One of the most important bills to be considered in the upcoming 2011 legislative session is the enabling legislation for the 2010 Constitutional Amendment that changed the procedure for selecting Board of Education members from ‘elected’ to that of ‘appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate as provided by law.’
It seems lately, everyone has been hosting meetings on alternative energy options for Molokai – the state, the federal government, community members – and now, land owners.
Peter Nicholas, CEO of Molokai Properties Ltd (MPL) said he has set up three meetings around the Molokai community to discuss the potential benefits and pitfalls of a wind farm. He added MPL is not currently negotiating or having talks with any wind energy company.
“There are dozens of questions that we have,” he said recently. “We are arranging to have someone there who will be a real expert on wind farms.”
MPL will be holding a meeting on March 2 at the Mitchell Pauole Center; March 3 at the Maunaloa Rec Center; and March 4 at Kilohana School. All meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The last Hawaiian monarch, Queen Lili`uokalani said to her people, “oni pa`a” – stand strong. Last week, around 100 Molokai residents did just that.
The meeting, called Hawaiians Ku`e, called for a return to traditional Hawaiian protocol and a Hawaiian voice to the table when it comes to resource management within the state and county.
“It’s hard to participate when don’t know what you’re participating in,” said Walter Ritte, one of the meeting’s organizers. “We don’t want to participate in [a] haole process.”
The meeting began with `oli kahea, where those invited to speak – Hawaiian or not – asked for permission to enter. This is a simple practice which allowed ancient Hawaiians to coexist in limited spaces, said Ritte.
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Not only did the Molokai High School girls’ paddling team win Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships last weekend at Kahului Harbor, they began the season with their first regatta win ever. Now the girls head to Oahu to represent Molokai for the first time at the state paddling meet next weekend.
“They did everything perfect that day,” said coach Tania Kaholoa`a. “The girls just wanted it so bad.”
They won the half-mile race ahead of main rivals Seabury Hall – who in the spirit of competition donated money for their travel – at 4:17.66, also their best time of the season. Paddlers Kailana Ritte-Camara, Natalia Levi, Leenell Hernandez, Crystal Puaoi-Kawai, Keaka Kaiama and Jasmine Borden made up the winning crew.
“They trained so hard these past couple weeks, knowing [the win was] just in front of them to grab,” Kaholoa`a said. “They paddled from their hearts.”
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Despite a number of obstacles, the Molokai High School swim team made an impressive show at last weekend’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships at Kihei Aquatic Center.
Junior Lawaia Aalona raced a state consideration time of 23.76 in the 50-yard freestyle, a one second drop from his season debut two weeks ago. It remains to be seen if he will qualify for the state championship meet – which take qualifying times first, and consideration times if there is room – but coach Jessie Ford said the swimmer’s fourth-place finish was impressive.
During Friday’s qualifying meet, Aalona swam at 23.98.
“To do repeat performances, where he improves on a substantial personal best the day after in the finals, is a very good indicator of what he’s capable of,” Ford said. Aalona also dropped three seconds in his 100-yard freestyle during the meet, also earning fourth place at 53.31.
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Molokai’s community college has cleared a major milestone in expanding its campus.
Molokai Properties Ltd (MPL) and the University of Hawaii (UH), which acquired Molokai’s college last year, reached a price agreement two weeks ago over an adjacent 3.2 acre parcel owned by MPL, also known as Molokai Ranch. The purchase price was settled at $400,000.
“I’m just glad we finally got to the point of agreeing on a purchase price,” said David Tamenaha, vice chancellor of administrative affairs at UH.
“The extension of the community college is important,” said MPL’s CEO Peter Nicholas at a meeting last week.
In the year since creating his own clothing company, local boy Paulele Alcon has successfully combined his humble country roots with the thriving music scene on Oahu. And following the success of two concerts held on Molokai last year – featuring popular reggae bands Katchafire and The Green – Alcon is staying true to his word.
“This next year, my priority is Molokai,” Alcon said. While working continuously on fresh designs, Alcon is sharing the benefits of his clothing and promotions company with Molokai.
Patients and community members anticipating the expansion of the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) will have to continue the wait. Construction for the clinic’s new Oceanside Health and Wellness Center at the former Pau Hana Inn site has been forced to shut down due to a lack of funding.
Renovations for the federally qualified health center began in July 2010, after $1 million in grant funding was allocated by the state legislature. However, former Governor Lingle withheld the funds. The withholding has also prevented MCHC from accessing matching funding sources, according to a company spokesperson.
Community Contributed
By Sri TenCate, Branch Manager
The Molokai Public Library will be closed from Feb. 14 to March 18 for re-carpeting. The bookdrop will be locked down the afternoon of Feb. 11 for the duration of the project. However, library materials can be returned at the library's carport behind the building during public service hours.
Maui County News Release
We may be seeing more of Hollywood in Maui County. Mayor Alan Arakawa and his staff today announced that the county is in serious discussions with Relativity Media – one of the leading forces in Hollywood – to create a sustainable and more profitable film industry in our islands.
Relativity Media LLC is a media and entertainment company whose recent films include Salt, Despicable Me, Grown Ups, Charlie St. Cloud and Get Him to the Greek.
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