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Kualapu`u 4th graders visit Keawanui Fishpond where Ho`omana Hou high school students teach them agriculture, aquaculture, and traditional Hawaiian games. Kualapu`u students learn by "doing" in the fishpond, and Ho`omana Hou students learn by teaching younger students. Lesson of the day: "In the doing comes the learning", a great Hawaiian proverb.
Walter Ritte
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Throughout this campaign, my opponent and his supporters have attempted to tag me as “pro-development,” and therefore a bad guy that the voters shouldn’t trust.
Let’s set the record straight. When I worked in the Arakawa administration, the only developments I supported were Jesse Spencer’s Waikapu project and the West Maui Breakers projects, both successful affordable housing projects. I opposed, and testified against the Puunoa project in Lahaina because it was poorly designed and in the wrong location.
This year the level of domestic violence has risen to the point where I myself have become a victim. It is hard to admit, but since the police report was printed it is public knowledge. We are so quick to offer strangers aloha we have been nicknamed “the Friendly Isle.” But how much aloha do we have for each other here on Molokai?
Is it aloha to become violent with your loved ones? Anyone of us who have survived being abused as children know it's wrong to hit your children or others.
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Molokai General Hospital (MGH) has recently completed installation of the largest solar electricity generation system on the island. The 105 kilowatt-sized system will provide about a quarter of the hospital’s electricity consumption, or 500-600 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day. That’s approximately 30 times the electricity used to power the average home.
The photovoltaic system was installed without costing the hospital a dime, according to MGH Vice President Randy Lite, though a Power Purchase Agreement. The agreement is between Solar Power Partners, a California company that owns the panels and paid for their installation; Hilo-based ProVision Solar, which designed and installed the system; and MGH.
The Power Purchase Agreement allows MGH to pay a pre-determined rate for the electricity generated over the course of the agreement contract, rather than paying a Maui Electric (MECO) rate that is variable based on gas prices. The hospital will pay Solar Power Partners directly for the electricity generated from the panels, according to Marco Mangelsdorf, president of ProVision Solar.
Lite said MGH has been considering solar since the 1990s, when several companies contacted them about installing a system. As a nonprofit organization, the hospital could not take advantage of state and federal tax breaks for solar installations, and it was not financially feasible to install panels.
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To increase renewable energy storage, the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has awarded $2.1 million in federal stimulus funds to electric companies on Hawaii Island and Maui County.
Maui Electric Company (MECO) will receive $1.2 million to pay for an interconnection study on Molokais only grid, to identify any system upgrades that would allow for more generation distribution to be added to the circuit.
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As ordinary community members become planners and leaders, the Molokai Community Plan moves forward.
“What’s clear is this community is passionate about certain issues,” said senior planner David Yamashita.
Two weeks ago, the Maui County Planning Department hosted a workshop to begin brainstorming ways to improve the 2001 Molokai Community Plan. Last Saturday, another workshop was held to work out strategies.
Some strategies were broad, such as a wastewater and drainage plan, and some were specific, such as to revive Malama Cultural Park. Over 70 participants discussed what organizations and agencies would need to take part, but the conversations became heated when it came to identifying conflicts.
In one group that discussed ‘heritage resources’ – historical, cultural, and environmental resources – went back and forth over tourism. Participant Kelly Ka`awa Richardson said tourism “by nature is against culture.” But in a time of high unemployment, no idea can be overlooked. Group member Todd Yamashita suggested that pairing tourism with education better attracts visitors who complement Molokai’s culture.
“It’s not important that we disagree, but how we resolve our differences,” said Steve Chaikin, current chairperson of the Molokai Planning Commission. “We’re all in this together.”
Youth Involvement
The planning department is also working with Molokai schools to get the future generations involved. Stan Ha`o, new principal of Molokai High School attended, as did Vicki Newberry, head of Aka`ula School. Aka`ula recently participated in a youth summit with three other schools for create their own vision plan for Molokai.
“There were many similarities to what our students came up with” with what the workshop discussed, Newberry said. “We need to tie these two together.
“It doesn’t mean they know all the answers or even all the questions,” she added. But…“We need to listen to [the younger generation].”
A Sense of Urgency
Although the process will take a few years, at the end of Saturday’s workshop many members expressed the need for continued motivation.
“There is a sense of urgency, we have a limited time to make choices,” Chaikin said.
David Yamashita said the planning department will now sort through all the comments and suggestions from the last two workshops, and will present the findings at an open house tentatively planned for early spring. Input is still solicited and welcomed until the next meeting.
