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Kite Surfers Rip Waves and Ride Wind

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Kite Surfers Rip Waves and Ride Wind

Hawaiian Kite Crossing Team stops on Molokai on quest from Maui to Oahu.

Paul Franco shows off his skill as he flies 30 feet above Hotel Molokai. Franco and the rest of the Hawaiian Kite Crossing Team make history as the first kite boarders to surf the hundred mile distance from Maui to Oahu.


By Andres Madueno

Family, friends, spectators, and journalists alike kept their eyes to the sky as they waited for the first glimpse of a kite in the air. The first kite surfer from the Hawaiian Kite Crossing Team was seen in the late afternoon last Saturday, just off the beach at Hotel Molokai. Eight other surfers followed from the east to meet at the halfway point of their 100-mile adventure from Maui to Oahu. 

This is the first year the event will stretch to Oahu.

“This is my fourth trip from Maui to Molokai.  But it’s going to be the first time for all of us to go from Maui all the way to Oahu,” said Paul Franco, a team member since 2000. He moved all the way from Brazil to be able to kite surf here in beautiful Hawaii. 

Along with Franco his sister Raquel Lima will be the first woman ever to complete the crossing from Maui to Oahu. “I’m stoked to be the first girl ever to do it,” Lima said. She has been kite boarding since 2002, and this is her second time crossing over to Molokai.

Teammates range from those who have been kite boarding for more than a decade to those who are considered novices. 

“Our average speed was 13.4 mph.  Our max speed was about 24 mph and we covered 60 miles in 4.2 hours,” said Curt Scott, who has been kite boarding since 2000. 

Although kite boarding is not very popular on Molokai the conditions seem to be perfect for the sport according to enthusiasts. Lots of wind, nice waves, and a sparse lineup make for ideal conditions. 

Good luck to the team on their continuing journey from Molokai to Oahu.

 

 


 

Keiki Catches

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Keiki Catches


Randy and Josh Cabreros are ready to hook some big Ulua. The eels they caught should make great bait.

Calvary Chapel Finds New Home

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Lighthouse Church of Nazarene opens its arms to church-goers.

The Worship Team at Calvary Chapel led the congregation with worship songs during their last service in their former home.

By Zalina Alvi

After eight years at the corner of Maunaloa and Kalae highways, the Calvary Chapel will be moving in with the Lighthouse Church of Nazarene.

The last service in the warehouse next to the Swenson Real Estate office was held last week Sunday with a room of devoted worshippers. On Aug. 3, their first service will be held just down the road at their new home with Lighthouse.

Following the expiration of its lease, Calvary Chapel, which has not had a pastor in four years, will be graciously taken in by Lighthouse, which will continue to hold their own separate services prior to Calvary in the shared space.

“(Lighthouse) feels like, as god’s people, we’re all one people, so we’re all going to work together, said Mark Shima, a member of the Worship Team at Calvary.

Pastor Waxer Tipton, who started Calvary Chapel at Dick Wheeler’s Plumeria Farm in 1996 and now lives in Honolulu, was present at last Sunday’s service to wish everyone well. He encouraged attendees to look towards the future as he cited passages from Isaiah 43:18.

“Basically the passage states that we’re not going to ponder things of the past,” said Shima. “God is leading us in a new direction.”

Molokai Youth Get Their Hands Dirty

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Molokai Youth Get Their Hands Dirty

Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps bridges the gap between conservation projects and island youth.

The young conservationists of the Molokai Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (left to right from top): Nainoa Pedro, Jon Brito, Elroy Reyes, Nelson Rapanot, Paulette Tamashiro-Pelekane, Ka`ohele Ritte-Camara, Ashley Tangonan, Riare Perreira, Nicole Tachibana and John-Russel Phifer.

By Zalina Alvi

Deep in the bushes of Halawa Valley, a handful of young men and women are covered in mud, trying to restore a taro patch to its former vitality. They are pulling up weeds, learning about conservation work, and laughing and enjoying themselves as they do it.

