Author Archives: Brandon Roberts

Changing of the Guard

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

By Brandon Roberts

It is a new era at the Molokai Planning Commission (MoPC) with the introduction of two new commissioners, as well as the election of a new chairman and vice-chair.

Steve Chaikin was unanimously voted in as the new commission chair. To his right, Miki`ala Pescaia was voted in as the new vice-chairwoman.

“We can either be proactive or reactive,” said Chair Chaikin in his first address to the commission.

Lori Buchanan and Don Williams were introduced at the April 9 meeting in the Mitchell Pau`ole Center. These new commissioners were appointed by Mayor Charmaine Tavares, and approved by the Maui County Council.

Councilman Danny Mateo made a point to talk story with the incoming commissioners. He had this to say about them, “Lori has the time to commit and Don is a businessman, and brings perspective,” he said. “I think the two coming on-board are a good balance.”

Williams submitted an application for appointment “primarily because I thought the commission needed someone that was in the development world to assist in the decision making.” He added that some of his strengths are hands-on experience, and real-world knowledge.

A contractor on Molokai for 15 years, Williams has been in the construction business over 40 years. He grew up on Big Island and moved to the Friendly Isle from Oahu. “I have seen what uninhibited over-development can lead to,” referring to his time on Oahu.

He says he is dedicated to the commission and represents the West End. One of his main concerns is with illegal development, and he would like to see it corrected. “There are proper ways to do business.”

Buchanan, a wahine who wears many hats on Molokai, is a former councilmember and was chairwoman for two of her five year term. She also works with the Nature Conservancy, specializing with invasive species. She waited the mandatory two years before reapplying for the MoPC.

She is keiki o ka `aina, born in Ho`olehua, and now resides in Kalae. She brings experience and familiarity with Maui County codes and regulations to the commission.

Buchanan resubmitted an application to “serve the community in the best possible way.” She said she “cares about the island and what happens to it.”

The MoPC is a diverse group of Friendly Isle residents who volunteere their service to oversee, regulate, and shape the development of the last Hawaiian island.

The MoPC will host its next meeting April 23 at 12:30 p.m. in the Mitchell Pau`ole Center.

Lolo Laws

Friday, April 11th, 2008

Democracy In Action and Patients Without Time director Brian Murphy, joined by the organizations' Molokai representative Gloria Molica-Dell, registered over 60 people to vote last Monday. Molica-Dell will be gathering initiative signatures and registering voters at Molokai's Saturday Market the next two weeks.

Public initiative would allow Maui County farmers to grow medical marijuana.

By Brandon Roberts

In 2000, Hawaii state legislature recognized the medicinal benefits of marijuana and enacted SB 862 to approve the use of medical marijuana, though the law lacks the proper language on how to acquire the medicinal herb.

Democracy In Action (DIA), and Patients Without Time (PWT) are two organizations stoking a county initiative to gather 8,000 signatures by April 20. The initiative is called Maui County Family Farmer Regulation and Revenue Ordinance and would help clarify SB 862, as well as establish the supply, delivery, and regulations of medical marijuana in Maui County.

Iggy, a lawfully-registered medicinal marijuana patient, had enforcement helicopters hover over his family home for 45 minutes. Police then confiscated his garden. He was able to provide the legal information to law enforcement, which offered an apology and handed him back his plants. However, the plants were all dead.

“Medical marijuana patients have become targets for law enforcement,” Iggy said. “It doesn’t violate state law. Do they want me to acquire it through the black market?”

“This initiative provides transparency for local law enforcement so patients are not treated like criminals, and it promotes agriculture by tapping into ag. zoned lands to grow this medicine,” Iggy added.

In today’s world there are many health issues and thousands of prescription pharmaceuticals available to help people cope with pain and suffering. The federal government regulates these drugs, whose manufacturers are among the largest lobbyists and campaign donors in the United States.

Since 1998, pharmaceutical companies have spent $758 million on lobbying efforts, more than any other industry, according to the Center for Public Integrity. The pharmaceutical industry in 2003 spent $143 million on lobbying activities. At that time, there were 1,274 registered pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington, D.C., more than two for every member of Congress, USA Today reports. Of those, 476 were former federal officials, including 40 former members of Congress.

The federal government classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug, having no medical value. Marijuana users are filling up private prisons due to ex-President Ronald Reagan’s mandatory minimum sentencing established in 1986.

More than 80 percent of the increase in the federal prison population from 1985 to 1995 is due to low-level drug convictions.

“The only peaceful solution is to vote back America,” said Brian Murphy, director of DIA and PWT, addressing his use of the public initiative process.

DIA/PWT Molokai representative Gloria Molica-Dell believes this initiative could really help family farmers on Molokai. A provision in the initiative would put Hawaiian families with 70 years lineage in Maui County at the top of the growers list.

This initiative would give Maui County residents the ability to vote on this legislation, and allow family farmers within the county to legally grow and supply doctor-authorized patients with medicinal marijuana.

“Compassion should always come first,” said Murphy, who is also a disabled United States Veteran.

DIA/PWT is also registering people to vote with registration available at their booth. Molica-Dell will be gathering signatures, registering voters, and providing information at Molokai’s Saturday market for the next two weeks.

Additional information can be found at info@mccfdia.com or by calling Molica-Dell here on Molokai at 553-4306.

