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OHA Support for La`au and Molokai Land Trust in Question

Saturday, November 10th, 2007

I am writing to clarify a few issues that Bridget Mowat brought up in her October 25, 2007 letter to the editor. 

First, Office of Hawaiian Affiars (OHA) Chairperson Haunani Apoliona should have informed those who attended OHA’s October 17, 2007 Molokai meeting that both Trustee Mossman and I were in New York on official board business dealing with the Native Hawaiian Trust Fund.  Let me assure the Molokai community that, as a statewide at-large trustee, I am deeply concerned with La’au Point and would have made every effort to attend the meeting if it were not for the scheduling conflict.  Chair Apoliona should have also made sure whether the remaining trustees could attend or not and rescheduled the meeting if she didn’t have quorum. 

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Growing Green

Monday, October 29th, 2007

New Series Kicks Off by Featuring Hawaii's Own Kukui Tree

Growing Green is an informative new series in The Dispatch, that is all about plants in Hawaii and how we can use and propagate them.  We use plants for food, medicine, shade, and the like with bonsai piece of mind. 

There are countless numbers of different plants from 'A'ali'i to Zamia, from as small as algae to as large as Norfolk Island pine, and as sweet as mango to as sour as lemon.  Growing Green will showcase one plant per article. 

I feel that it is right to start with the kumula'au (trees).  To many ecosystems, trees, are the foundation in which the secondary plants, animals, and people benefit.  Hawaii is a fantastic place to tree watch.  With climates ranging from ocean to snowcapped peaks and from desert dry to rain forest the potential for diversity is high. 

Being on Molokai we’ll start with the Kukui Nut (Aleurites moluccana) which is also the official state tree of Hawaii.   Kukui was and is important to the people of Molokai.   It can be found from high mountain valleys to coastal lowlands and all parts of the plant can be used. 

Brought to Hawaii by the early Hawaiians Kukui nut is found all over the Pacific as far away as Malaysia.  Kukui Nut is a medium-large spreading tree 10 - 20 meters tall.  The spreading nature of the tree gives it a classic shade tree shape perfect for parks and public places. The tree also has the ability to grow straight up with no branches for over 40 feet to get to the sun in the shady valleys. 

The leaves of the Kukui are a beautiful silvery green that can be seen from miles away.  Interestingly there are a number of different varieties where the leaves, nuts, and even chemical composition vary. 

Today we see on TV the skin care products made from the oils of the kukui nut having a healing property to sun exposure.  Hawaiians have used nearly every part of the plant for some beneficial property.  Some of the uses for the nut were medicine, inomona, oil lamps, and in modern times lei. 

The sap was used as glue and the leaves for medicine, lei, and decoration.  Kukui wood is a soft pulpy wood. The fallen trunks of the Kukui have also been used in the propagation of the edible Hawaiian mushroom, Pepeau. 

Having so much significance it is nice to know it is not endangered and easy to grow.  With trees it is always important to know if a particular location is right for a particular tree.  Kukui is the kind of tree you don't want to put under your electrical lines or in tight places.  It wants to have room to spread out.  Pruning can do a lot shape and train a tree but natural tendencies need to be taken into account.

 In propagating the tree I like to pick the nuts or sometimes pick them off the ground.  It's always a good idea to look carefully at the nuts and make sure there are no unwanted beetles, ants, or other bugs.  Then I let them dry out a little bit over about a week or so.  Take off the outer covering and you will see the hard seed inside.  I like to dry this out for about a week or so as well.  Then I put the seed somewhere that’s wet and shaded.  You can do this in a pot on the shady side of your house and keep it watered but not sitting in a puddle.  

Germination times vary widely.  It can be as fast as 2-3 weeks but usually is somewhere between 1-4 months.  Once germinated the following growth is fast. I have planted a number of Kukui trees over the years and it is a very rewarding tree to grow.

Growing green is written by Fred Richardson/ Botanist, Owner of Molokai Nei Organics a Nursery and Landscaping company, 558-8215.

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It’s Wedgie Season!

Monday, October 29th, 2007

October and November is fledging season for Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. “Wedgies,” as they are affectionately called by wildlife biologists, are part of a mixed flock of seabirds that commercial fishermen rely upon to locate schools of ahi and other marketable fish. Young birds fledge from burrows excavated into coastal cliffs or dunes to life at sea.

The `ua`u kani, or wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus), is 17” in length from bill to tip of tail, with a wingspan of 38”. Adult birds leave coastal colonies at dawn to feed on fish and return after dark. Behavior while in these colonies is generally nocturnal and throughout the night birds emit weird moans, groans, and loud screams, thus they are nicknamed the “moaning bird.”

