Keiki Catches
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Randy and Josh Cabreros are ready to hook some big Ulua. The eels they caught should make great bait.
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Randy and Josh Cabreros are ready to hook some big Ulua. The eels they caught should make great bait.
Add your commentCalvary Chapel Finds New Home
Lighthouse Church of Nazarene opens its arms to church-goers.
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
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Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps bridges the gap between conservation projects and island youth.
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
Company cites weak economy and rising fuel costs for cutting more than a quarter of its workforce.
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
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
Former aquaculture facility waiting to hear if council will grant permission to begin restoration work.
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
County looking to hire former Attorney General Margery Bronster.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
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Summer internship could lead to dream job.
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
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Seventh Day Adventist vegetarian cooking class a hit.
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.
PUC Hears Debate on Proposed Rate Increases
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Molokai Ranch appears despite objecting to being included in hearing
By Zalina Alvi
West end water users are holding their breath as the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) decides whether or not to raise fees in an effort to keep the water running past the end of August.
While the County of Maui seeks legal action against Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) and its subsidiary utilities (collectively, Utilities), the PUC and the state Division of Consumer Advocacy (DCA) are making plans to move ahead with “unprecedented” increases to water charges.
As the PUC gives itself until mid-August to make a decision, frustration is growing on the island among those who believe MPL is taking advantage of its water users and getting away with it, while the Commission denies a request from the County to subpoena the company’s financial documents.
The PUC’s plan
On June 16, the PUC announced an order to provide temporary rate relief to Molokai Public Utilities (MPU) Inc. and Wai`Ola O Moloka`i. This was in response to MPL’s announcement in late March that the Utilities would be discontinuing service as of Aug. 31 due to suffering “substantial losses.”
The PUC’s order described a plan to apply a 121.53 percent increase across the board for all user charges and fixed charges for Wai`Ola O Moloka`i and a similar 40.96 percent increase for MPU, which are the two water utilities. An increase was not proposed for Mosco Inc., the regulated wastewater utility, because the available financial records show that it turned a profit in 2007.
PUC Chair Carlito Caliboso explained the proposed numbers as the best estimation they could provide based on the “very raw data” of the available 2007 financial records provided by the Utilities, which included information on basic yearly revenue and net losses. The Commission looked at how much each utility made in 2007 and how much they lost, and then suggested an increase that would allow each one to break even.
The PUC has provided a deadline to all the involved parties, as well as the public, to provide any additional information, formal statements and comments by Aug. 7, and plans to deliver a decision and order on the rate increases as they currently stand on Aug. 14 that would last for a period of six months, unless determined otherwise by the Commission.
Caliboso called the plan “an unprecedented step for the commission,” as an increase would usually be initiated by the Utilities and would takes months to process so the DCA could analyze the proposal. The PUC, however, said they had “taken the burden of initiating the case” to keep water running for the health and vitality of everyone living on Molokai.
Differing rate increases
MPL CEO Peter Nicholas, however, wrote in a June 23 letter to the PUC that water users would have to pay more than what the Commission is proposing. He wrote that nothing less than a 178 percent increase for Wai`ola O Moloka`i, a 90 percent increase for MPU and a 19.5 percent increase for Mosco would be sufficient for them to break even.
The Commission stressed at the hearing that while it appears the Utilities are asking for a larger rate increase, they are actually “very similar numbers.” This is because the PUC is proposing to raise all the fees, which includes the rate per 1,000 gallons plus a fixed monthly charge that depends on the size of your meter. Meanwhile, the Utilities are only asking to increase the rate per 1,000 gallons, while the fixed meter charges would remain the same.
As for the wastewater utility, Mosco Inc., the Utilities and MPL are currently proposing an increase from $44 per month to $52.56. The PUC, however, remained firm in the belief that it did not require any increase at all because Mosco Inc. has not been losing money according to the company’s own numbers, but said they would provide the utilities a chance to justify its request.
The PUC’s understands Mosco’s rate increase as a result of lumping administrative expenses, like employee costs, that are shared with all the utilities onto Mosco. The PUC is currently waiting to be provided with revised numbers based on those expenses being shared with the other utilities.
