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Ancient Land-Caring Councils Make a Comeback

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

When state legislators passed a law three years ago calling for the creation of regional `Aha Moku councils to help manage Hawaii’s natural resources, many questioned the logistics of the plan. How would it work? Who would be in involved? And would the councils have any real impact on state polices?

Finally, some of those questions are being answered. Last Wednesday, Molokai community members again met to continue organizing efforts of an `Aha Moku council on Molokai. The group discussed possible mission statements and objectives for the council and formed a subcommittee to finalize those documents.

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Molokai Vets Protest Building Permit Hold-Ups

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Four years after Molokai veterans began the process of building a veterans center, a group of fed-up veterans traveled to Maui last week to protest further hold-ups in obtaining their building permit.

The project has been delayed over concerns that not enough water flows through the current waterline in case of fire. The county Department of Water Supply has not signed off on the building permit because the 4-inch waterline serving the site on Wharf Road does not meet their standards. The Fire Department, however, signed off on the building permit on back in December.

“All we want to do is put up our building,” said Larry Helm, commander of the Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans.

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Surfin’ for the Vote

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Surfin’ for the Vote

She may be a political rookie, but Elle Cochran’s fiery ambition and enthusiastic personality prove she is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to campaigning for a seat on the Maui County Council. Last week, the Dispatch caught up with Cochran, who made a short trip to Molokai while on her campaign trail.

A lifelong Lahaina resident and self-described surfer girl, Cochran is looking to snag the Council’s West Maui residency seat, currently occupied by Jo Anne Johnson.

Cochran said what sets her apart from other candidates is she has lived in the place she wants to serve her whole life.



“My family is deeply rooted in West Maui,” she said. “I know the people, I know what the community needs.”

Although not a familiar face on Molokai, Cochran gained public recognition in 2007 while launching the Save Honolua Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to saving West Maui’s last open space rich with Hawaiian history, spirituality and culture. She is also a founding member of Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) Maui, and helps her husband, Wayne, run his surf shop.

Cochran said she and her husband live “completely off the grid” in Honolua, even collecting water with rain harvesting systems. Sustainable practices, Cochran said, is a major focus of her campaign, along with increased local farming and water and land preservation. Her other top issues include affordable housing, food security, creating long-term jobs and protecting Maui County’s natural and cultural resources.

“Molokai epitomizes the untouched beauty of Hawaii,” she said. “It needs to be preserved.”

Cochran hopes to enhance renewable energy on Molokai, but says there has to be something in it for the people as well.

“I’m all for renewable energy,” she said. “But without exploiting the land and using the people – they need to benefit from it, too.”

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Caring for Kupuna

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Caring for Kupuna

“A community is only as good as it takes care of its oldest members,” William Akutagawa said to a large crowd last Friday at Home Pumehana. Community members gathered to celebrate the blessing of the new adult day care center, which finally came to fruition after 10 years of planning.

Akutagawa, executive director at Na Pu`uwai, said the facility – known as the Senior Enrichment Center – is a step in the right direction and will provide Molokai families with the help they need in caring for their kupuna.

The center will provide day services, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., where kupuna can be dropped off and engage in stimulating activities designed to maintain their cognitive and sensory skills. Judy Mikami, Na Pu`uwai’s long-term care director, said there will be zumba, singing, puzzles, crafts, hula and ukulele classes, reclining chairs, field trips and even a Wii game console.



“Our goal is to transition into long-term care,” Mikami explained. “We’re getting closer.”

Friday’s ceremony opened with a pule from Rev. Maggie Duvauchelle. Emcee Roy Horner introduced several guest speakers, followed by hula and a kupuna ukulele performance. Kahu Reynolds Ayau closed with a blessing, calling Senior Enrichment Center staff to the back room, where he offered a prayer and kind words for the center’s success.

The celebration brought out visitors from Oahu, including Colette Machado, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, and Emmett White, of Arcadia Elder Care Services, who partnered with Na Pu`uwai in bringing the Senior Enrichment Center to the island.

“The heartbreak is having to move kupuna to another island to get care,” Machado said. “… It’s time to honor our kupuna and take care of them.”

Claire Ivesom, a guest at the blessing, was involved with the center’s original planning phase.

“It’s been a dream for years,” she said. “It will definitely grow and expand, and eventually have assisted living at Home Pumehana – that’s what we’d like to see.”

The Senior Enrichment Center is currently accepting applications for interested kupuna. For more information on the program, rates or requirements call 553-5099.

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Summer Scholars

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Summer Scholars

abreast so when they come back to school in the fall it’s not a big shock,” said Joshua Adachi, the program’s activities coordinator.

Funded by a 21st Century grant from the Department of Education, which also funds after school and summer programs around the island, the program enrolled about 100 students from first to sixth grade for classes Monday through Thursday.

 

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Molokai Man Faces Possible Attempted Murder Charge

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Molokai Man Faces Possible Attempted Murder Charge

John Henry Sardinha Sr., 52, of Ho`olehua, was arrested on Saturday, June 26 for allegedly slashing his girlfriend with a knife during a fight late that evening at the Kawela Barns.

The decision to charge him with attempted murder was suspended in a Maui courtroom last Wednesday while a judge determines whether there is probable cause for the allegations.

Prosecutors want Sardinha to be charged with second-degree attempted murder, as well as first-degree assault for punching the woman’s face causing multiple abrasions, and second-degree assault for allegedly wounding the woman’s 14-year-old daughter with the same knife.

could be dropped to a possible assault one,” said Detective Eugene Santiago of the Molokai Police Department.

Wailuku District Court Judge Kelsey Kawano is not expected to reach a decision on the indictment until all testimony is heard, Santiago said. The preliminary hearing is set to resume on July 7.

