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Author Archives: Megan Stephenson

Molokai’s Affordable Housing to Expand

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Molokai’s Affordable Housing to Expand

Molokai Habitat for Humanity News Release, with Artice Swingle and John Wordin

Emillia Noordhoek recently attended the annual advocacy conference for Habitat for Humanity International, ‘Habitat on the Hill,’ in Washington D.C.  At this important conference, training is given on advocating regarding issues dealing with affordable housing.  Post-conference interviews allowed Noordhoek to advocate for affordable housing on Molokai with Senator Daniel Inouye and Representative Mazie Hirono. 

Issues concerning Federal dollars allocated to affordable housing and mortgage regulation related to the SAFE Act have a direct bearing on the operation of Molokai Habitat for Humanity.  Noordhoek was able to present a clear picture of the needs of the community to our lawmakers who were very receptive and helped to stress the importance of continued funding and support. 

Molokai Habitat for Humanity is expanding its operation to support both affordable housing on Hawaiian Homelands and other properties as well.  Critical to this expansion is tapping into federal programs which will support this effort.   Sustainable building and achieving high level efficiency in terms of energy use is key in working toward a sustainable Molokai.  Noordhoek’s contact will be critical in uncovering and maintaining federal funding for our community.

Supporting Molokai’s position in the conference with Inouye was Jonathan Reckford, CEO for Habitat of Humanity International.   Inouye as Housing Appropriations Committee is critical to the success of Habitat for Humanity and continued funding for affordable housing.

Hirono’s support  was welcomed.  Suggestion was made that we request funds from Housing L.A. which funds affordable housing projects.  This will be Noordhoek’s challenge upon returning to Molokai. 

As community members concerned with providing affordable energy efficient housing for all qualified applicants, we are indeed delighted that Noordhoek had this opportunity to represent Molokai and her needs.


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Avoiding Contaminated Drinking Water

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Avoiding Contaminated Drinking Water

Finding out what threatens Molokai’s water sources is mandated by federal law through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But implementing a protection plan is not.

Therefore, the County of Maui Department of Water Supply, working with the University of Hawaii and the state Department of Health, has volunteered for the task. The Wellhead Protection Project, now in its ninth year, acts to protect the groundwater around public-use wells. Eva Blumenstein, a water resource planner, said they are still looking for public feedback on this issue.

an upgrade.”

There are three county wells and nine private wells on Molokai, but the Wellhead Protection Project is looking at wells that serve 25 or more people, said Robert Whittier, a hydrogeologist with UH-Manoa working with the County of Maui. Private areas that fall within public well-source water are Molokai Ranch and Kawela Plantation, as well as the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Kalaupapa, and residents served by Maui County.

“Molokai has a sole source aquifer, there’s not alternative source to go to,” Blumenstein said.

She said her department will be coming back in May for more public feedback, especially those served by the wells and the Molokai Water Advisory Committee.

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Traffic Collision in Kaunakakai

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Traffic Collision in Kaunakakai

Early last Sunday morning, a 28-year-old male was involved in a one-vehicle accident on Kamehemeha Highway, just west of Molokai Shores. Police said he crashed his truck at 2:31 a.m. and was transported to Maui Memorial Hospital. His name has not been released and the crash is still under investigation.

 

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What Is Molokai?

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Kids. Besides being just plain cute, they certainly have a knack for brilliance. Take Michelle McGuire’s entry from last week where she describes Molokai as “a blossom in the night and a flower in the day.” Ooh, chicken skin. Well, Michelle and her fourth grade classmates from Kualapu`u School earned enough votes to win not just one, but two $50 gift certificates to the Kualapu`u Cookhouse (if you’re all really nice, maybe Kumu Diane Abraham will make a field trip to get treats).

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A Royal Celebration

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

A Royal Celebration

The year was 1921. Delegate to Congress for the Territory of Hawaii, and former heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole sat on the first Hawaiian Homestead Commission. Tired of seeing native Hawaiians struggle to adapt to Western living culture – where urban living ruled – Kuhio helped create the Hawaiian Homelands Act, giving back the ancient relationship Hawaiians share with their `aina.

