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Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

High School Boosts Scores

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

Molokai High School principal Stan Hao may have green, spiked hair by the end of the school year. That was a promise he made to his students if they met certain levels of improvement in the Hawaii State Assessment (HAS) tests this year. And it’s looking hopeful for them.

“Students have shown marked improvement in testing scores over the past year,” said Hao.

Since last year, HSA math scores have nearly doubled at MHS – from 15 percent in 2011 to 27 percent in 2012, according to Hao. In reading, students have also improved – from 48 percent last year to 51 percent this year.…

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Molokai Flooding

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

Molokai Flooding

Molokai experienced flooding last night and this morning, and a flash flood advisory remains in effect this afternoon. Puko`o firefighters responded to a flooded east end home in the middle of the night last night, when a couple awoke to knee-high water in their house, according to Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga. The fire crew assisted the couple in securing their possessions. Other nearby properties are also flooded, but those homes are built off the ground.

Road crews in Kawela worked through the night to clear mud and debris from the highway after the Kawela Stream overflowed. Water, mud and debris covered yards and blocked driveways within a one mile radius of the stream.…

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New Land-Ocean Connections Discovered Off Molokai

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

New Land-Ocean Connections Discovered Off Molokai

The close connection between land and sea is nothing new for Molokai locals. But researchers have taken that connection a step farther and made a groundbreaking discovery along the coast of Molokai: they found that in two submarine canyons off the north shore of the island, ocean animals are relying heavily on resources from the land.

Fabio De Leo, a PhD candidate at University of Hawaii, Manoa Department of Oceanography, and a team of colleagues spent about three weeks a few miles out from Molokai’s north shore. They found that plant material from the forested landscapes of the shoreline, such as decomposing tree trunks, leaves and kukui nuts, feeds a high abundance of invertebrates, like worms, tiny crustaceans and mollusks.…

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Tracking Molokai’s Population: the latest stats

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Tracking Molokai’s Population: the latest stats

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Kalaupapa Post Office to Remain Open

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

The tiny Kalaupapa Post Office, after being earmarked for possible closure by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), will now remain open. The one-woman office, described as a lifeline for the fewer than 100 residents of the remote settlement, was removed from the list of thousands of offices nationwide being considered for closure because of its necessity to the community, according to USPS spokesperson Duke Gonzales.

“We removed Kalaupapa from consideration [for closure] because it was clear that the Postal Service plays a unique role as a necessary lifeline between the isolated Kalaupapa community and the outside world,” Gonzales said.

With no cell phone service and limited Internet access in the settlement, residents rely on the mail to complete bank transactions, receive medications and do business, according to Department of Health Kalaupapa Administrator Mark Miller.…

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Protecting Our Sacred Places

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Community Contributed

Opinion by Lori Buchanan

On Molokai, the Navy is proposing to “re-activate” the abandoned Marine base in Ho`olehua, on the doorstep of homesteaders, and significantly increase military training (primarily at night) in Kalaupapa. These are two of the actions, trainings and construction around Hawaii outlined in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement released by the US Department of the Navy in November 2011.

Intermittent military training has been ongoing at Kalaupapa, the Ho`olehua Airport and along Molokai’s western and northern coastline for many years. Currently, old munitions lie buried along the Kaluakoi and Ilio Point coastlines in large numbers below several years and layers of windblown top soils.…

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Bracing for Drought: Molokai Irrigation System planning ahead

Monday, February 27th, 2012

With water levels in the Kualapu`u Reservoir reaching concerning levels and little seasonal rain in sight, members of the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS), which serves the bulk of the island’s agricultural and homestead users, are starting to prepare for the worst.

At this time last year, the reservoir held 18 feet of water. Currently, however, the water level is hovering around 10 feet.

Representatives of the six major commercial users of the MIS came to the MIS board meeting last week with some serious concerns: they want to begin preparations for a possible drought crisis in the coming months.

“We are extremely concerned about current reservoir levels and worried about extreme emergency conditions over summer,” said Ray Foster, general manager for Monsanto Molokai.…

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Surf’s Up

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Surf’s Up

With high surf advisories around the state for the past two weeks, Molokai surfers and body boarders have been taking advantage of the swells. Papohaku Beach, known for its expanse of white sand, is also known for its treacherous and unforgiving surf. Last Monday, a local youth takes advantage of a smaller, easier-going shore break and pulls into a sandy three foot tube. Photos by Catherine Cluett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New Fire Engine, Promotions

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

New Fire Engine, Promotions

A shiny new fire engine, made specifically to fit Molokai’s needs, has joined the fleet at the Kaunakakai Fire Station. Engine 4 features an extra-large water tank – holding 1000 gallons, about 250 more than average – to efficiently fight fires on Molokai, where there aren’t many water sources, according to Maui County Fire Chief Jeff Murray. It also incorporates state-of-the-art equipment, the design of which was overseen by Molokai firefighters during manufacturing.

“If you think I’m slightly jealous, I am,” said former firefighter Rev. Reynolds Ayau, during the engine’s blessing last week. “You have equipment we only dreamt of.”

The new engine will be added to the three trucks at the Kaunakakai station, allowing an older engine to be retired and used as back-up.…

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Catchin’ the Bee

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Four Molokai students participated in the Maui District Spelling Bee on Feb. 2, 2012 at Baldwin High School. Eha Kalama and Hepuakea Falealii represented Aka`ula School, and Gabrielle Aquino and Shylene Villa attended from Kuapalu`u School.

“Although Eha says that at first he was nervous because he thought he was going to mess up a lot, now he can’t wait to try out again for next year,” wrote Aka`ula student writer KB Bishaw in the Aka`ula School February newsletter.

The top two students, both from Maui, of the 31 spellers who participated in the District Bee will continue on to compete in the Hawaii State Spelling Bee on March 24.…

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