: Paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Island Legend: Paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle

Fourth generation Molokai paniolo Uncle Jimmy Duvauchelle literally entered this world into the hands of a cowboy. When he was born in Kalamaula in the 1940s, there were only two doctors on the island — and when his mother went into labor, one doctor was in Honolulu and the other was busy, said Duvauchelle.

“My dad didn’t know what to do and panicked,” he chuckled. So he ran down the road and called for help from the only person who was experienced in delivery — an old time cowboy.

Back then, paniolo would be there with their cattle “whether it’s 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon,” said Duvauchelle.…

Island Legend: Paramedic Mel Paoa

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Island Legend: Paramedic Mel Paoa

He has helped to save countless Molokai lives. He is the longest serving, active paramedic in Maui County. He is Melvin “Mel” Paoa, Jr., the island’s first certified paramedic to serve on Molokai. And on May 30, he retired after 35 years of service.

“This is not a job, this is a love for the community and the people,” said Paoa. “I have mixed emotions on retirement. I’m not ready to divorce myself from the people.”

Paoa’s career in medical services began in 1975 as a lifeguard for the County of Maui’s Cooke Memorial Pool. While there, a county official asked if he would like to take a first aid class, which he did.…

Campaign Against Tobacco

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Campaign Against Tobacco

Community Contributed

By Michelle Magdirila

Since I was a teenager, I have been involved in tobacco control. Currently I’m a young adult leader and Molokai organizer for a statewide youth movement called REAL: Hawaii Youth Movement Exposing the Tobacco Industry. During my six years with REAL, I’ve advocated for laws, trained hundreds of youth about what the tobacco companies are doing to recruit the youth generation as customers, and helped organize big tobacco control youth events. One of the most incredible things I’ve ever done was travel to New York City to demonstrate at the annual Philip Morris Shareholders Meeting two weeks ago.…

Funding Available to Enter “Made in Hawaii” Product Show

Friday, June 7th, 2013

 

County of Maui News Release
If you have a locally-made product you would like to showcase in the “Made in Hawaii” festival but do not have the funds to pay for an exhibit, assistance is available. Funding is being offered for locally-made product companies in Maui, Molokai and Lanai to exhibit at the Made in Hawaii Festival, announced the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and INNOVATE Hawaii. The festival will be held August 16-18 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall & Arena on Oahu.

The festival is a three-day showcase of “Made in Hawaii” products including food, books, art, gifts, fashions, plants, crafts, produce and more.…

Support Keiki Surf Series

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Ko Molokai Keiki O Ke Kai News Release

The Ko Molokai Keiki O Ke Kai summer surf series celebrate its 24th anniversary this year thanks to the generosity of donors like you. This event is more than just a fun activity. It provides a way for families to spend quality time with their children and promotes a safe, drug- and alcohol-free activity for youth during the summer break. A total of 75 children, age 12 years and younger, participate on a yearly basis.

This year, the surf meet series will be held on Saturdays, June 15 and 29, wrapping up with an awards luncheon on Saturday, July 13.…

Public Meeting for HECO Action Plan

Friday, June 7th, 2013

HECO news relese

Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Company have scheduled meetings to seek public comment on draft five-year action plans. Molokai’s meeting will be Wednesday, June 19 at the Mitchell Pauole Center from 6 to 8 p.m.

The action plans are part of the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process, which looks at how the utilities will meet future energy needs. The Hawaiian Electric Companies intend to file an action plan for each company with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by June 28.

The Hawaiian Electric Companies will consider all comments in developing plans that will guide the utilities in coming years.…

Free Health, Dental and Vision Care Today through June 10

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Maui County News Release


Free health, dental and vision care will be offered to residents of Molokai over the next four days. The program will be held on Molokai at Kaunakakai Elementary School from June 7-10. June 7, the clinic will be open from noon to 5 p.m., June 8-9 open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 10 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Performing the health care services will be approximately 400 uniformed personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ophthalmologists, dentists and others from active and reserved ranks of the armed forces around the U.S. The military personnel will be participating in a rapid deployment exercise named Tropic Care 2013.…

Veterans Center: Fight to Finish

Thursday, June 6th, 2013

Veterans Center: Fight to Finish

 

Seven years after Molokai veterans began the process to construct a center to call their own, the building is finally nearing completion. The group was granted a County of Maui building permit in May 2011 after years of permitting delays, lawsuits, protests and jumping through bureaucratic hoops. With the permit finally in hand, frustration turned to relief — but little did veterans know that two years later, the building still would not be complete.

“Many veterans will not have the chance to be able to see the Veteran Center,” said Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans Commander Larry Helm, who has spearheaded the effort to build the new center.…