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Judge Rules to Review Secret Procurement Opinion in Akaku Case

Monday, October 6th, 2008

 By the Akaku Team

Akaku: Maui Community Television enjoyed a small victory in the courts last week, regarding its lawsuit against the State Attorney General (AG) and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).

In his Motion for Summary Judgment dated Monday, Sept. 29, Judge Joel August ordered the Defendants to release by Nov. 15 an AG opinion that has to this day been a secret for DCCA eyes only. Judge August will privately review the underlying premises that began this controversy more than three years ago before deciding whether or not to make it public.

At the crux of the lawsuit is the DCCA's and AG's take that Hawaii's cable access television stations should submit to a state procurement or bidding process. Meanwhile, Akaku's concern is that procurement behind closed doors on O`ahu would remove community voices from deciding who runs public access, and leave it up to state government agencies.
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Fake Funny Farms – Maui County redefines agriculture to include vacation rentals.

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

By Glenn Teves

It seems like we’re constantly changing the definition to words to suit our lifestyle changes and our response to money.  Once upon a time, agriculture meant the production of food, fiber, and timber. All of a sudden, this definition is being turned on its head with the recent enactment of a law that allows transient vacation rentals on agricultural lands. Has the County gone over the edge or do they know something that we don’t? 

Just like the song of the late 60’s by Cat Stevens, “Where do the children play”, my question now is “where do the farmers farm if they farm at all”. With some farm land in Maui County exceeding $500,000 an acre, probably the highest in the nation, who in their right mind will want to farm when they’ll be spending the rest of their life paying for the land. Farm land has shifted from a resource, as envisioned in our state constitution, to a commodity sold to the highest bidder and the County is taking the lead in making this happen.

Fake and funny farms dot the island from east to west, along with a new generation of pseudo-farmers all trying to find a way to get out of farming, yet still benefit from the zoning and tax breaks. Now, there’s a new crutch to lean on and make big bucks with transient vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts.

I attended a Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Kona last week and the first question asked of everyone was, “What will be needed to create stronger local and regional food systems that are less reliant on imports from elsewhere?” Expecting responses such as farmers market and community-supported agriculture, my response was ‘a catastrophe’. The only way we will change in Maui County is when a disaster forces us to change. By that time, we’ll be eating each other.

Still, the question begs to be answered, “Who will grow our food when the farms are surrounded by houses with residents screaming about the tractor noise, dust, and funny smells and the farmers give up. This is already happening. But who really cares anyway! I still remember a farmer in Colorado I visited who used to spread manure on his fields from nearby feedlots each spring, and would receive a barrage of calls from irate neighbors. When asked, “What is that smell? He replied, “It’s the smell of money.”

Well, not anymore. Now with the New Wave Maui farming, you don’t even have to add manure or fertilizer to your fields. You can create a farm without even farming. All you have to do is construct transient vacation rentals on your farm land, and paste farm pictures on all the windows so your visitors think they’re staying on a farm. You can change the pictures by the seasons, such as classic Tuscany in the spring, or Napa Valley in the late summer.

You can create the ultimate in local cuisine by heading down to Safeway or Costco, buying all kinds of fruits, vegetables, fish and shrimp from Chile, Mexico, China, and who knows where, head back home, and whip up a luscious brunch for your unknowing visitors. No one would be the wiser, and visitors would have a once in a lifetime experience as a result. If you want to get fancy, you can spice things up and add a little more ambiance at the same time by tying a Holstein cow near the entrance to your rental units.

 

I would never have come up with this great idea on my own, and have to thank the county council and the mayor for thinking ‘outside the box’ and being on the cusp of regional land use planning. I hope they keep their thinking caps on, because I know this is only the beginning of some great ideas to come. If they run out of more ideas, I have some smart pills on hand that I can donate to them, but they have to move fast because it’s only good until my rabbit gets the runs.

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Hana Highway Reopens Ahead of Schedule

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Over 10  miles of the road remained closed for the duration of the stabilization work and drivers that did not heed roadway signs announcing the road closure were forced to turn around at Kipahulu and return to central Maui via Hana’s winding roads. 

“Educating drivers-- mostly visitors-- that there was no ‘through’ traffic on the eastern side of the island, proved to be one of the more challenging obstacles,” Tavares noted. “To the dismay of the residents, many drivers used private driveways in Kipahulu to turn around and park illegally, which added to the distress of the affected community. I’m sure these residents are relieved as well.  