Mixed feelings
After presenting their order to provide “temporary rate relief” for MPL’s two water utilities, the Commission heard testimonies from representatives of MPL, the Utilities, the DCA, the County, the West Molokai Association (WMA) and a few concerned residents.
Although the cafeteria of Maunaloa Elementary School was packed, the hearing turned out to be mainly a quick reading of statements that debated the Commission’s plan to raise water charges for 1,200 West Molokai residents with no clear compromise among those involved.
In opposition to the proposed rate increases, Jane E. Lovell, deputy corporation counsel on behalf of the county, stated that they have filed a formal complaint against MPL and that they do not support the proposed rate increases because the utilities have provided sparse data that has not been verified by a third party.
Lovell urged the Commission in her testimony to use its subpoena powers to get the missing information from MPL and its Utilities that would allow it to accurately evaluate what rate increases would be truly necessary, if any.
The lack of data provided by MPL and its Utilities has been a hot topic since the announcement to shut down water service. Many have wondered why the PUC has not already subpoenaed the information from the company, especially now that it may be ordering a raise in fees based on what they have admitted is “very raw data.”
The Commission denied a recent request from the County to subpoena the documents and the presence of MPL witnesses, which include CEO Peter Nicholas. The PUC said the public hearing was not the appropriate venue to do so and that there was not enough time to summon the requested witnesses. However, the PUC stated that they would entertain another request to subpoena from the County after the July 15 hearing.
Meanwhile, recent speculation that the company ordered employees in Maunaloa to burn company documents shortly after announcing the plans to shut down are not helping matters for MPL.
In the event that the Commission does impose these rate increases, however, Lovell said the county requests that any funds acquired by MPL and the Utilities stay on Molokai, and “do not go into some back account in Singapore.” It is also requesting that the PUC should commit to making sure the systems continue functioning, as it has not heard that yet.
Meanwhile, Catherine Awakuni, DCA executive director, said during her testimony that the office would prefer more time to consider the fairness of the PUC’s proposal, but “with grave reservations” will not oppose the rate increases due to the urgency of the situation.
That being said, Awakuni recommended that the Commission require the utilities to provide documents, including billing records, for each of the six months of the temporary increase to facilitate an independent assessment.
MPL’s position
Representing the Utilities was MPL employee Sonny Reyes who, on advising the room that Nicholas was unable to attend, went on to read from one of his letters to the Commission. The statement said the Utilities would likely suffer a $179,000 loss considering rising energy and fuel costs, and said Mosco would suffer a $37,000 loss if left to operate alone.
MPL was represented by General Manager, Land and Entitlements General Counsel Daniel Orodenker who simply said he was there as a resource, despite a formal objection to being forced to be present.
The objection is based on the position that MPL is a separate entity to its Utilities. But 30-year Molokai resident DeGray Vanderbilt said MPL and its Utilities are essentially the same company. He pointed out that Nicholas, Orodenker and other MPL officers and directors are listed on all three utility boards, according to the State Business Registration Office.
Public concern
While only a few members of the public chose to testify at the hearing, the feelings that came through loud and clear were one of disappointment from some and skepticism from others.
Some were disappointed that seemingly no agency had yet taken on the responsibility of ensuring the water and wastewater utilities continue to function.
Meanwhile, there was also a sense of skepticism regarding MPL’s actions.
Vanderbilt called the company’s actions a “utility shutdown hoax” and accused MPL of trying to get away with acquiring a rate increase without going through the proper channels, while at the same time holding on to assets that could easily finance the continued operation of its utilities.
He called on the PUC to call the company’s bluff and allow them to walk out on their obligations so that they can be fined by the Commission.
Criticism of MPL’s alleged mismanagement of the systems and its own financial affairs were also discussed, especially by resident Steve Morgan, who argued that MPL has been receiving tax breaks from the county unfairly.
By the end of the meeting, however, none of the involved parties had any response to the public comments and now it rests with the Commission to take the next step come Aug. 14.
The DCA invites comments from the public, and can be reached at consumeradvocate@dcca.hawaii.gov or by phone at 586-2780. The PUC will also be accepting public comments through email at Hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov or by phone at 586-2020.
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