“We get to learn all kinds of ways to keep the environment healthy, and to preserve for our future generations (…) The knowledge will pass on to us, so we can pass it on,” said participant Riare “Queenie” Perreira.

In fact, for the past six weeks, the eager youth of the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps have been traveling across Molokai, Oahu, and Kaho`olawe, working with various conservation projects as part of a summer program.

In exchange for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, skills in leadership and team-building, and a chance to play a role in maintaining the precious resources of our isles, they have been traveling from one location to the next and working non-stop.

“The program gives them the opportunity to do conservation work, get their foot in the door, to see what it’s like, and to build up their skills,” said Nicole Tachibana, a program leader on Molokai.

After team training on Oahu, the group moved on to the Keawanui Fishpond on the east side of Molokai. They spent a week moving rocks to help with restoration, building an ahu, and removing invasive species from the area, all the while learning about the importance of fishponds to our culture and our kuleana to preserve them.

The next week found the team in Kaho`olawe, where they helped to create a trail around the outside of the entire island in preparation for the annual Makahiki festival season, which is a four-month period beginning in late October or early November.

The rest of the six-week program included work with Kahonua Momona at the Ali`i Fishpond, removal of strawberry, guava and clidemia plants with The Nature Conservancy, and helping with the Molokai subcommittee of the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

All the young men and women working with the Corps on Molokai, most of whom were still in high school or had just graduated, felt that learning about their island and how to manage and preserve its resources were their main reasons for participating.

“I joined the program to preserve our nature and plants, and to learn about our island,” said Lynsey Dudoit-Alapai.

After each of these experiences, the participants, between the ages of 15 and 35, are expected to write journal entries about the importance of the work they are doing at each site, for which they are paid $1,000 at the end of the summer program.

This year, the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps sponsored 15 teams of youth statewide, which included close to 150 members. The program provides assistance on six different islands in Hawaii including Kaho`olawe, and is sponsored in large part by the Department of Land Natural Resources and Kamehameha Schools. The summer program is part of Kupu, which supports other programs such as a year-round internship, community assistance program, and the Hana Hou internship program.

Participants must apply online at www.hawaiiycc.com by March of each year for the summer program, and those accepted will have all their accommodation and travel expenses covered by the program.

Maui Land & Pineapple Cuts 274 Jobs

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Company cites weak economy and rising fuel costs for cutting more than a quarter of its workforce.

By Zalina Alvi

Just 122 days after Molokai Ranch laid off 120 employees on the Friendly Isle, Maui Land & Pineapple (ML&P) Co. has announced its plans to lay off 274 employees.

The Kahului-based company is one of Maui's largest private employers, but said a weak economy and rising fuel costs would be forcing them to cut more than a quarter of their 1,045 employees. The company is expected to save $11 million annually as a result of the “reorganization plan.”

Most of the damage will be done in the pineapple division, with the loss of 204 jobs. The rest will come from the company’s Kapalua Resort, with 46 positions, and another 24 employees from the corporate and community development units will be laid off.

ML&P laid off 120 workers last June from their canning operations.

In early April, just days after the Ranch closed its doors, ML&P one of the few off-island companies offering employment to laid-off workers on Molokai.

Recovery Plans
Efforts to help the 274 employees will include a “Rapid Response Team” from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, severance packages, and other programs from ML&P. The company will expend about $3 million to assist former employees.

In a statement released by the county, Mayor Charmaine Tavares called the layoffs “an unfortunate situation,” and offered help in the form of working with State Workforce Development services and the non-profit community to offer support to those impacted.

Senator Dan Inouye expressed similar sentiments in a July 25 press release, where he announced that he would be “working with the company, the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union), and the agriculture leadership to keep at least some pineapple cultivation on Maui, possibly under a different business model.”

“Pineapples are a part of Maui’s legacy,” he added.