“I took office three months after the earthquake and began to work with the two communities that were facing hardship in the conditions that the earthquake created,” Tavares continued. “We had to quickly gain an assessment and focus our work on completing the large-scale mitigation work as soon as possible. We also needed to be sensitive and mindful of the cultural and historical importance of the areas.” 

One business, the Kaupo Store, suffered significant losses when visitor travel around the eastern side of Haleakala through Kaupo stopped due to the post-earthquake road closure. “This local business had to endure the aftermath of a natural disaster, and I encourage people to stop by and support the Kaupo Store.” 

Nearly 150 people from the Kaupo and Kipahulu communities came together to celebrate the much-anticipated reopening at a rededication ceremony held today on the Alelele Bridge.  In attendance was Senator J. Kalani English, whose district includes the remote eastern side of Maui.

 “This highway is more than just a road”, Senator English told the crowd. “Growing up in Hana and traveling this road, I remember the stories of the place and how it brought families and friends together. I appreciate that Mayor Tavares held her ground and completed the work, despite certain agencies suggesting that the road not be reopened.” 

Cultural practitioner Kahu Lyons Naone, conducted the rededication ceremony and guests were treated to traditional Hawaiian luau food hosted by Janod Contractors, Inc., the final contractor of the multi-phased project. National Park Service Acting Superintendent Mark Rentz, representing Superintendent Marilyn Parris who was out of town, remarked on the exceptional partnership between Haleakala National Park and the County. The National Park Service owns portions of land in the area that were affected by the earthquake.

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Honu Hatchlings

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

First known green sea turtle nest found at Papohaku Beach.

Rescued baby honu wait in a bucket to be released.

By Catherine Cluett

Hundreds of tiny tracks mark the sand from the grasses’ edge down to the ocean. They are neither the tracks of a crab, nor the marks of a bird. These footprints belong to baby green sea turtles making the 50-yard trek from their nest to begin their lives at sea.

It was the tracks which alerted a Popohaku home owner and Nature Conservancy volunteer to the turtle nest. George Balazs, a marine turtle research biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), carefully dug a hole in the sand as a group of volunteers peered down into what had been the nest of over a hundred baby green sea turtles. Balazs was looking for clues that might bring insight to the genetic distribution of green sea turtles on Molokai.

There are three genetic fingerprints of green sea turtles, or honu, found in Molokai waters. One of these variations makes up about 70% of the overall population, says Balazs, while the other two are much less common, each comprising about 15% of green sea turtles around the island.

Balazs has been tracking the DNA makeup of turtles found on Kawa`aloa Beach, just west of Mo`omomi, for the past several years. The discovery that every single nest so far has belonged to one of the two less common DNA groups is a fact he says is surprising.

Sea turtles normally go back to where they were born to nest -- “but not perfectly,” explains Balazs. If all turtles only nested where they were born, the species would never spread. Some turtles have to break the pattern.

The homogeneous DNA thread found on Kawa`aloa Beach means, Balazs explains, that one mother turtle started nesting there, called a “founding turtle,” creating a new colony. Green sea turtles don’t reach sexual maturity until the age of 25 to 40 years old. So 30 years after the founding turtle first nested there, her offspring came back to nest at the same site, creating a legacy of the same DNA fingerprint.

The nest found on Papohaku was the first recorded hatching on that beach. Balazs is curious to find out whether those turtles belong to the same genetic group as those nesting at Kawa`aloa. To get this information, volunteers, under Balazs’ supervision, dug up the nest after the young had already hatched, and collected a sample of partially developed or decomposing eggs from which to extract DNA.

Statistics were also gathered about how many eggs were laid (99), and how many of those hatched successfully (over 90). In addition, five baby turtles were rescued from the nest that probably wouldn’t have made it otherwise, says Balazs.

After hatching, sea turtle young work collectively to dig out of the nest. But eggs laid on the periphery are at a disadvantage because they are not surrounded by the warmth of their fellow developing nest-mates during the 60-day incubation period. These eggs may hatch a little later than eggs in the middle of the batch, explains Balazs, and may account for the few babies left behind.

Balazs and Nature Conversancy volunteers released the five hatchlings into the ocean and watched as the tiny bobbing heads made their way out to sea.

Usually, he says, researchers don’t interfere with nature’s course. But giving five extra green sea turtles, a species on the brink of extinction only 30 years ago, a chance to survive in the wild, is a rewarding bonus of the job. There are many predators that prey on the tiny sea turtles. But, as one volunteer said, “we did our best. And that’s all we can do.”

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Molokai Educational Center Flooded

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

 Soaking cancels classes for two days.