The first few years of the program were to figure out how to make it successful – and the majority of the acreage released was on Molokai. This “case in point” divided up 23 lots of 25 acres each, and was called Kalaniana’ole Settlement after Kuhio – a name that still exists today in nearby Kalaniana’ole Road and Kalaniana’ole Hall.

The courageous challenge by Molokai settlers to farm on such “dry and almost barren wastes” was seen as a great success, and the homestead program continues to this day.

As Molokai gathers to celebrate the first native Hawaiian to serve Congress, and the only royal-born in Congress’ history, the day dedicated to him is full of Hawaiian, food, crafts and entertainment. A modern homestead association, Ahupua’a o Molokai, is hosting the Prince Kuhio Day celebration at Kiowea Park at Coconut Grove, Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Patient ‘Not Guilty’

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Patient ‘Not Guilty’

Norbert Palea, at 68 the youngest patient living at the Kalaupapa settlement, pled not guilty at his March 15 court date. He is accused of bringing crystal methamphetamine into the Hansen’s disease settlement, and was arrested last month for intent to distribute.

The trial date is set for May 11, said Palea’s lawyer and Deputy Public Defender, Matthew Winter. He had no other comment on the case.

 

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Precarious Catwalk Stays Put

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Precarious Catwalk Stays Put

Although a temporary catwalk has been erected at the Kaunakakai Wharf, a permanent replacement is no nearer completion than after its collapse over a year ago.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) was unable to get funding from the 2009 legislature, said Deborah Ward, information specialist for the DLNR.

“Until construction funding can be secured, we are not able to provide a construction start date for this project,” she said in an email. They were looking to secure funding from the Federal Boating Access grant to pay for 75 percent of the project. The rest would come from state funding.

,” he said. Ching pays $200 a month to launch and operate his commercial boat in the harbor.

The former loading dock collapsed when the steel reinforcements in the concrete failed. Eric Yuasa, boating engineer for the DLNR, said corrosion of steel is common as seawater is able to infiltrate concrete.

The new dock will be made of aluminum framing and fiberglass decking, and will be wheelchair accessible. Yuasa said the new dock will be less costly, lighter and easier to repair. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has contracted Arnold Okubo and Associates, Inc. of Waipahu to prepare the dock when funding is available.

Despite the cost issue, boaters like Ching are frustrated about Molokai’s predicament.

“A big factor we have that everybody is overlooking, is this is the one and only ramp of the whole island to serve the people of Molokai,” he said.

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The Right Kind of Tourist

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Local filmmaker Matt Yamashita just completed a new DVD in partnership with the Molokai Visitors Association (MVA).  The purpose of the video is to introduce potential visitors to the “real Molokai” without flashy commercialism. 

Check out his videos below, and read next week's Dispatch for more and an interview with Matt Yamashita and Julie Bicoy of the MVA.
 
Mahalo!
Matt Yamashita

Visit more of Yamashita's videos on his YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/molokaimatt

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Fiette Kahaumelani Farias

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Fiette Kahaumelani Farias

Fiette Kahaumelani Farias passed away February 8, 2010, at home on Molokai. Services were held at Kainalu on Molokai to celebrate her life. A sending off by boat to scatter her ashes was done in the waters of Kainalu, followed by a farewell song of Aloha Oe.
A gratitude of appreciation goes out to all the family and friends of Fiette, who gave of themselves generously. Thank you to the Soka Gakkai International USA/Buddhist Lay Organization. The gospel of the Alpha and the Omega Church, and Ierusalema Pomaikai Church.
Mahalo, Pumehana, Val Dudoit.


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To My Fellow Retirees

Friday, March 19th, 2010

To my fellow retirees, hardworking Americans and future retirees,

I am sending this important message to you to let you know of the great uncertainty over our Social Security benefits and Medicare. The government is going to slowly take away what belongs to you by putting its dirty hands on our Social Security retirement benefits and steamrolling cuts on your Medicare, in order to help pay for our huge deficits. Medicare and Social Security have been the basic financial support for our retirees. If President Obama cares about health care coverage for everyone, he most certainly does not care bout our retirees.

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