Last Hurrah

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

DeGray Vanderbilt and Lance"Kip" Dunbar participated as acting commissioners for the last time March 27. They will have to wait two years if they would like to reapply.

By Brandon Roberts

After five years of dedicated community service, it is time for two Molokai planning commissioners to step down as their terms wrap up.

DeGray Vanderbilt and Lance “Kip” Dunbar participated March 27 in the last meeting as acting commissioners at the. The Molokai Planning Commission (MoPC) meeting, held at the Mitchell Pau`ole Center, was business as usual; however, it was spiced up with a lei presentation, and a closing mahalo from Vanderbilt.

“Molokai has a bright future,” MoPC chairmanVanderbilt said in his final address as chairman.

“So many in our community take time to give back, this is what keeps Molokai strong.”

“The five years I put in on the commission was my way of giving back,” Vanderbilt said in a later interview.

Vanderbilt came to Molokai 25 years ago with a development proposal in-hand. “Funny thing is what I said back then is still being said by developers today, which is, you need us because you need jobs.”

It was not long after his presentation that Vanderbilt realized the greater question to Molokai employment, which is, “at what cost?”

Vanderbilt spent four years of his term as a commissioner, capping his final year as chairman, and is a member of the Molokai Water Working Group. “Vanderbilt has spent his life working for Molokai,” Steve Chaikin, MoPC vice-chair said in admiration.

“Molokai is not anti-development,” Vanderbilt says when talking to people who are not from the isle. “It’s pro-lifestyle.”

Molokai’s other exiting commissioner Dunbar is a Mana`e resident and has been on island over 20 years. “Dunbar brought perspective to the commission,” Chaikin said of his colleague.

“I thought there was a need to understand government before attempting meaningful change,” Dunbar said on why he became a commissioner. “I am glad I did it and might do it again.”

“We have enough laws; they just need to be equitably enforced,” Dunbar said hopeful that there is a better understanding of the economic implications of passing laws and how they affect people.

“It was fun, at times frustrating, but we need to remove the fear that making a decision will set a precedent,” Dunbar said. “Every single thing you look at has a different wrinkle.”

“I sincerely hope the community keeps participating in commission meetings,” Vanderbilt concluded. “We need your input because the commission works for your interests.”

Planning commissioners are appointed by the mayor; however, the Maui County Council must approve the nominees.

The next meeting is April 9 and will be the introduction of former commissioners Lori Buchannan and first-timer, Don Williams.

Money for Molokai

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

Though the annual Maui County budget hearing took almost four hours, council members could still laugh as the community testimony came to a close.

Community asks county to fund important programs.

By Brandon Roberts

The gavel fell, and Maui County council members prepared to hear the Molokai communities’ budgetary wants and needs for the upcoming year.

This year, Molokai is slated to receive over $600,000 in county grants and around four million in capital improvements.

“This is a good budget for Molokai,” said Councilman Danny Mateo. “Molokai gets back a considerable amount in terms of county expenditures,” he said., adding that the friendly isle receives almost five times more funding than taxes paid.

Residents shared their mana`o with the county on invaluable organizations as well as requests for funding on community services at the annual budget hearing March 25 at the Mitchell Pau`ole Center.

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) is one of Molokai’s grant recipients, harvesting much mahalo from many community members and the council. MEO provides the community with bus transportation, children’s Headstart programs, kupuna services and more.

“MEO is the premier, non-profit organization on this island that is truly about helping,” Mateo said. “I cannot picture this island without MEO.”

Exiting Molokai Planning Commissioner DeGray Vanderbilt proposed a five percent raise to MEO employees for all their dedication and community service.

“We still need to find funding for additional programs that are a benefit to the community,” Mateo said.

One such program Mateo is searching for extra funding is Ka Honua Momona (KHM), a loko i`a (fishpond) restoration organization. KHM was supported in the budget hearing by several residents, volunteers, and visiting Boy Scout troop 32 that worked with the organization at the Ali`i loko i`a.

Herbert Ho, a KHM volunteer, said “if we care for the fishponds, than the fishponds will care for us.”

KHM has requested $22,000 that was not included in the original budget. “Now I have to go to bat for these additional services and programs that are important to Molokai,” Mateo said.

The West Molokai Fire Station Community Action Council is dedicated to getting a station on the county capital improvement projects list (CIP). Over 40 members and homeowners attended the hearing to petition the council.

“The intention of the group is to get the West End fire station project on the capital improvement projects list,” said Steve Morgan, the council’s vice president.

West Molokai is the most fire prone area on island and has the most water rescue emergencies performed, which is also a service of the fire department. At one time, there was a station on the West End. Currently the nearest station is Ho`olehua, and the response time is close to half an hour.

“It is about more than just fire,” said Jim Bezill, a retired fireman and West End resident. “Human lives are at stake.”

County grants are allotted to non-profits like MEO and KHM; where as CIPs involve infrastructure and facility upkeep, like the new baseyard for the Public Works Department.

The development of potable water sources on Molokai is the largest CIP. The design, drilling, and construction will take over three years to complete and cost almost $4 million.

Kawela residents will get a new water tank, which the county describes as severely corroded and leaking badly. A larger weight room and new paint is in store for the Kaunakakai Gym, and be prepared for more county road resurfacing.

“Every councilmember understands how crucial community support is. They heard the plea and they can feel the reality, it is not just a story,” Mateo said of the council when faced with the people impacted by these programs. The Maui County budget will be finalized and enacted in late May or early June.