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nest on all the major and offshore islands in the Hawaiian chain by digging a burrow with their bill and feet or utilizing natural crevices. Nesting sites are reused from year to year. Egg laying begins in June and July, with one bright white egg forming the clutch. Parents share an incubation period of 52 days, sometimes sitting side-by-side. The chicks are fed fish by regurgitation.  Parents leave the nest site 2 - 3 weeks before their young have fledged, which is typically at 109 days of age. Young birds not yet capable of flight may wander from their burrows in search of food. At this time they are highly vulnerable to predators and often fall prey to mongoose, cats and dogs. Many fledglings are attracted at night by urban lights and fall into residential areas or onto highways where they are struck by automobiles.

Organized community efforts assist in the recovery and release of several hundred juvenile birds annually. Chicks that have wandered too far from the nest and are not yet capable of flight must be briefly held in captivity by State and Federal permitted wildlife rehabilitators. Seabirds found on Molokai can be turned in for rehabilitation to Arleone: call 553-5992.

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“The Plan” and West Molokai Growth Issues (Part III)

Monday, October 29th, 2007

Molokai Ranch Conservation Easements/ More questions than answers

I found it quite interesting that in response to my first article in this series, Mr. Orodenker claimed that my conclusions in regard to Molokai Ranch’s conservation easements were incorrect.  What is ironic is that his claim was based on my failure to include information that is not yet available to anyone else except the Ranch. My article was based solely on the maps, terms and legal definitions provided to the public by Molokai Ranch in its La‘au Point EIS.

 

If and when the easement documents that Mr Orodenker speaks of are actually prepared and made public, and if they prove that restrictions will be placed on these Conservation Easement lands, then my opinion about the Ranch’s plans will change accordingly.  But for now, no one has any proof that the Ranch’s proposed easements will really protect the lands that they now classify as “rural” (the same classification they are asking the LUC to approve for La‘au and its proposed 200 homes).  Nor does anyone have any proof that the Ranch’s easements would protect lands classified as “agricultural.”  Mr. Orodenker does say that “agricultural support structures” will be allowed on those lands, but again, state law includes “farm dwellings” in the definition of agricultural support structures.  As I mentioned in my last article, all of the homes built at Kaluakoi and Kawela are classified as farm dwellings.

 

As for the Ranch’s promise that the community can rely on the Molokai Land Trust to protect these lands under easements to the Trust, the following excerpt from the Department of Interior may help to bring more clarity into this issue:

 

“When private owners place their land in a conservation easement, they do not necessarily have to give up control of the land. The landowner retains the rights to use the land, sell the property to another party or deed it to heirs. The property remains privately owned and subject to county property taxes, but landowners who donate an easement typically realize significant state and federal income tax benefits. In many cases, the fair market value of the land donated is considered a tax-deductible donation. These tax benefits are often substantial for landowners who donate land or a conservation easement to a Land Trust. Also, conservation easements do not necessarily mean that land must be locked away. Each easement is as unique as the landscape it preserves and most include concessions to modernity and its financial pressures. Depending on the size and character of the land, easements may allow selective timbering, agricultural use, maintenance of water impoundments, hunting and fishing and even the construction of new homes.”

 

 Taking into consideration the varied possibilities in which these lands can be used and also recognizing that no public documents exist demonstrating easement restrictions on these lands, it is fair and reasonable to say that the community has every right to question the intended usage of Molokai Ranch’s  proposed conservation easements.

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Molokai’s OHA Meeting – A First Hand Account

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

should have been here already. These types of things tend to make people think ‘this is not Pono’" said Solotario as he crossed to his car.

Flight #1152 did indeed make it to Molokai but the absent trustees were not on it. With four board members present the official quorum was not met meaning the meeting would not be official. Trustee Robert Klein put it simply, "you’re here, so we're gong to have an off the record discussion.... an unrecorded talk-story."

At 7:05 the "talk-story" began with 9 people signed up to speak . First up was Lori Buchannan on behalf of Aka`ula School joined by two students and teacher Vikki Newberry. They shared a mahalo and appreciation to the board of trustees for providing funding for the school. Seventh grade Aka`ula student Michael Kikukawa read a letter he had written to the Board thanking them for enabling him to experience the culture and history of his island home.

 

Trustee Machado gave credit to Aka`ula school for having 12 of their students be accepted into Kamehameha Schools. Machado said that Newberry "is an asset to our people".

 

Gail Crabbe, RN from Molokai General Hospital presented information to the board as well as the public about a new medical treatment for "Ice," crystal meth-amphetamine addiction. "This program is all over Europe, Mainland US, and is now in Hawaii. Crabbe said. “We need to demand of OHA and Aloha Care that we be included in this pilot study. She said that the drug was a major problem and that the program was badly need on Molokai.