The senator will also be alerting the U.S. Department of Labor of the “impending dislocated worker emergency grant needs,” and vowed to carry the state’s application forward as soon as it is completed.

A meeting for the workers will be held at 10 a.m. on July 29 at the Kapalua Training Center.

No Extra Water for Monsanto

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Department of Agriculture representative expects request to be formally denied this week.

By Zalina Alvi

The state Department of Agriculture (DOA) is making plans to tell Monsanto’s Molokai it can’t have any more water, even if they pump for it themselves.

The Agricultural Resource Management division will formally be responding to the company sometime this week, according to Duane K. Okamoto, deputy to the chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. The announcement was made at the July 22 meeting of the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board.

The company made an informal request to the department earlier this summer for permission to have more water, on the condition that they would pay for the extra pumping.

More water is not an option at this time, said Okamoto explaining that the 20 percent conservation cutbacks in water use for the summer would prohibit the department from allowing Monsanto to access more water. The decision also took into consideration the limits of sustainable yields and the electrical costs of more pumping.

“Hydrology is the more important thing,” said Randolph Teruya, DOA agricultural asset manager, referring to the natural water sources in our lakes, streams and oceans.

Monsanto is notorious for being the largest consumer of water on the island, using 30 percent more than the second biggest user, Coffees of Hawaii. It is also the largest employer on the island, specializing in agricultural genetic research.

Water Conservation Plans
The issue of Monsanto’s water conservation plan was also brought up by HomesteaderWalter Ritte, who asked why the company has not been forced to implement its plan.

The response from the board was that they can only request that non-homesteaders create and implement water conservation plans, and they do not file copies of such plans nor do they have the power to enforce implementation.

Teruya expressed an expectation that non-homesteaders would use common sense and best management practices, and would “not water what doesn’t need to be watered.”

Weekly readings of water use will determine and inform the board if non-homestead users are violating the mandatory 20 percent cutbacks that began in June.

Ray Foster, manager of Monsanto’s Molokai farm, commented that the company would do its best to conserve water, although they will continue to use overhead irrigation in some form. Foster also said they would give irrigating at night “a try” as part of their conservation efforts.

The board’s next meeting will be on Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. in the Molokai Irrigation System’s conference room in Hoolehua.

Wetlands Restoration Plan Clogged

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Former aquaculture facility waiting to hear if council will grant permission to begin restoration work.

Christy and Desmond Manaba explain their case to the Molokai Planning Commission for restoring the wetlands at Kalaeloa, Mana`e.

By Zalina Alvi

Members of the Molokai Planning Commission (MPC) have until Aug. 22 to decide whether to allow Desmond and Christy Manaba of D&J Ocean Farms, an aquaculture facility, to begin restoration work on their former property at Kalaeloa, Mana`e.

The Manabas are trying to be granted an exemption for a Special Management Area (SMA) major permit for the wetlands area where they once bred ogo, shrimp and tilapia. They have been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on several occasions over the last few years to restore the wetlands by removing soil and other fill on the property that resulted from the creation a new channel for the Keawuni stream while they were leasing land for their farms.

Although the Manabas no longer lease the area, the EPA is holding them responsible for its restoration. Now, Christy and Desmond are waiting for the MPC to allow them to begin work.

What Needs to Be Done
The work will involve the restoration of 0.60 acres of wetlands that includes re-vegetation, the removal of sidecasting material in 0.25 acres, minor trenching for electrical repairs, the replacement of a drainage pipe “T,” and removal of mud from harvest boxes, all of which has been outlined in the restoration plan ordered by the EPA.

Nancy McPherson, staff planner for Molokai, recommended the exemption to the council as the restoration plan has already passed an environmental assessment and will have only “positive and beneficial” effects.

The project is valued at just over $70,000, but will not take more than one week to do, according to Christy, pending a two-week notice to the EPA. The Manabas have said they are ready to begin work immediately.