By Marie Nowell

Signs announcing cancelled classes were posted outside the Molokai Educational Center (MEC) last Thursday due to flooding. A drinking fountain ruptured overnight causing up to several inches of water to accumulate.

The facility remained open only for students who needed to complete tests. MEC professor and coordinator Donna Haytko-Paoa and other staff discovered the leak when they arrived to work Thursday morning. By then, water had flowed into surrounding classrooms and hallways.

The main concern was flooding in the computer classroom. There was four inches of water found in the electrical boxes, which are located on the floors.

Most of the water was expelled using a borrowed pump. Soda machines and other materials had to be moved into other areas while fans were used to eliminate the smell and moisture in the carpet. Technicians said they would wait until Monday morning, before bringing the computers back online.

The MEC will celebrate its 10th year anniversary next August and, up until now, has not had much maintenance problems.

Other recent maintenance problems include a leaning light pole that had nearly fallen over over. MEC’s poles are held up by four bolts under a cap. After realizing the leaning pole was held in by one remaining bolt, MEC staff checked adjacent lights and said that attention will be given to those which need it.

Haytko-Paoa said that the school’s air conditioner also needs maintenance. In one wing of the building, the AC was not turning off as it is programmed to do over the weekends. MEC is trying to be energy efficient and is currently working on the problem.

“The building is starting to show its age”, said Haytko-Paoa.

Haytko-Paoa noted that the “staff has been great and they are keeping the students out for health and safety reasons.”

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Maka’s Korner Opens for Business

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

 A New Family Restaurant Keeps Busy

 By Marie Nowell

Owner Maka Lee and employees have been really busy with the opening their new saimin shop, Maka’s Korner. So busy that they had run out of food within the first two days of operation.

After opening the doors for the first time last Wednesday, Lee said she is still trying to “get the feel of the restaurant business.” It has been a two year process to open the family business which is employed by friends and family members according to Lee.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 6 am – 2 pm. The basic menu includes steak, burgers, and fresh saimin noodles imported from Shiro's Saimin Haven in Honolulu.

If your appetite craves something more, Lee says the restaurant will soon feature daily specials. There are also plans to be open on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., serving only saimin to those who are out late-night.

Maka’s Korner would like to acknowledge Lee’s mom and dad, Kui and Curt Lester, who are the owners of the building. If it wasn’t for them, the business would not have been able to open.

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Na Wahine O Ke Kai

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

Na Wahine O Ke Kai

By Catherine Cluett and Marie Nowell

Sixty-seven crews and about 700 paddlers participated in the 30th annual Na Wahine O Ke Kai Canoe Race last Sunday. The race started at Hale O Lono on Molokai and finished at the Hilton Hotel on Oahu across the Ka`iwi Channel for a total distance of 41 miles. The day brought flat water, which made the conditions more mentally challenging than physically taxing, said Rose Lum, 30-year paddling coach at Kamehameha Schools whose daughter paddled in Sunday’s race. “Love for the sport is all you have out there,” she added. “It’s all about culture and who we are. You can’t get this feeling anywhere else in the world.”

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Kalaupapa Airport Gets Upgrades

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Concrete airlifted by helicopter.

By Catherine Cluett

Flying a helicopter takes skill. But flying a helicopter with a 3, 000 pound bucket of cement swaying beneath it on a 100 foot cable is nothing short of an art, says a member of Pacific Helicopters’ ground crew.

The company has been contracted to transport cement into Kalaupapa for construction on the runway there. The helicopter has been making the flight over the cliff to the remote peninsula every six minutes for the past two weeks. Goodfellows, Inc., under a State contract, is pouring 300 square yards of cement to replace cement blocks in the airport loading area with solid material.

In addition to pouring cement, Goodfellows has widened runway shoulders by five feet on each side, and also replaced runway lights, says Goodfellows region manager Dale Moore.

The biggest challenge of the project, he says, is transportation of equipment, such as backhoes, excavators, and trucks, to the site. They were delivered by barge earlier in the summer, and now that construction is complete, they must be barged out again. This time, the process is complicated by weather dependency, and timing is crucial. If the barge cannot dock at Kalaupapa, the equipment will have to remain on the peninsula until better conditions allow a second try.

The airport construction was minor, but it is the beginning of preparations for an expected increase in traffic due to Father Damien’s sainthood, says Moore.

Pacific Helicopters will continue operating in the area for another week until the concrete pouring is complete. Moore says that is the last step of the current construction project.

