There were less than 100 people who participated in the anniversary hike this year. But consider the scores of individuals who have visited throughout the year and the amount of work that has been done to the site. Consider the reverence that people have when they talk about the place, and La`au’s far reaching influence across the state. Consider all of this and it is clear that support for keeping La`au undeveloped is anything but waning.
In his most recent effort to defend the development of Lā‘au, MPL’s John Sabas praises their plan which will increase human access to this pristine area. He is especially proud of MPL’s proposal to open up the coastal footpath to the public so that people won’t have to walk along the beach.
Although this appears generous, the reality is that the coastal trail to La’au is already open to the public. Under Chapter 264-1(b) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, any trail in existence as of the Highways Act of 1892 is automatically a legal public trail and the public has access to it. Such is the case with the traditional trail to La’au which predates this time. In recognition of this law, the “Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation” is requesting that maps from 1886, which show the exact location of the ancient trail, be publicized in the final La’au Point EIS.
Wanted: The Australian Tree FernBy Mapuana Hanapi
The Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC) has been hard at work combating the spread of invasive pests including the Australian tree fern. MoMISC has recently gone on a door-to-door campaign educating the public about the invasive fern. During this campaign homeowners who had the tree ferns in their yards were asked to get rid of the nasty plant. Everyone has been very cooperative and we would like to thank them for their support and kokua in keeping Molokai safe from this invasive plant.
The Australian tree fern and Hapu’u fern are very similar. The best way to distinguish between the ferns is to examine the trunk. If dead leaves break off the trunk and leave little eyes, it’s probably an Australian tree fern. When native Hapu’u leaves die they stay attached to the trunk. Also, Hapu’u ferns have darker brownish-red hairs on their stems while Australian tree ferns have flat, whitish-tan hair close to where they are attached to the trunk. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to give MoMISC a call and they will be out to inspect your fern.
Why does MoMISC consider Australian tree ferns invasive? These ferns grow up to 40 feet tall and block sunlight from reaching native plants growing under them. They can out-multiply the native Hapu’u. Australian tree ferns reproduce from spores located on their trunk. The spores can spread over 7 miles, which is a vast area considering the small size of Molokai. Kauai spent over $50,000 last year to control Australian tree fern on their island.
Even though a naturalized population in Kalae is bad news, MoMISC will continue to eradicate the fern from the island. We ask everyone to continue to report sightings of the Australian tree fern. If MoMISC and the community continue working together this invasive plant can be stopped. If you would like more information about the fern you can visit the HEAR website at www.hear.og or the airport kiosk during the month of September 2007. To report a sighting of an Australian tree fern or to ask questions, call the MoMISC office at 553-5236 extension 204.
I thought it might be interesting for Molokai readers to get to know who John Sabas was before he became general manager of community affairs for Molokai Ranch. The following is an editorial that John wrote for the Honolulu Star Bulletin on Monday, September 19, 1994 entitled “Molokaians Aren’t Fooled by Ranch Missionaries.”
He may soon find that impressing politicians on Maui and Oahu is only one part of the puzzle in dealing with an island like Molokai. Paying high-priced consultants may help improve Molokai Ranch’s questionable image elsewhere, but that tactic has yet to yield dividends on Molokai. And dividing the community by pitting one resident against another will never work.
It is most unfortunate that the lessons of the past are never quite learned by people like Mozley. He and his friends might eventually understand that Molokai and its people will do perfectly well without the attitudes of ghosts from missionaries past.
John R. Sabas
Kaunakakai, Molokai
Hikers are advised to bring their own food, water and sunscreen for the round trip walk. The hike is about 3 miles (90 minutes) each way.
La`au Point, a pristine stretch of land on the southwest corner of the island, is currently the site of a proposed 200-lot luxury subdivision. Molokai Ranch, also known as Molokai Properties Ltd, has said their development package comes with several incentives for the community including an offer to preserve nearly 55,000 acres of land in the form of a community-based land trust. The package also includes a promise to redevelop the now defunct Kaluakoi hotel.
