Paka’a’s Beginnings
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Add your commentMolokai: Model of Sustainability
Community members explore the options.
By Catherine Cluett
Molokai is a place full of strong opinions and occasional disagreements. But who can argue that we need food? The thought of “what if the barge doesn’t come?” is a reoccurring concern for many. The question of food security held top priority last week at a meeting of Hui Ho`opakele Aina, a group dedicated to creating a sustainable Molokai.
The meeting was attended by over three dozen Molokai residents. A variety of speakers addressed issues such as food shortages and solutions, education, and community development. Experts, as well as community members already active in the effort, shared their knowledge and experience with an attentive audience.
Glenn Teves is a University of Hawaii Extension Agent who specializes in community development. “Hawaiians produce less than 20% of the food we eat,” he said. “And 95% of Hawaii’s agriculture is non-food crops.” He gave a bleak picture of the state’s current resource insecurity, explaining that almost all assets such as airports and power plants are located on the coastlines – in danger zones for tsunamis and other natural disasters.
“There is little agriculture infrastructure compared to tourism infrastructure in Hawaii,” Teves said. He emphasized the need to create an infrastructure for local farmers to successfully sell their produce on-island, instead of relying on off-island business. He also suggested crop diversification and the production of local fertilizers as examples of ways to improve Molokai’s agricultural assets.
GMO Clarification
Dear Editor,
Regarding the issue of human genes in sugar cane, and the role of HARC, I would like to respond.
I was misquoted, but it was a minor and understandable error. Actually, the reporter did a much better job than most reporters do on this technical and controversial topic. Her October 10th article captured both the spirit and content of my presentation fairly well.
Ordinarily, a simple misquote doesn’t deserve any further attention. A few well placed commas would change the meaning of the sentence attributed to me completely, as I explain below. However, Ms. Whalen and HARC’s effort to insult me and confuse the issues deserves a response.
1. In 2002, a permit was issued to HARC for the testing of sugar cane genetically engineered with human genes. This information comes from a data base listing all permits for the field testing of genetically modified plants.*
A time for peace
With the harvest completed, everyone rested and let the land lay fallow. They offered food in tribute to their chief and to Lono in thanks for their wise stewardship. Without wisdom, the land would become barren, and the people’s life and culture were tied to the land.
While almost no one among us could afford to stop work for an entire quarter of the year, Makahiki stills serves as a reminder of the values that should guide us. Appreciation for the things we are given by our culture, our efforts, and our fates. The abundance that marks so many of our lives. And the wise stewardship that the best among us offer.
Even in a place that enjoys a year-round growing season, it is difficult to fathom allowing productive fields lie unused through four long months. Simple math tells us that ancient practitioners could have increased their annual yields by a quarter just by keeping fields in use. Yet the concept of fallow fields is critical to understanding true stewardship.
A fallow field is not wasted space; it is land in renewal. The period where a land remains unplanted allows the soil to replenish it moisture and nutrients. It regains the texture that provides roots with air. Decaying matter slowly develops into a loamy compost that shows its strength with the next planting.
Today, when every moment is consumed by meetings and activities, when we cannot stop checking our Blackberries and iPhones or worrying about cellular coverage, we seldom stop to replenish. It’s a drive-through, satellite-fed, multi-tasked life. The only fallow time we have is while we’re asleep, unless we dream about work, too.
And then there’s peace. We should marvel at a society where everyone accepted that whatever was happening the day before Makahiki, no matter who was arguing with whom, what group was set upon the defeat of what faction, it all stopped. Four months of peace. I would guess that enemies did not necessarily celebrate together, but the fact that they were celebrating separately instead of fighting on the same battlefield is pretty remarkable.
On November 20, 2008, the State of Hawai‘i observed its first Makahiki Commemoration Day. It wasn’t a holiday, so you probably had to work. Still, it stands as a reminder of what Makahiki was, and how our sometimes more-civilized ancestors made the best use of their time.
Even if you missed Mahakiki Commemoration Day, remember that Makahiki lasted four months. There is still time for all of us to reflect on the many blessings we have been given, slow down, let our minds lie fallow for at least a little while, and offer each other peace. Happy Makahiki, everyone.Don’t Like the Laws? Change Them.
Residents get tips on how to work within the system.By Sean Aronson
Molokai residents know how to wage political battles and have cut their teeth on a variety of hotly contested issues over the years. They’ve learned that often times the most successful campaigns involve working within the system to affect change. And being as strategic and smart about the legislative process can give residents the upper hand.
With that goal in mind, about a dozen people showed up for a seminar to better learn how to stay up to date with Hawaii politics. Virginia Beck, of the Hawaii State Capitol, was on hand to provide information on everything from utilizing the state government website to what kinds of things to consider when writing a letter to your representatives in the legislature.