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Ka Mo’olelo Kahiko a’o Molokai Pule O’o

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Pekekua – Part I
The story of Kahinu and the Octopus of Kupeke Fishpond.

By KK

In the days of old Molokai, before the car, wagon, or horse, the alanui (roads) were wide trails lined by stone walls. The walls kept the Pua`a (pigs) out of the alanui and away from the Lo'i Kalo (taro patches).

The Alanui to Mana’e (East Molokai) was wide and traversed more often than today’s roads which have paved over the ancient trail.

In those days, there were no Ahupua`a…. The sections of an island were called Moku.

This mo`olelo (story of old) is in reference to the Alanui O, (sacred place, center of High Respect) ka Moku o Kupeke. Kupeke is located adjacent to Puko`o, on the Komohana (west side) and Honomuni on the Na'e, (east side). Paialoko O Kupeke, (Kupeke Fishpond), is bordering the Moku O Puko`o. Here is the place where this Mo`olelo comes from.

In those days, all the Keiki of Mana`e used to go to school in Puko`o where they could learn a trade to help them into their future. Unfortunately, girls began disappearing during their early morning walks to school.

No one had any clue as to where they went to. So the community went to see the great Kahuna, Lanikaula (see footnote) to ask for guidance.

Kahuna Nui O Lanikaula told the kupuna of Mana`e, “kilo aku *kupua he`e” - watch for supernatural He`e (octopus) - a form that changes as it feeds itself Mana (see footnote). (*Kupua He'e, otherwise known as Pekekua, or Kuapeke).

Undoubtedly in those days, everyone was busy; so none could spare the long amount of time it would take to be watchful of that powerful He`e. Plus, fears of reprisal may have been a factor, veering people away from trying to defy the supernatural.

But the Kupuna of Mana`e were watchful enough to determine that the girls were disappearing by the large corner stone adjacent to the Kupeke Fishpond just Na'e of the Moku of Puko`o. Auwe!, (Alas!), The girls kept disappearing during their early morning walks to Puko`o.

Kahinu was a young proud father of a beautiful girl named Hihi. When she disappeared on the trail, right before the turn to Puko'o, Kahinu became very distressed and immediately went to Kupeke, in search of his daughter Hihi. (There is more to be said about Kahinu, Ali'i Nui (High Chief), O Ka Moku O Kupeke, but that is for another time).

Kahinu climbed up above the Paialoko O Kupeke and waited for thirty days and thirty nights watching the children as they headed to school into Puko`o every morning.

For some reason, the disappearances ceased. Kahinu kept a watchful eye but never noticed anything amidst. After 30 changes of the moon, his body had turned dark like his malo, and blended right into the ‘aina.

Unbeknownst to Kahinu, Lanikaula had fed him mana allowing him to remain in one place without food or water like a stone. For it was the Kupuna who had taken offerings to Lanikaula many days before; asking the Kahuna Nui O Lanikaula for his guidance.

Because Lanikaula was able to foresee the He`e, and Kahinu’s struggle to find his daughter, Lanikaula blessed Kahinu with Mana.
So in the moon of ‘Ole Pau, as the shine still bore light, before the sun warmed Mana’e; Kahinu noticed a sudden change in the limu (seaweed) near the edge of Kupeke Fishpond.

Right before the last kamali`i (child) made it around the turn near the corner stone of the Moku O Kupeke, Kahinu noticed, sure enough, that the limu had taken the form of an enormous He`e.

One of its legs was slowly crawling towards the Alanui in an attempt to snatch the last girl before she could make that last turn into the Moku O Puko'o.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Footnotes:
Lanikaula -, was one of the most powerful of all Kahuna in oral and written history. There are recorded events of Lanikaula way into the days of Kalakaua's reign. Kahuna Nui Lanikaula lived over 400 years... There are also recorded accounts by scholars of Hawaiian Antiquities of Lanikaula dating back to the days of Peleiholani, High Chief O`ahu, 1300-1400 AD. Numerous chants of Molokai Kahiko, (ancient Molokai) have helped me to fill in more information about the greatest hero of the most ancient Kahuna Nui o Hawaii. More of Lanikaula will be published in the future.


Mana - is not energy or power, as many people tend to believe; but is something whether by power of words, prayer, chant, touch and many other Huna, (hidden), ways Keaiwa, (unknown) to us, that is given to something else to make it more potent.

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Inspired by Molokai

Monday, September 29th, 2008

By Lucienne de Naie

Inspired by Molokai

It was great to see some inspired Molokai representatives at the recent State Planning Conference and to get a copy of the Molokai Plan (Molokai Future of a Hawaiian Island). I want to thank all of those who worked to put this plan together. I read it and passed on copies to others, and it is now acting as a catalyst to inspire folks on Maui.