But opponents, who include a broad range of community members, are rejecting the deal. They are questioning the legitimacy of the land trust as well as citing the islands lack of water, and Molokai Ranch’s long list of development failures.
I have a favorite picture on the living room wall of our house. It’s actually a photocopy from a magazine of a rare portrait done by Herb Kane in which he depicts Kamehameha on his death bed holding both hands out to his beloved and aged haole friend John Young. In this portrait John Young is dressed in western style clothes, however he is sitting in a uniquely Hawaiian style displaying humility and reverence to his king and dear friend. The portrait gives evidence of two warriors who have faced death and life together. The deep sense of aloha that is portrayed between these two men is impossible to ignore.
While the history of Hawaii is full of stories of the treachery of American and European Business men and of the manipulation and steeling of lands from the descendants of missionary families, history fails to recognize the many haoles and other foreigners who became a part of Hawaii, who spoke the language, and lived the culture. Some were maka‘āinana and some ‘ali‘i. This is what made Hawaiian culture so unique. The culture of this ‘āina was not exclusive. It’s arms were open wide to the stranger. Everyone was taken care of.
The Molokai Hunters Association will be protesting the Nature Conservancy (N/C) on Sat. Sept. 1st, starting at 9:30am. The protest will be at the Neal Blasdell Center during the Hawaii Historic Arms Association GREAT GUNS Gun Show.
The Molokai Hunters Association (MHA) is trying to avoid a dangerous confrontation with the private New Zealand Pro Hunt group, which N/C has hired to manage the wild life on Molokai. N/C and Pro Hunt will implement a new management plan of our forest with no community participation and input. Instead N/C has conducted numerous secret meetings.
HONOLULU – Emergency repairs to the bulkhead wall at the Kalaupapa Harbor facility on Moloka‘i began earlier this month as the first phase of improvements to the harbor. Governor Linda Lingle has released $595,000 for these repairs.
The Department of Health (DOH), which oversees medical and facility operations at the Kalaupapa Settlement, found that the deterioration of the wall was accelerating and it may not survive another season of winter waves. The wall protects a historic warehouse located at the edge of the harbor.
Summer vacation is over and students will begin classes at Molokai Mission School on Monday, Aug. 20. The school has integrated some new curriculum and is planning on participating in field trips as well as volunteering for community projects. Teacher Krista Hightower is looking forward to a good school year with many happy experiences.
In a week, the annual lobster season will begin (September 1) triggering a stampede to catch these crustaceans. This season, fisherman should be aware of a new law which adds restrictions to taking lobster.
On May 6, 2006 Governor Linda Lingle signed into law a bill introduced by Senator Clayton Hee which prohibits the taking or killing of female spiny lobster (to also include female Samoan crab and Kona crab). Therefore, upon the opening of the lobster season on Saturday, September 1, 2007 Molokai fishermen are required to release all wahine lobsters caught in their nets. For better or worse possession of any female lobster whether dead or alive is now a violation, and hereafter anyone possessing female lobsters will be prosecuted by Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).
There are two easy ways to distinguish between male and female lobsters. The easiest way is to examine the tips of the fifth pair of walking legs. The fifth pair of walking legs are those closet to the tail. The tips of the male lobster’s fifth walking legs are pointed. The tips of the female lobster’s fifth walking legs are split to form a claw or pincher.
Another way to distinguish between wahine and kane lobsters is to examine the “swimmerets” under the tail section. Female swimmerets are much larger than those found on male lobsters. Additionally, there is a chance that eggs may be attached under the female lobster’s swimmerets. Please see the illustrations below:
DETERMINING SEX:
Male (top): swimmerets on underside of “tail” (abdomen) each have a single leaf-like segment; end of fifth (last) pair of walking legs similar to other walking legs and not
claw-shaped.
Female (bottom): swimmerets each have two branches – in first set both are leaf-like branches, all others have one leaf-like and one rod-like branches; swimmerets usually larger than on males; end of fifth pair of walking legs claw-shaped (pincher like).
TAKING OF FEMALES PROHIBITED.
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