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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Lead in Molokai School Faucets

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

Lead in Molokai School Faucets

By Catherine Cluett Pacol

Water faucets and drinking fountains at schools around the state are being tested for lead content. So far, a faucet at Kilohana School has topped the charts for the highest lead content found in Maui County. Water sources with lead content detected higher than the project action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) are no longer being used while monitoring continues.

About four percent of the water samples collected so far from faucets and drinking fountains at selected Hawaii public schools and child care facilities show elevated concentrations of lead.

The project, launched in February, is a joint effort between the Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Human Services (DHS).…

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More Water Allocated for Molokai Homesteaders

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

More Water Allocated for Molokai Homesteaders

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Half a million additional gallons of water per day will be available for new and existing uses for homesteaders on Molokai. A decision by the Hawaiian Commission on Water Resources Management (CWRM) last week approved a permit request from the Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands, marking a long-awaited milestone to increase opportunities for Hawaiian Homesteaders.

“This year marks the centennial anniversary of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” said Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board Chair Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey. “For nearly 30 of these past 100 years, there has been no expansion of homesteading opportunities on Molokai, despite the best efforts of DHHL and OHA to create such opportunities by upholding DHHLʻs priority right to water in a manner consistent with the public trust, and the state water code.”…

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Coffee Leaf Rust Found on Molokai

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

Coffee Leaf Rust Found on Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A pathogen devastating for coffee plants has been confirmed on Molokai among wild coffee plants. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) detected coffee leaf rust (CLR) on June 14 during a survey of feral coffee in Kaunakakai. Further surveys detected more CLR on the east side of the island. The disease is now found on all major Hawaiian Islands.

CLR is a devastating coffee pathogen first discovered in Sri Lanka in 1869. It can cause severe defoliation of coffee plants, and both the leaf and berry growth can be affected and greatly reduced. Long-term impacts of CLR includes severe dieback, with crop losses ranging from 30 to 80 percent, according to HDOA.…

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Molokai Bone Marrow Drive

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

Be the Match Hawaii News Release

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Life Scout Riley Regan of Oahu’s Troop 325 will host a bone marrow donor drive at Lanikeha Community Center in Ho’olehua on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. There is a need for more diverse individuals to join donor registry with Be The Match Hawaii and increase the chances of finding a donor match for patients awaiting a life-saving blood stem cell or marrow transplant.

Assisting Riley with the project on Molokai will be Senator Lynn DeCoite and Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance.

“We hope that Molokai residents from 18 to 44 will join the registry so that more lives can be saved, as well as to raise awareness on the Friendly Isle about how easy it is for anyone to save a life,” said DeCoite.…

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More Art Classes Coming

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

More Art Classes Coming

MAC News Release

Molokai Arts Center’s Saturday Youth Arts Classes have been growing and with limited space due to current safety protocols, we are adding special weekday classes!

Prior weekly sign up is required. No walk-ins due to safety protocols. Email molokaiartscenter@gmail.com for sign up instructions along with current safety protocols.

Cost is $10/class or $25 Youth Loyalty Card (good for five classes; one punch per use by individual or family). Annual Family Members ($75/year) receive a 20 percent discount. Annual Friend Members also receive a 20 percent discount on adult classes. Payment can be made on molokaiartscenter.org or in person before class starts.…

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Eric Jayne, DVM

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

Eric Jayne, DVM

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Dr. Eric Jayne, DVM, 61, of Des Moines, IA on Friday, July 2, 2021 in Grand Forks, ND due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Dr. Jayne was a respected veterinarian and loyal friend who impacted every person–and animal– that he encountered. His work ethic and dedication to providing affordable, accessible, and quality animal care carried him from the mainland to Hawaii. He worked in Hawaii with numerous groups on spay and neuter programs. Here on Molokai, we knew Dr. Jayne for several years as the veterinarian of the Molokai Humane Society – a clinic he helped renovate.…

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COVID Spikes Statewide

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai had one new COVID-19 case confirmed by the Dept. of Health last Wednesday, the first since May 26.

Statewide, numbers have spiked, with last Saturday marking the third day in a row of triple digit numbers. Hawaii logged 166 new cases last Thursday and 147 on Friday. Lt. Gov. Josh Green attributed the rise in cases to gatherings over the 4th of July weekend.

He also said the new cases are almost exclusively among those who are not vaccinated, the Star Advertiser reported. According to Green, 95 percent of COVID-19 hospital admissions are unvaccinated people.

Health officials report that 59.1 percent of the state’s population is now fully vaccinated, and 65 percent have gotten at last one dose.…

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MGH Gets Federal Funding

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

Sen. Schatz News Release

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz announced that 10 small rural hospitals in Hawaii – those with fewer than 50 beds and Critical Access Hospitals – will receive $2,583,760 in new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. Molokai General Hospital is among those that will receive the funds. This funding will help these hospitals expand COVID-19 testing for people living in rural communities and tailor mitigation efforts to meet local needs – such as community education and workforce expenses.

“Families in rural areas across Hawaii rely on local hospitals to get the health care they need in their own communities,” said Sen.…

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Giant Fruit and Vegetable Contest

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

UH CTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

The Hawaii County 4-H program Giant Fruit and Vegetable Program is expanding to Molokai and Oahu this year.

“The Hawaii County Contest got its start back in 2012, as part of a collaboration with a local farmer and is sponsored through the Hawaii 4-H Junior Master Gardener Program,” said Oahu County 4-H Agent Christine Hanakawa. “It first started as a giant pumpkin contest, but over the years has grown to include many other giant fruits and vegetables.”

Beck Settlage, Hawaii County 4-H Agent, who started the Hawaii County Program, said, “Although we started as a giant pumpkin contest, Hawaii County has expanded to include giant tomatoes, giant watermelons, giant bushel gourd, long gourds, giant sunflower heads and in 2021 has added giant cabbage and giant field pumpkins.”…

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‘Not On Bread Alone’

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

Opinion by Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

Just this morning I received an email from a friend on one of our family islands, asking me whether I would be writing an article this week for the newspapers. I responded that I felt uninspired to do so at this time and that the dry weather might be at fault, drying up my thought process. Furthermore, my brain might need some rain moisture. Well, no rain has fallen so far this morning, yet here I am penning this.

You are probably familiar with the phrase, “Not on bread alone does one live.”…

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