All work will be monitored by the EPA through a yearly report for a period of five years. Christy assured the council that they would be responsible for any required permits, including one from the county for the removal of the materials, and a Flood Development Permit.

The Manabas explained that the process to restore the area has taken about six years. The majority of the time, they have been in negotiations with the landowner and the Manabas’ former landlord, Bishop Estates, over whose kuleana it is to restore the land.

Road Blocks
Concern from the council over granting the exemption came in two forms.

Many of the council members looked for reassurance that the project would not result in more development of the area. McPherson’s report on the project, however, cited a county determination that the restoration plan was deemed “not development,” under the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Act and the SMA rules for Molokai.

The other concern came from council member Bill Feeter who felt a visit to the site was needed in order to “better improve our judgment.” Any visit would have to be arranged with Bishop Estates, as well as the current leasee, and would have to be open to the public. But the suggestion did not pass a vote of the council, and therefore no visit will be made.

Several members of the public at the meeting were quick to mention past violations of environmental acts and rules by D&J Ocean Farms, many were happy to see Christy and Desmond ready to accept their kuleana to the land.

A Looming Deadline
As of the July 23 meeting, the council has 30 days to make a decision on the exemption. However, if they are not able to reach a consensus by the deadline – which may happen if they are not able to get five votes either way – the exemption will automatically be granted and the Manabas will be able to begin work. No vote was reached on July 23, so the issue has been deferred to the next meeting on Aug. 12.

Other issues deferred to the mid-August meeting include a possible letter to the Department of Land and Natural Resources on behalf of the council on the issue of jet skis in the waters around Molokai.

Anyone who would like to participate and share their mana`o on either issue is encouraged to attend. Meetings take place in the Mitchell Pauole Center at 12:30 p.m.

A $100,000 Lawyer

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

County looking to hire former Attorney General Margery Bronster.

Former Attorney General Margery Bronster has a history of taking down multi-billion dollar agencies, and will likely be representing the county against Molokai Ranch.

By Zalina Alvi

In response to the Utilities’ threat to walk out on water and wastewater services, and the possible legal claims coming out of the situation, the County Council’s Policy Committee, chaired by Maui County Council Member and Council Vice-Chair Danny Mateo, has voted unanimously to recommend the hiring of former state Attorney General Margery Bronster to represent the county.

“It’s good the council is moving to hire Bronster. She’s one of the top attorneys in the state, and she won’t back down in representing the taxpayers of Maui County and the people of Molokai,” said DeGray Vanderbilt, former chair of the Molokai Planning Commission.

Bronster served as Attorney General of Hawaii from 1995 to 1999 as the first woman to hold the office for a full term. During her tenure, she won the state a multi-billion dollar settlement from tobacco companies.

She also led an investigation in the late ‘90s into the Bishop Estate/Kamehameha Schools scandal that involved millions of dollars of misspent money and a petition to remove the charity’s millionaire trustees. In fact, her zealous handling of the case left her so little time for her other responsibilities that the state Senate refused to confirm her for a second term in office.

Her law firm, Bronster & Hosibata specializes in “unfair or deceptive business practices,” among other things.

“Bronster is know for her toughness at getting to the truth, and she is not intimidated, as evidenced when she successfully took on corruption with the Bishop Estate trustees that led to their removal,” said Vanderbilt.

The recommendation must go to the full council on Aug. 8 first, but if it goes through, the law firm of Bronster & Hoshibata will act as special counsel to the county in all legal matters dealing with MPL and its Utilities as the West End water debacle continues.

Local Graduate Moves Up

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Local Graduate Moves Up

Summer internship could lead to dream job.

Ale`a, proud Molokai High School graduate, is spending the summer in Honolulu working at the Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women and Children so that she can move one step closer to becoming an Ultrasound Technologist.


 

 

By J. Van Ornum

Ale`a Arce is on her way to her dream job as she works at Hawaii’s premier hospital for pregnant women. After graduating this past Spring from Molokai High School, she is currently participating in an internship at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu.
 
