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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Safe Travels to End, Indoor Masks Stay

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The State of Hawaii took some big steps to continue ending COVID mandates last week. Gov. Ige announced the Safe Travels program, which requires vaccination proof, negative COVID test results or quarantine options upon entering the state, will end on March 25. Additionally, state and county employees will no longer be required to show vaccination status or negative test results. However, masks will continue to be required indoors, Ige said. 

The state’s current emergency period is set to end on March 25, sunsetting many of the remaining COVID requirements. Beginning at 12:01 am, Mar. 26, passengers arriving from domestic points of origin will not have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-travel negative test result.…

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Soup-porting the Arts

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Soup-porting the Arts

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Local ceramic artists created more than 400 pottery bowls for this year’s Molokai Arts Center annual Soup R Bowl event, held last Saturday at Lanikeha. Attendees picked their favorite bowl, filled it with soup of their choice and enjoyed the music of the Molokai Instrumental Music Education program led by Bob Underwood, and Malama Molokai Wellness with musicians Kala Bishaw-Juario and Kaleo Bishaw. 

The 12th annual event supports the Molokai Arts Center’s art education programs, including classes for keiki and kupuna. Guests were also able to meet the potters who made their bowls — Dan Bennett, Emillia Noordhoek, Kim Markham, Betty West and Maricel Kanemitsu.…

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Budget for New County Ag Dept.

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Maui County News Release

Molokai residents are invited to join a virtual community meeting that will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 to gather public input on the new Department of Agriculture’s fiscal year 2023 budget.

The County will consider funding requests and priorities suggested by the community for the Department of Agriculture that will open in July.

“We invite our farmers, ranchers and interested residents to get involved in making plans for this new department,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “The County Department of Agriculture will meet our community’s needs by supporting local farmers and ranchers to help improve food security, build our agricultural workforce and promote new opportunities for economic diversification.…

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County Small Business Grants Open

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Maui County News Release  

The Maui County Small Business Grant Program is open to all small businesses in Maui County.

In early January, the County of Maui announced the Maui County Small Business Grants for Restaurants, Bars and Gyms. Effective March 1, the program became the Maui County Small Business Grant for all small businesses in Maui County.

The County of Maui offers the program in collaboration with the Credit Unions of Maui (Maui County FCU, Maui FCU, Kahului FCU, Valley Isle Community FCU, Wailuku FCU and Maui Teachers FCU). The program is part of the American Rescue Plan to assist small businesses in Maui County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.…

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No More Plastic Foodware

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Maui County News Release 

Maui County’s Plastic Disposable Foodware Ordinance No. 5084 went into effect March 1, and the County’s Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division continues working with affected businesses and suppliers to help them transition toward non-plastic products. With the exception of some temporary exemptions, plastic foodware will no longer be used at take-out restaurants or for purchase at stores on Molokai. 

“We are focused on education and working with businesses to comply with this new law,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “There is a temporary exemption process in place to assist businesses with supply-chain challenges and those that need to exhaust non-compliant supplies.…

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Grants Fund Molokai Homestead Projects

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

DHHL News Release 

Three Molokai projects were funded among 14 recipients of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL)’s Community Development Program, each receiving a portion of $859,375 in grants.

In June 2021, the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) approved a total of $1,000,000 from the Native Hawaiian Rehabilitation Fund (NHRF) for the current fiscal year. The funds were administratively allocated as $100,000 for Capacity Building and $900,000 for Regional Plan Priority Projects.

DHHL makes available annual grant funding to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a purpose to benefit native Hawaiians. The Department has offered grants in several program areas over the years as a means of implementing the community development component of the rehabilitation fund.…

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Meet the Artists: Anna Fuernsteiner

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Meet the Artists: Anna Fuernsteiner

Community Contributed

By Na Heona Molokai

Na Heona Molokai (Artists of Molokai) is a group creating an exhibition titled “No Stop Light: Molokai” for the 3,600 square foot Downtown Art Center in Honolulu, in May 2022. In the coming months, we will introduce each artist.

What is your name and what is your art form?

I’m Anna Fuernsteiner, and I paint with oil and acrylics on canvas.

What is your connection to Molokai?

I was born in Vienna, Austria where I lived with my grandmother and moved to England with my mother and stepfather. When I married, I moved to the Pacific Northwest.…

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Lindo Promoted to Asst. Chief

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Lindo Promoted to Asst. Chief

Maui Fire Dept. News Release

A Molokai member of the Maui Fire Department was among those to receive promotions recently announced by Fire Chief Bradford Ventura. 

Henry “Hanale” Lindo of Molokai has been promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations. Other promotions are Jeffrey Giesea has been promoted to Assistant Chief of Support Services; Lee Theros, Shawn Rogers and Alexander Parker have been promoted to Battalion Chief; Darrin Almeida, Garren Oura, Beau Gaddis, Kanoa Shannon, Anthony Twarowski, Matthew Akiona, Joseph “Ikaika” Blackburn, and John Devlin have been promoted to Fire Captain; Daniel Laferriere and Steven Graver have been promoted to Fire Fighter III. …

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Action Needed on Molokai Ranch

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Action Needed on Molokai Ranch

Molokai Ranch has been up for sale for years now. All efforts to buy have failed thus far.

The price is too high at $260 million.

Water has been a major problem, both their mountain stream dams, reservoirs and 25 miles of pipes. They have no permit to operate their drinking water at Well 17. The land has serious (criminal) erosion problems that includes a red shoreline after rains that threatens the pristine reefs. The traditional forest has been denuded and is gone.

The ranch, which is one third of our island, is owned by a foreign county in Singapore that is almost impossible to contact.…

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Molokai Paintball Club Joins Statewide Event

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Molokai Paintball Club Joins Statewide Event

Community Contributed

By Fred Aki and Michael Onofrio 

Molokai’s Paintball Club, led by Fred Aki, joined the Hawaiian Legend 3 held by CPX events at the Maui Paintball field in Olowalu for the third year. Hawaiian Legend is the largest paintball event in Hawaii, with more than 200 players this year. Hawaiian Legends is a Blue versus Red open play scenario based paintball game, where players on either side battle to control a section of the field by hitting a slap stick marked blue or red, running missions, and collect supplies and material to help their team.

Joining the Red team, Molokai brought nine players, playing alongside other teams from the neighbor islands and from other states.…

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