Jennifer Smith

Program offers fresh produce with easy to consume instructions.

By Jennifer Smith

Eating healthy on Molokai just became a bit easier, as Pu`u O Hoku Ranch now offers local produce boxes. The fruit and veggie sales are part of an ongoing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project at the Ranch.

“It’s a huge opportunity,” said Debbie Thiel, farm intern. She sees the farm and ranch work at Pu`u O Hoku as part of “a big picture of total sustainability” for the island. “It needs to happen.”

While the Ranch has grown vegetables for several years, and sold occasionally at the Saturday farmers’ market in town, the new CSA boxes offer residents the opportunity to buy produce weekly in bulk.

Humane Society looks for long-term solutions.

The new Molokai Humane Society veterinary office assistant Tessa Reich is doing her best to serve the island's pets.

By Jennifer Smith

Having stepped up last year by providing a semi-permanent home to care for the island’s animals, the Molokai Humane Society (MHS) is now looking to create a long-term plan to continue providing care on the island. A meeting held last week Thursday introduced the MHS board members to their new veterinary office assistant, and allowed time to discuss the finalization of a strategic plan.

“We are trying to figure out how best to serve the community,” said Koki Foster, MHS board member.

Local ambassador shares highlights of visit to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

By Jennifer Smith

Molokai’s own Uncle Mervin Dudoit recently shared the honor of being one of only three individuals from the state of Hawaii to share their local expertise with researchers during a trip to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

“I’m really glad I went,” Uncle Merv said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience.” While only allowed to bring back memories and pictures from his travels, he said he wants to share the experience with others to help explain the importance of protecting Molokai.

Preparing for the Journey
Uncle Merv joined participants from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Australia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands on his 12 day expedition. 

Planning begins for 75th celebration.
By Jennifer Smith

Molokai High School (MHIS) alumni will soon have yet another reason to proudly celebrate their alma mater. With the 75th anniversary only six years away, the Alumni Association has already begun planning for the momentous occasion.

Unlike the annual luau that hosts every graduating year sharing the last digit of the current graduating class, all MHIS graduates are invited to attend the 75th Anniversary celebrations.

Several exciting plans are underway, and the planning committee is asking alumni to dig through their old boxes and share old pictures, articles, and annuals. They are requesting graduates to submit these memories for a special collection of 75 years of MHIS that will be available at the 2014 celebration.

Local couple utilizes efficient farming technique.

The Hills are breaking traditional farming convention with their greenhouse based crop productions.  

By Jennifer Smith

When most people think of farming they picture large tilled fields with crops slowly sprouting out of the ground. One Ho`olehua couple, however, is helping to redefine the old image of what it means to farm.

“It’s strictly hydroponic,” Ray Hill said, explaining his tomato planting operations. Utilizing a 34 ft. by 96 ft. greenhouse on their homestead, Ray and his wife Jackie are using soil-free methods that actually save water, and produce more crops per square foot than ground-based productions.

A series of articles on the island’s fishponds.

Uncle Leimana teaches local keiki about marine life at Kahinapohaku. Photo by Petra Wegmann.

By Jennifer Smith

For centuries, ancient Hawaiians looked to loko i`a, fishponds, for nourishment and livelihood; today, groups throughout the islands are turning to past knowledge in the hopes of reviving this rich cultural resource.

Molokai alone hosts over 60 fishponds, which are amongst Hawaii’s greatest engineering achievements. The semi-circular walls of the ponds are meant to keep fish in, while allowing seawater to circulate.

Unfortunately a lack of fresh water, an abundance of invasive mangrove and sea life, sedimentation from eroding uplands, and a lack community involvement have caused Molokai’s fishponds to fall into a state of disrepair.

Molokai paddler takes first at Ka`iwi Channel race.

Dynamic racing duo, cousins Ekolu and Dave Kalama came in with the fastest overall time in the 2008 QuicksilverEdition Paddleboard Race. This is their third consecutive win in the SUP team division.

By Jennifer Smith

While some refer to crossing the Ka`iwi Channel as a “joy ride,” others see it as one of the greatest physical challenges they will ever endure. However, almost all of the competitors in last Sunday’s QuiksilverEdition Paddleboard Race agreed that crossing the finish line on Oahu is an achievement that merits bragging rights.

Everyone wins at last meet in keiki surf competition.
Surfers from 3-year-olds to 12-year-olds had a blast in the water at the final meet of the 2008 Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai surf competition.  

By Jennifer Smith

Providing a summer of fun in the sun for the whole family, this year’s Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai three-meet surfing series went off without a hitch. After 19 years of watching local keiki catching waves, a packed Waialua Beach last Saturday illustrated the continued popularity of the event with residents from all over the island.

“It’s been great,” said Peter Angelsea, Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai competition director. He said a solid participation from 69 keiki this year and favorable conditions helped to make the event a success. 

County creates draft plan for waste management.

Representatives from the County of Maui spent last week listening to community concerns.

By Jennifer Smith

With only a finite amount of land to place a booming population’s ever-increasing waste, Maui County officials are seeking community input on ways to better manage the islands’ trash. Representatives from the County of Maui held a community meeting last Friday at the Mitchell Pauole Center to present a draft plan on solid waste management, and to hear from Molokai residents on issues pertaining to trash on the island.
 
“This is a plan, a plan so that we will have some sort of direction,” said Mike Victorino, Maui County Councilmember.

State removes airport’s only first responders.

 By Jennifer Smith

For the past year residents of Kalaupapa have rested a little easier knowing that first responders were manning their secluded airport. However, a recent change in federal regulations will leave the peninsula without firefighters.

“We are very, very disappointed that the airports division has eliminated firefighter services at the airport in Kalaupapa,” said Steven Prokop, National Parks Service (NPS) superintendent.

As of July 1 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) no longer requires the presence of fire personnel at Class III airports, serving planes carrying less than 10 people.