While working 40 hours per week in the Fetal Diagnostic Center, she is gaining valuable experience towards her chosen profession as an Ultrasound Technologist. After the internship is finished, Ale`a will attend the health science program at Kapi`olani Community College in the fall of 2008.

As Hawaii's only hospital specializing in maternity, Kapi`olani opened the Fetal Diagnostic Center in 1990. It is the state's first obstetrical center providing comprehensive diagnostic services for pregnant women.

The staff is comprised of Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists (physicians with specialized training and experience in the care of pregnant women, including high risk pregnancies), technologists, genetic counselors, and clinical nurses. 

The internship is sponsored by Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH), the state's largest health care system. HPH currently manages four hospitals: Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Straub Clinic, and Wilcox Memorial Hopsital on Kauai.


 

Slicing Vegetables and Cholesterol at Veggie Cooking Night

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Slicing Vegetables and Cholesterol at Veggie Cooking Night

Seventh Day Adventist vegetarian cooking class a hit.

People enjoy vegetarian cuisine at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Veggie Cooking Night.


By Andres Madueno

Young and old alike packed the Seventh Day Adventist Church last Sunday night to try out some vegetarian recipes, and to learn about vegetarian cooking and healthy lifestyles.

Pastor Kurt Unglaub and wife Margret Unglaub, who hosted the event with a group of volunteers, have lived on Molokai since October 2006. Donning matching outfits, they explained why eating healthy and eating vegetarian can be extremely beneficial.

The Coronary Health Improvement Project
To start the night, Pastor Kurt showed an 11-minute video about a program called Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP).

The video demonstrated how having a diet high in fat leads to clogged arteries, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart attack, stroke, and eventually death. It even showed surgeons removing a string of fat deposits from a man’s heart – by far one of the scariest, but enlightening, movies you will ever see.

Studies showed that people’s cholesterol levels would drop an average of 15 to 20 percent within three weeks after adopting the CHIP program, which in turn helped decrease the risk of a heart attack by 50 percent. After three to four weeks on the program, people’s use of blood pressure pills dropped to an average of 50 to 85 percent, less than what they were prescribed. And within four to eight weeks of being on the program, diabetics had a 50 percent decrease in their insulin intakes.

Pastor Kurt discussed the results of the three CHIP programs in Honolulu he ran, the outcomes matched the video predictions.

When asked to do a show of hands of people in the room who were willing to give the CHIP program a chance, almost the entire room of about 60 attendees were willing and excited to give it a try.

Success Story
Adding some extra excitement to the program, Carol Kanemitsu (or Auntie Carol, as you may know her) told us about her remarkable weight loss and recovery from obesity.

With the help of God and a healthy diet, Auntie Carol lost 70 lbs and gained an excellent health reading when she went back to the doctor after completing the program.

“My friends asked me what my secret was and I told them that I didn’t have any secret. I just asked God for his help and guidance and I decided to change my ways,” she told the group.

Auntie Carol, who started out as a vegetarian, has now been a vegan for almost one year, and is healthier than ever.

Time to Eat
After Auntie Carol’s inspiring speech, the church group brought out vegetarian dishes they had prepared for the group. They had brown rice, vegetarian meatloaf, millet, Thai curry, tamale casserole, vegetarian stir-fry, Mexican slaw, and banana bread.

All the dishes were made with all natural or organic products, and everyone who attended the class was given a copy of the recipes for each of the dishes made that night, and a sample one-week healthy eating plan.

When everyone had eaten their fill of the buffet, the Pastor, members of the church and a local doctor were there to answer every question.

After a night of good food, fun, and education, everyone was ready to give this cooking class, and the CHIP program a shot. Pastor Kurt led everyone in a farewell prayer and the night ended in high spirits, full stomachs, and a positive attitude about future classes.

For those of you who missed the class this time around, another class will be held on Aug. 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at  the Seventh Day Adventist Church. For more information call Paster Kurt 553-4202.