The ideas expressed in the Plan are where our communities need to go. We need to shape the kind of visitor base we want, and de-link tourism from land speculation if our communities are to survive as real places for local families to live, learn and prosper. Then we need to substitute new and better varieties of economic activity that actually benefit our residents. I have long been committed to these same values. That is one of the reasons that I chose to climb the formidable mountain which an independent candidate faces, when reaching for public office.

We on Maui see Moloka'i as leading the way through these turbulent times. The idea of having a "Molokai County Code" would be a step in the right direction to allow the independent spirit of Moloka'i Nui a Hina to take shape and emerge into its own unique expression.

Many believe that this is a time for leaders with vision to come forward and offer a new pathway into the future. Like you all, I have worked quietly for many years on Maui to bring forth into reality many small pieces of a larger vision.

This vision includes the return of our waters to Maui's people. The protection and care of our Wahi Pana and the resources that are a vital part of the natural cycle of life, like our reefs, wetlands, agricultural lands and forests.

Progress has been slow, but it has been steady. Now is the time to take on the largest challenge of all: building a new and sustainable economic future based upon cooperation rather than exploitation. This will be a challenging task, and will span many years, but it will be the one lasting legacy that would make worthwhile the many long battles we have all waged.

I welcome the support of all like-minded leaders in this undertaking. If you agree that it would be important to elect representatives who are already working for the same visions you hold, rather than trying to convince the well-meaning status quo candidates we usually get, please help me reach the people of Moloka'i who want a new future.

Please Kokua

I am running for the East Maui Council seat, currently held by Bill Medeiros. He is endorsed by the majority of unions, chamber of Commerce etc. I am endorsed by the Sierra Club and Conservation Voters of Hawaii, but my campaign support goes far beyond the environmental community.I am writing to ask for your support and your help. My webpage ElectLuci.org gives lots of info about what I stand for. I know most of you from hearings and statewide campaigns to protect our lands, waters, native people and plants.

Mahealani kindly offered to put up flyers about my campaign for county council.
I want to send those over, but I'll need an address.

More importantly, I would like to visit Molokai soon and meet with folks to hear their mana'o. I am still actively serving as a GPAC member here on Maui, so I need to try to plan around that meeting schedule.

Are there any upcoming meetings or events that any of you would recommend I try to attend on Moloka'i? Would one of you, or others you know, be willing to host a gathering that I could attend?

Would one of you be willing to have your photo used in my brochure?

Other folks who are being featured in the brochure are Kelly King of Pacifc Biodiesel, Brian Yoshikawa of Maui Sporting Goods-fishing advocate, John and Rose Marie Duey, kalo farmers, Bob & Lis Richardson, community park builders, Tamara Paltrin, westside lifeguard, Jimmy Coniff, union truck driver retiree, Clare Apana, physical therapist and Native hawaiian burial protection advocate, Antonio Ramil, attorney and Filipino community leader.

The brochure will be mailed to 30k plus voters around mid October.

I would like to come over to Moloka'i for a day or so and attend community meeting or event, meet people, and then meet socially with more people to try to find a small team to help put up yard signs, spread the word through email etc.

The Political Landscape

I know that Moloka'i already has a good advocate on the County council. If the candidacies of Wayne Nishiki, JoAnne Johnson and Sol Kaho'ohalahala are successful, there is an opportunity to build a potential majority on many sustainable initiatives, if just one more seat could go to a candidate with a long term established commitment to sustainability. Then the future of Moloka'i , Lana'i and Maui islands could begin to head in a very different direction. It is not enough to just have a council person who is willing to listen to the community's ideas. We need Council members who do their homework and can find the way to make the system serve the people.

During the 2006 election, around 1,200 votes separated the two candidates for east maui council seat and nearly 7,000 ballots were left blank in that race. This is my goal, to reach the base of folks who supported Sam Kalalau in the 2006 election as well as those who supported me and the 7,000 or more voters who didn't know enough about either candidate to cast their vote (or didn't care for either candidate). I want to reach folks by phone, email, mail or in person and let them know what I stand for, and that I would be honored to work hard to represent them.

Molokai is at a turning point and has a big role to play in this election. If you want to work together to make the Molokai Plan into a reality, I'd truly appreciate any help and ideas you folks on Molokai can offer.

IMUA Lucienne de Naie, Candidate for East Maui Council 808 214-0147

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