Frustration on Molokai
Here is a deeper look at the whole story. On January 31, 2007 an extraordinary event consisting of thirteen hundred Molokai citizens participated in an election for the seats on the Molokai Enterprise Community, or EC. To get a sense of how extraordinary, some twelve hundred Molokai citizens participated in this year’s state election.
Colette Machado lost her seat in this 2007 EC election by a huge margin garnering only 29% of the votes. A short time later, she was “appointed” back onto the EC board where she sits as an officer today.
In the November 4, 2008 general election, Colette lost to Waipa Purdy in Maui County, and, as happened in January of 2007, got trounced on the island of Molokai, receiving only 26% of the votes in her own precinct.
The citizen voice of Molokai was as loud as you can get in trying to pick their leader, but the process drowned out their voices. Something is wrong with this picture, and the process needs fixing. Molokai has only two resident publicly elected officials, OHA trustee and our county councilperson, but neither are elected solely by Molokai voters.
This is a true life story of frustration in trying to believe and participate in the system from the taxation without representation island of Molokai.
Friendly Market Goes Green
Andy Cazzato of ProVision Technologies (left) and Jeff Egusa, co-owner of Friendly Market stand among newly-installed solar panels on the roof of Friendly Market. Andy Cazzato of ProVision Technologies (left) and Jeff Egusa, co-owner of Friendly Market stand among newly-installed solar panels on the roof of Friendly Market.
By Catherine Cluett
Taking the leap to renewable energy is something most people wish they could do. The Egusa family, owners of Friendly Market Center, has shown us it’s possible. Solar panels will now produce about a quarter of the energy needed by Friendly Market. “Electricity costs are crazy and I hate being dependant on fossil fuel,” says Friendly’s co-owner Crystal Egusa.
Andy Cazzato of ProVision Technologies, a Hilo-based company specializing in solar electric energy, installed the system with the help of his crew in a little under three weeks. The system includes invertors to convert the DC energy from the solar panels to AC so the system can be connected to the grid.
Egusa says the project was made possible with the help of a USDA grant for renewable energy. The grant only covered about a quarter of the cost of installing the solar panels, says Egusa, but she adds that federal and state tax credit incentives for renewable energy will make the system affordable.
“Friendly Market may see all of their money come back in the next five years,” says Cazzato.
Three hundred sixty-five solar panels, measuring 13.5 square feet per module, are mounted on Friendly Market’s roof. The panels, 4883 square feet total, cover all the useful roof space, which Cazzato says means everything except areas in shadows and skylights.
On an average day, the system will produce about 400 kilowatt hours (kWh), out of the 1100kWh total used by Friendly Market, according to Cazzato. The average home uses about 16 kWh per day.
“If the panels get five hours of sun, they would produce… enough power for 80 small homes,” said Cazzato.
Molokai Veterans Celebrated
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By Commander Larry Helm
This is the fifth year Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans--Koa Kahiko (Wise Ancient Warriors) marched in a quiet parade through the town of Kaunakakai ending at the Veteran's Memorial to honor Veterans past, present and future.
A white pigeon was released for each fallen veteran from all wars. The red, white, and blue pigeons are for all Veterans. The population of Molokai is 7,000 with over 600 Veterans that have served in all wars.
This year Hospice Hawaii helped with the program coordination.
The first year there were 30 Veterans that marched and five years later over 100. Molokai Veterans have a small center in Kaunakakai town. They own property and want to build a home for Molokai Veterans. They applied for a permit over a year ago and are getting the run-around from Maui County.
Veterans fight for freedom for all Americans including politicians and now Molokai Vets have to fight the politicians to build their home. Go figgah.
Monsanto Molokai Blesses New Facility
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By Catherine Cluett
The Friendly Isle may not have any traffic lights, but it is still at the forefront of technology. Monsanto, a leading global biotech company, held a blessing for its new Molokai seed corn production facility last Friday. Monsanto, Molokai’s largest employer with 100 full time workers, operates 1000 acres of land on Molokai, and has been in operation on the island since 2000.
The state-of-the-art facility allows for more efficient processing, better product management, and greater employee safety, says Mike Nagel, Monsanto Hawaii Manufacturing Lead. The $13 million facility was completed in February, and was first used in March.
Anakala Pilipo Solatario, Lawrence Aki, and Kawika Foster performed a blessing of the new facility, attended by over 100 guests. Event-goers enjoyed facility tours, the blessing heralded by the blowing of the pu, and a full meal following the program.
OHA Molokai Trustee Colette Machado spoke glowingly of the effort in her short speech at the blessing ceremony. “You are on the front end of technology,” she said. “This is an important step this company has made for its employees and for our island. We want to be on the cutting edge of corn production in the world.”