While he awaits trial, Sardinha is being held at Maui Community Correctional Center on $105,000 bail. He is accused of using a knife “similar to a minimachete” with a 6-inch handle and 5-inch blade, according to Santiago’s testimony at last Wednesday’s hearing.

The woman suffered lacerations to her face and left forearm, while her daughter sustained deep cuts to her right hand. Both female victims – whose names have not been released – were transported to Molokai General Hospital, where the woman was treated for potentially life-threatening injuries, according to a Maui County Police Department press release. The daughter was released later that night, while the woman was released two days later.

The Maui News reported that on the night of the attack, Sardinha confronted his girlfriend about her abuse and maltreatment of their three children – who range from 2 to 6 years old – after consuming 10 to 11 cans of beer during the day, according to Santiago’s testimony.

In an interview, Sardinha told Santiago of his frustration with the woman’s addiction to crystal meth, and on the day of the attack, had heard about her plans to use the drug, according to Santiago.

Police responded to the call on June 26 at about 10 p.m., but Sardinha had fled the scene prior to their arrival, according to the press release. He was later detained at his residence in Ho`olehua and taken into custody.

Neither Sardinha’s lawyer nor family would comment on the incident.

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Hail Our Red and Gold

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Hail Our Red and Gold

Kilohana Elementary School looks different now to Philip Akiona. He remembers how it was in the 1940s when he was a student, back when the basketball courts were gravel, when kids would sneak into the school’s water tank to swim and when there were pigs behind the school, raised on scraps from the cafeteria.

,” he said.

All the money raised from the event – from lu`ua tickets to commemorative t-shirt and DVD sales – will go to Kilohana School Community Organization, which helps fund field trips and bring guest performers to the school. 

“All of that goes back to the keiki here today,” Stevens said.

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Ranch Attempts to Legalize Water System

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Ranch Attempts to Legalize Water System

For almost 40 years, Molokai Properties Limited, also known as Molokai Ranch, has been using an irrigation system, intended for agriculture and Hawaiian homesteaders, to transfer water to west Molokai. In September 2007, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) be required to complete an environmental study before continuing its use of the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS). Since that time, MPL has been using the system under an expired agreement with the State Department of Agriculture (DOA).

MPL is now preparing a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for their continued use of a state-run irrigation system. The original agreement between the state and MPL issued in the 1970s preceded the requirement for an environmental study. To comply with current laws, MPL has contracted environmental consulting firm Environet to examine potential environmental effects of using the system. The study comes as a recommendation of the DOA, which will be the approving agency for the EA.

“As far as we’re concerned, they’re breaking the law every day,” said attorney Alan Murakami. Murakami has represented Hawaiian homesteaders in several cases against MPL’s use of the system.

By law, Hawaiian homesteaders have a right to two thirds of MIS water. Although they are currently using much less than that, Murakami said legalizing MPL’s use of the MIS could infringe on homesteaders’ right to the irrigation system, and pose potential competition for limited water resources. He added that continued access could allow MPL the opportunity to further develop its west Molokai properties and thus increase water demand.

“The potential secondary impacts of allowing MIS use for non-MIS subscribers is huge,” said Murakami.

The EA process began when Environet was first contact by MPL CEO Peter Nicholas three months ago, according to Colette Sakoda, Environet environmental planning program manager. She added there is a “sense of urgency,” as the state has mandated action be taken by MPL in order for them to renew their lease and continue using the MIS.

Following the Flow
MPL’s transmission of 350,000 gallons per day begins at the company’s Well 17 located above Kualapu`u. From there it is pumped less than a mile into the MIS reservoir where it is mixed with non-potable ag water. From the MIS reservoir, the water is pumped west, 9 miles to Pu`u Nana in Maunaloa. There, a treatment system prepares the water for potable consumption. The water is then piped to a reservoir in Maunaloa and gravity fed to Kaluakoi.

The EA is now in its scoping phase. Initial input will be provided by a select group of fifty consulted parties, according to Sakoda. Community feedback will also be gathered through an upcoming cultural assessment, to be completed by Davianna McGregor. McGregor has also provided cultural assessments for MPL’s La`au Point proposal, Mo`omomi Preserve, and The Nature Conservancy’s Kamakou Preserve, among others. 

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No Place for Metal

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Junk cars, old appliances and other scrap metal have been piling up in Molokai yards more than usual lately. After nearly seven months without a metal recycler to dispose of such material, Maui County officials have finally closed a second bid that seeks a new contractor to run the operation.

“Molokai needs this service,” said Gregg Kresge, deputy director of the Department of Environmental Management. “We’re working diligently to get this going – we ask that residents hold on a little longer.”

In its struggle to find a new contractor, the county had to open a bid twice – the first one in March, resulting in no interested applicants, and this last one in May. During this time, residents have had no alternative method to discard of metals.

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A Day of Firsts

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

A Day of Firsts

Just an ordinary tattoo, you say? Not so fast. This is the first tattoo to be done in Molokai’s first tattoo shop, Righteous Ink, which opened its doors last Saturday to the public.

Sherron Dudoit, Molokai’s first licensed tattoo artist and shop owner, has nestled into his permanent spot at Art of the Heart Gallery where he will be giving eager patrons the chance to get inked.



“There’s going to be a lot of exciting things coming up,” he said. These include a clothing line and several guest artists expected to come to Molokai over the summer. Tattooing alongside Dudoit will be his companion Lyndon Dela Cruz, Molokai’s second tattoo artist to be recently licensed.

So how did Dudoit break in his shop? By giving his wife, Mary (pictured above), her first tattoo.

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