“You guys are stakeholders, and it’s important for us to listen to the stakeholders,” said Molokai Councilmember Danny Mateo. “It’s all viable, all important. It’s a good start.”
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The Obama administration and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) joined around 600 Native Hawaiian advocates at the largest annual gathering of Native Hawaiian organizations – the Native Hawaiian Convention.
This year’s topic was sovereignty in action, according to participant and Kalama`ula Mauka Homestead secretary Candice Davis-Bicoy. After attending the last Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homesteads assembly, where she learned more about the Akaka bill, she said she attended the convention to learn more about politics.
Davis said she attended the debate between Democratic candidate Neil Abercrombie and Republican Duke Aiona, to learn “which governor is going to address Native Hawaiian issues, and homesteaders’ issues.”
“I’m still an opio [youth], most issues were discussed on a higher level with kupuna,” she said. “As an opio I appreciated being at that conference, to take in all that knowledge – what is pono, what is the right way to go.”
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Aloha indeed – as adults relaxed, chowed down and talked story, keiki ran off the sugar from shave ice and braddah pops in the popular annual event, Festivals of Aloha.
Now in its 64th year, the Festivals of Aloha began as a way to preserve Hawaiian culture and traditions. The free musical and performance entertainment, as well as plenty ono food stands and game booths attracted hundreds each night to the Mitchell Pauole Center, and nearly 1,000 turned out for the finale parade and ho`olaule`a last Saturday. County Council Chair, and Molokai representative Danny Mateo was this year’s Honorary Chair for Maui Nui’s festival. Its theme, He Mana`o Aloha `ia, means ‘gaining knowledge through aloha.’
Aloha Week Contest Winners:
`Ulu/`Uala/Kalo
Taste
1. Tere Neuhart
2. Laurie Rapanot
3. Vonda Stone
Presentation
1. Vonda Stone
2. Tere Neuhart
3. Amber Nakihei
Poke
Taste
1. Marion Dudoit
2. Amber Nakihei
3. Stef Bush
Presentation
1. Marion Dudoit
2. Amber Nakihei
3. Stef Bush
Aloha Wear
Youth Muumuu
1. Tylea Cuello
2. Lelia Cuello
Youth Aloha Shirt
1. Waikaika Augustiro
2. Buzzy Augustiro
Adult Muumuu
1. Larie Loria
2. Scarlett Ritte-Camara
3. April Torres
Adult Aloha Shirt
1. Frank Parrino
2. Levi Yamazaki-Gray
3. Leimana Ritte-Camara
Couple
Sol and Paula Alcain
Bed Races
Men’s
1. Pepsi
2. Bicoy Men
3. Friendly Market Center
Women’s
1. Bicoy Women
2. Tutus
3. The Dispatch
Best Sportsmanship
Bicoy Men
Parade
Best Float
1. Punana Leo
2. Cabalar `Ohana
3. Royal Court
Best Pooper Scooper
1. Lanai
2. Ni`ihau
3. Molokai
Pa`u Unit
1. Maui
2. Kaho`olawe
3. Molokai
Court
2010 King/Mo`i Kane: Robert Ahsee Kalawe, Jr.
2010 Queen/Mo`i Wahine: Kauwela Ritte-Camara
Prince: Kaio Kalawe
Princess: Kealalehua Kalipi
Counselor: Keoki Pescaia
Matriarch: Mikiala Pescaia
Lady in Waiting: Laulani Walker
Red Kahili: Keoki Johnston Kalanilani
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As part of maintenance and repair procedures, the Civil Defense emergency warning siren #504 at Kamalo, Molokai will sound
this Thursday, October 14, 2010. The siren at Kamalo is part of the state Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Testing is expected to take place between 9 a.m. and noon.
For more information on emergency preparedness, go to mauicounty.gov/CivilDefense
Ruben Jose Villa, 43, of Wailuku, Maui, died on October 3, 2010 in Kaunakakai. He was born April 13, 1967 in Laoag City, Casili, Philippines.
He is survived by companion Tiare Escobar of Kaunakakai; sons Reggie Villa and Ruben Villa Jr. of Ho`olehua; daughters Kasey, Chentel, Lauren, Jasmine, Shylene Villa of Ho`olehua and Rublyn Villa of Laoag City, Philippines; mother Melendrina Villa and father Florentino Villa Jr. of Kualapu`u; brothers Alex, Rendy and Kleyn Villa; and sisters Mila Espejo, Maley May and Myra Villa.
Friends called on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 9 a.m. with service at 12 noon at the Kalanianaole Hall in Kalamaula, Molokai. Burial followed at the Kapaakea Cemetery in Kapaakea, Molokai.
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