“Mahalo for the land we farm, mahalo to community members,” said Molokai Monsanto’s General Manager Ray Foster. “We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, and there’re more to come.”
“Molokai is a significant part of Monsanto’s operations around the world,” says Nagel. “Every corn plant planted on the mainland can trace its origin back to Hawaii.”
The new corn drying system plays a key role in the facility’s operation.
According to Sam Smith, Seed Quality Supervisor, the corn, still on cob, takes about 72 hours for the drying process. The 14 drying bins can hold up to 1600 bushels of corn total. Blowers in the control room circulate air in the bins from bottom to top, then automatically switch directions half way through the process. Computerized thermometers monitor and control the temperature of the drying corn – 95 degrees F going up, and 105 degrees F on the way down.
At harvest, the corn contains about 35 percent moisture. After drying, the corn’s moisture content has been reduced to 11.5 percent.
Onsite generators, supplementing MECO power, run off of natural gas and shut off when the dryer is not in use.
“The system allows for more precise control of temperature and air flow,” says Nagel. “It cuts down on energy use and turn-around time. It also features a lot of safety upgrades.”
Before the new facility was built, Monsanto used portable drying units called “peanut wagons,” which are still used as a back-up when corn production exceeds the capacity of the new drying bins.
In addition to drying, the new facility contains state-of-the-art equipment for husking, removing the kernels from the cob, cleaning the corn, and bagging the finished product.
A combination of careful computer and manual monitoring of all operations makes all phases of corn production run smoother and more safely, say Monsanto representatives.
Similar drying facilities have been built on Maui and Oahu, but Nagel says the Molokai operation is the most recent and updated. “It’s a flagship of our operations,” he says.
Smith says Monsanto Molokai produces seed corn to be grown on the mainland, South America, the Philippines, and other countries, as well as for production on other Hawaiian islands. Hawaii allows up to three to four growing seasons for corn per year, whereas other areas of the United States only see one.
Molokai’s West End
Uncovering Maunaloa’s rich Hawaiian history.
When pineapple began to phase out, the roads on the West End were opened up and the gates unlocked through the efforts of Hui Ala Loa.
As a result, the coastline from Kaunakakai to Halena became open to vehicular travel. At the time, we were building a wall around our house requiring rocks. So on a weekly basis, we would drive the Pala`au road to a ridge located just before the old Kolo wharf to pick up a truck-load of stones.
The stones became scarce as we continued to mine them so we began searching for a new area. Where the road splits at Halena to go up to Maunaloa, there was a bunch of stones laid out in a flat pattern. It looked like easy picking to some in our group, so against my better judgment, we took the rocks.
Immediately after dumping them in the yard I had a series of dreams of Hawaiian warriors dancing Maori style, outside my window. They were chanting “We’re going to get you”. In the dreams I told them my house was blessed and the dreams ended. However, being shaken up, I began asking people about the area where the stones were from. I soon found Paka`a had lived someplace around there.
So who was Paka`a? Looking him up in Catherine Summer’s book, “Molokai: A Site Survey” there was one page condensing his story from six sources and an “x” on a map where his house still is. Not knowing where “x” was located within the landscape and lacking the motivation to look, the episode faded into the background of raising kids.
Fast forward twenty years and Paka`a had resurfaced as a result of nearly unlimited opportunities to explore the West End. This time I dreamt of flying over Maunaloa. A man’s voice said, “You will know everything there is to know about the West End” as if it was a prediction.
I began relocating many of the sites noted in Catherine Summer’s book. At times, kupuna would share what they knew as we visited the sites, or they would act as an advisory group to the ongoing process. It was a mix of local informants, scholarly research and through the land itself, which Molokai’s past began to reveal itself.
Although the West End is dry and seemingly uninhabitable, of the four most renown Molokai stories, that of Lanikaula, Kalaipahoa, Ka’ana, and Paka’a, the latter three occurred on this arid side of the island. What surprises me is how many details there are in Paka`a’s story. In one account, there are 70 pages of a 120 page book; much more than the single page of Catherine Summers’ condensed version.
What’s more, the story and various tangents cover the entire south west coast from Pala`au to La`au. Even more surprising, there is an account of a mile long sweet potato field which once grew in Maunaloa and was capable of feeding many people.
Finding the stone paved trail which went from Kopala, the potato fields, to Kamanamana, Paka`a’s house, took a year of searching. It was through this process of walking Maunaloa and the West End that Paka`a’s story began unfolding, with the landscape uniting the remaining legends into a continuum.
In the next series of articles, the retelling of these legends will weave the countryside into revealing the West End.
