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Primary Colors

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Primary Colors

She may not be old enough to drive or stay out past 10 p.m., but this week sixth grader Ava Hughes will cast a vote in the primary election.

Sort of.

Hughes is one of thousands of students participating in Kids Voting Hawaii. The mock voting program, which is a part of the national program Kids Voting USA, began in 1996 as a way to prepare students for the responsibility of voting. In the 2008 presidential election, over 119,000 Hawaii students voted, according to the program’s website.

This week, Molokai students will vote online in a primary election for congressional, governor, lieutenant governor and mayoral candidates. Results will be published on the website Saturday for kids to see how their picks measured up.

“It’s a good thing for kids everywhere to know how to vote before they do for the first time,” Hughes, who attends Aka`ula School, said.

Aka`ula students are discussing the election and political issues in class this week before voting. Hughes has already done some research – she said the issues she is focused on are education and the environment.

“We talk to students about the civic responsibilities of voting, like knowing who the candidates are,” said Dara Lukonen, Aka`ula principal.

And unlike actual elections, participation in Kids Voting Hawaii is mandatory at many schools.

“Our kids vote a lot better than adults do,” said Richard Stevens, Kilohana Elementary School principal.

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Organic Program Chopped

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Organic Program Chopped

The state’s only organic-certifying body, the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA), will suspend its program this month, forcing organic farmers in Hawaii to look to the mainland for certification.

Rising costs and a limited client pool prompted the Hilo-based group to end certification, which it began in 1993. HOFA certifies a bounty of products – from coffee to herbs to beer.

“Part of the reason HOFA is not surviving is that we didn’t charge enough,” said Sarah Townsend, HOFA’s certification coordinator. “We’re not big enough to sustain ourselves.”

Some organic farmers on Molokai worry certification from the mainland will come at a higher cost.

“It’s hard enough trying to make a living farming and now we have to go to the mainland?” said Rick Tamanaha of Kaleikoa Farms, an organic papaya farm in Ho`olehua.

Tamanaha’s farm was certified organic by HOFA in October 2007, and he has renewed his certification through the organization every year since. The organic label, he said,  allows his farm to compete with non-organic farms that sell at lower costs.  

Townsend said farmers will see a slight increase in the cost of certification. However, HOFA has also struck a deal with North Dakota-based International Certification Services (ICS) to give HOFA certified-producers discounts on application and certification fees.
 
“They seem like they have the closest philosophy to HOFA,” Townsend said. She is now working with ICS as its Hawaii region customer care specialist to help farmers with the transition.

The two Molokai-based organic inspectors have also notified ICS they want to continue inspecting. James Boswell and Faith Tuipulotu were trained by HOFA in 2008 to do certification inspections, saving Molokai farmers the cost of inspectors’ travel expenses when applying for certification.

Boswell, who works at the University of Hawaii Maui College’s Molokai Farm, said he has not heard back from ICS.

HOFA will end its certifications Sept. 30; farms certified by HOFA will be certified until mid-2011. Townsend said HOFA is now focusing on education and farmer advocacy. 

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Girls’ Volleyball Dominates Maui Prep

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Girls’ Volleyball Dominates Maui Prep

The Molokai High School girls’ volleyball team proved to be a triple threat after defeating Maui Prep in three matches on both Friday and Saturday at The Barn.

On Friday, the Lady Farmers swept the Maui Prep Pueo, winning 25-5, 25-11, 25-12 in a Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II match. Larriley Rawlins had five aces and three blocks for Molokai (2-0), while junior outside hitter Kalei Vaivai added five aces to the Farmers’ victory.

Coach Matt Helm said although the girls need to work on minimizing errors, they showed improvement with serving and jumping.

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Ranch, County Settle in Water Suit

Monday, September 13th, 2010

After two years of litigation, the battle between Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) and Maui County over water service has ended in an out-of-court settlement.

MPL, commonly known as Molokai Ranch, agreed to continue to operate water and wastewater services through its subsidiaries Wai`ola O Molokai and Molokai Public Utilities (MPU), which serve central and west Molokai. MPL will not ask the county to assume management of their utility services on the island.

“This was a very fair settlement,” said Margery Bronster, former state attorney general, who represented Maui County in the case.

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We Made It

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

We Made It

Maunaloa Elementary School has made AYP and is in "Good Standing, Unconditional." We would like to thank Principal Joe Yamamoto, the teachers, and staff for making it all possible. We also want to thank Kim Svetin and Molokai Drugs Store for the ono ice cream with all the toppings. Mahalo Kim for always supporting our community and school.

Janna Lin Kee-Espaniola, SHA

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Molokai: Perfect Model for the World

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

With the Blue Planet Foundation's gift to Molokai of 36,000 CFL light bulbs which reduces our use of electricity – big time, as well as pollution, emissions, and fuel use – the idea of making Molokai a clean energy model for the world to copy has already started. The CFL bulbs are the perfect starting point for making Molokai less dependent on imported fuel. Everyone that received the bulbs should see a large reduction in their electric bills, as well as less generated heat in their houses. Beyond unplugging electronics when not in use, and turning off lights when not needed, the next step to saving our island would be installing solar panels for hot water and electricity, plus using wind turbines (not windmills) to generate electricity.

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Political Unity

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Political Unity

I have been on the political front lines for many years, usually fighting for things that cannot speak for themselves, such as the land, water, ocean, Haloa the taro, and reefs.

Some of these battles have been successful because we were able to unite people to action.

I am writing this letter to ask for political unity and your support and kokua in the Maui County mayoral race. We have decided to support Chris Hart for Mayor of Maui County. He is by far the best candidate in the large field running for Maui County Mayor.

We have had many long discussions with Mr. Hart about the future of Molokai on both the economic level and the quality of life level. He is the man.

Come help us keep Molokai Molokai: call Walter Naki at 558-8184, Ron Davis at 553-3038, Pancho Alcon at 553-5403, Mel Kahinu at 336-1190, Tom Manangan at 560-8234 or myself at 567-9415 if you would like to unite with us for a better future for Molokai. Join our sign waving; look for us every Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Walter Ritte

 

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Meet the Candidate: Dan Inouye

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Meet the Candidate: Dan Inouye

Frankly, I never thought I’d reach this stage, but I feel young.

The Hawaii State primaries are Sept. 18.

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Prayer Banner, Not Message, Taken

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

I want to thank Scarlet Ritte and her ohana publicly for her colorful, bold and whimsical public art work in Kaunakakai.  She also created an amazing yellow banner of flowers and dragonflies saying "We're praying for you."  It was hung on the fence of Kaunakakai Baptist Church facing our elementary school to welcome students, teachers, staff and administration back to a new school year.  Last week someone took it.  But no one can take the truth of the words away.  Yes, we are still praying for Kaunakakai Elementary and for all our island schools.  We are still praying for you, including whoever took the banner.  Maybe they needed a pretty blanket.  Prayer changes things.  God hears the heartfelt prayers of His people.  He loves you. 

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Honoring a Genuine Super Hero

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Steven Ammasi was a very young cheeky fellow when he was born on Molokai on the 16th of February, 1958. In the later stages of his adolescence he was fantasizing about his goals and visions on what he wanted to do later in his life when he finally reached the perfection of his adulthood. He started setting his sights on the metropolis of Fairbanks and while there met an irresistibly beautiful woman named Wendy, whom he could not wait to unite with her once again, reunited together forever.

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