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Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Continued Investigation into Yamashita Bay Fire

Thursday, November 7th, 2024

Continued Investigation into Yamashita Bay Fire

Late in the afternoon on Friday, Oct. 4, crews from the Puko’o fire station responded to a structural fire at Yamashita Bay in Honoulimalo’o on Molokai’s east end. The 850 square foot cabin was “fully involved” according to reports from the Maui Fire Dept, and not extinguished until 9 p.m.

The house at the well-known spot was almost totally destroyed, with just the foundation, porch and a couple of garage walls still standing. While the cause of the blaze is still officially under investigation, Capt. Jamie Winfrey of the Maui Police Dept. on Molokai explained that arson has not been ruled out, and that the police are still conducting interviews with possible witnesses.…

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Hawaiian Halloween 

Thursday, November 7th, 2024

Hawaiian Halloween 

With roots in the nearly 2,000-year-old Celtic Samhain festival, Halloween celebrates the strange and inexplicable, the hidden and mysterious. For Hawaii, one legend in particular fits this intersection of the historic and the supernatural: night marchers. 

 

Night marchers are believed to be the spirits of royal warriors, said to walk in procession through certain locations at night. This spectral phenomenon is well known throughout Hawaii.

 

Hawaiian cultural practitioner Kanoe Davis said she’s had first-hand experiences with them. 

 

“I’ve had several encounters,” Davis explained, both in Pala’au State Park and Kawela. Her grandmother also told Davis about her own meetings with night marchers in Kalamaula.…

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Candidate Response: Mahina Poepoe (D)

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Candidate Response: Mahina Poepoe (D)

Mahina Poepoe (D)

Running for State Representative, District 13

What are your priority goals for Molokai if elected? 

I want to begin by expressing how grateful I am to have been trusted to serve as your representative for the past two years. This is a privilege that I do not take lightly, and I will continue to work hard every day to effect positive change reflecting my deep commitment to our people and ‘aina. 

Addressing disparities experienced by residents across our district while also representing the qualities and people that make our rural communities so special has been central to my approach as a legislator. …

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Candidate Response: Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Candidate Response: Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Running for Maui County Council – Molokai Councilmember 

 

What are your priority goals for Molokai if elected? 

 

My priorities include continuing the work of relocating our firefighters from the Puko‘o Station to the future ‘Ualapu‘e Station, increasing the number of firefighters in Mana‘e, improving our air ambulance service, and supporting the Molokai Community Health Center. Likewise, working to ensure equitable funding for Molokai, particularly for capital improvements, equipment, and competitive grants to nonprofits and economic development opportunities.

 

My priorities also include promoting food sovereignty with grants, such as Farmers Microgrant and HFUU-Molokai Chapter and deer management, through partnership with the Molokai Hunting Club, keeping the county council accessible and transparent, continuing to malama our keiki with grants to support travel, Boys and Girls Club, and kupuna services through grants to Molokai Rural Health Care , and advancing our initiatives in climate action, ‘aina-back, and energy independence.  …

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Candidate Response: John Pele

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Candidate Response: John Pele

John Pele 

Running for Maui County Council — Molokai Councilmember 

 

What are your priority goals for Molokai if elected?

I would like to reach out to the community to see if there is a need for housing options for our

residents. However, we must build in a way that insulates us from outside speculation. Land

trusts and leaseholds are good examples of this. I would also seek continued funding for our

keiki and kupuna programs as well as try to expand services for mental health and substance

abuse. Programs dealing with environmental issues and invasive species should also be

considered for funding.…

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Candidate Survey Response:Gabby Macaraeg (R)

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Candidate Survey Response:Gabby Macaraeg (R)

Gabby Macaraeg (R)

Running for State Senator, District 7 

What are your priority goals for Molokai if elected? 

My goals are health care, especially for the kupuna, dependable and reliable inter-island transportation, lowering the cost of living, and higher education that establishes high paying jobs.

How would you address the transportation issues that have frustrated Molokai residents in recent years? 

I would follow up with the current pilot program proposal pertaining to ferry transportation from Molokai to Maui. There should be consistent updates from start to finish with the project. With technology today, the ferry should be able to provide high quality resources such as equipment, services and good paying jobs for locals. …

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Cast an Informed Ballot

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The Molokai Dispatch reached out to candidates in key Molokai races to help voters make more informed decisions. Lynn DeCoite (D), running for District 7 State Senator, Adam Scott (R) running for Dist. 13 State Representative, and both OHA Molokai Resident Trustee candidates, Luana Alapa and Kunani Nihipali, did not respond to the survey.

For registered voters, mail-in ballots were sent out Oct. 18. Ballots must be received by the county election division before 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. Ballots can be returned by mail, postmarked to be received by the deadline, or can be returned at the drop-off box outside the Mitchell Pauole Center until Nov.…

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Hawaii International Film Fest Coming to Molokai

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

HIFF News Release

The premier cinematic event of the Pacific, the 44th Hawaii International Film Fest (HIFF) Fall Festival presented by Halekulani will feature an exciting slate of screenings to showcase feature and short films from around the world with a special focus on Asia, the Pacific, and made-in-Hawaii productions. HIFF is a desired destination for celebrated industry professionals, emerging artists, and film enthusiasts from around the world. Free screenings on Molokai will take place at Kaunakakai Elementary School Nov. 7 and 8. Admission is free.

A Molokai filmmaker talk story event will kick off the film festival on Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.…

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Mokulele Looks to ‘Turn the Corner’

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Mokulele Looks to ‘Turn the Corner’

“What we’re doing right now is unacceptable,” explained Louis Saint-Cyr, president of Hawaii operations for Surf Air Mobility, which operates Mokulele Airlines. For flight-weary Molokai, residents have faced years of prolonged delays and last-minute cancellations from the sole airline provider. Now, explained Saint-Cyr, Mokulele is “out of chances.”

Saint-Cyr is the newest head of operations for Mokulele, which was acquired by Surf Air Mobility earlier this year. With new management comes a new plan for success.

Saint-Cyr laid out a straight-forward two-part strategy before a group of Molokai residents at a small meeting on Oct. 22: add more planes and fix the budget.…

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Farmer Focus Amid Shipping Rate Concerns

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

Farmer Focus Amid Shipping Rate Concerns

Young Brothers, the only interisland shipping company in the state, is proposing a substantial rate increase starting summer 2025.

If passed by the state Public Utilities Commission, shipping costs would increase an average of 20 percent, with pallet cargo rates soaring to 30 percent for dry cargo and 40 percent for refrigerated.

Molokai farmers are already at a disadvantage when selling products off-island because of this “extra-leg” shipping cost from Molokai to bigger markets, explained Jennifer Hawkins, UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) extension agent for Molokai.

Eyeing that farming landscape, longtime Molokai farmer Bobby Alcain explained that he’s concerned about the health of Molokai agriculture.…

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