At 7:30 p.m. Walter Ritte took the mic and explained how in the 1970's he had helped to form OHA and was one of its first trustees garnering the most votes in the election. Ritte said that more than 20,000 Hawaiians gathered at Iolani Palace to fight for the rights of Hawaiian people. He recalled being inspired by Senator D. Inouye shouting "Brown Power" to the gathered crow.

 

Putting the memories aside, Ritte, respected community member, leader, loved parent and kupuna stood to the microphone and announced, "This is the saddest day of my life. After all of the dreams that we had of what this office would do for Hawaiians.... not one word in response regarding La'au Point has been heard from OHA. We asked if they would stay neutral on La'au…. One year has gone by and not one word."

 

Ritte said that OHA granting $100,000 to the Molokai Land Trust" just adds insult to injury."

 

He then quietly turned to the people and said " I ask that we just go home " . It was 7:40 pm.

Several people in the croud shouted things such as Resign ! This is B.S. This is Trash! In about 60 seconds the crowd went from over 100 to about 20 or 30. Trustee Machado addressed those remaining with a strong scolding for those that chose to leave.

 

She said, "You maha'oe, you may be critical of me and how much I've done for this community but maka'ala (open your eyes). Hila Hila, you come out here and show your okole ? You red-shirt community, to show this to our colleagues? Shame on you. You Poho your okole and walk away like spoiled brats. Yet you still ask OHA to support your endeavors. If you feel that you can not support OHA, so be it. "

Trustee Apoliona responded to Ritte's comment on total lack of response from OHA regarding the request to stay neutral on the La`au issue. Apoliona claimed that a response was written to Bridget Mowat.

 

Mowat was still in attendance and stated that the letter was addressed to her personally and was not public information.

MPL's John Sabas was next to step up. He says the Ranch's EIS should be done by November 1st or 2nd.

Moke Kim spoke on behalf of the Homestead Farmers Alliance. His agenda was to assure representation by OHA for the restructuring of resolution #1705 of the MIS Molokai Irrigation System. Trustee Machado spoke of OHA providing over 1/2 of the funding for the MIS. She said that "the Alliance will be represented ".

Cora Schnakenberg  Stepped closed the meeting with straight forward questions. "How are you basing your decision to give $100,000 to the Molokai Land Trust? How are you making fair judgment on what Molokai wants? How are you getting your information?

 

The Board responded by saying they get their information from "the community."

 

"Your professionalism and faithfulness in representing us is lacking" said Schnackenberg  in response.

OHA recipients mentioned were: Molokai High and Middle School $22,000. Kualapu'u School, $310,000. Akaula School $125,000, Molokai General Hospital 1.5 million for Phase II Construction, Na Pua No`eau, and Alu Like.

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Shame on OHA Board of Trustees

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Shame on OHA Board of Trustees

OHA’s Board of Trustees Community Meeting on October 17, 2007 on Molokai was NOT attended by Trustee John Waihee IV, Trustee Rowena Akana, Trustee Walter Heen, Trustee Donald Cataluna, and Trustee Boyd Mossman.  Community members were there, a larger number wearing A`ole Laau T-Shirts.  This was our community’s once a year chance to give our input regarding Molokai issues. Our chance to give testimony face to face

 

At 6:40 pm, only three of the eight Trustees were seated.  Colette Machado announced that there was no quorum as yet and the last flight would arrive around 7pm.  She says “We are hoping we will have a quorum.”

 

A half hour went by while the community provided impromptu songs and hula while we waited.  Then we noticed only Trustee Oswald Stander and Trustee Robert Lindsey walk into the hale.  “No quorum” was whispered throughout the audience. Five was needed for a guorum.

 

Finally, “No quorum tonight, but tomorrow there will be.  But you are here tonight,” announced Chair Apoliona.  She then advised the community that the meeting would continue but no minutes would be taken, and that it would be an unofficial meeting.  She gave the job of chairing the meeting to Trustee Machado, who orchestrated this “unofficial” OHA community meeting. There was no apology or mention of rescheduling a community meeting.

 

As beneficiaries lined up to say “Mahalo” for OHA’s funding, it came to my mind that Trustee Machado should also be in line to thank the OHA trustees for the $100,000 that was awarded to the Molokai Land Trust, which she heads.  It’s like she wrote a check to herself.  Conflicts of interest seem to be running rampant nowadays.

 

Tension mounted as former OHA Trustee Walter Ritte reminded the Trustees that a year ago in October 2006, the community came out by the hundreds, asking OHA to rescind their resolution supporting Molokai Ranch’s Master Plan, which includes the development of 200 million-dollar homes at La`au Pt.  (The sales of La`au Point will also fund more development that will impact Moloka`i’s rural lifestyle and cultural practices.)  Mr. Ritte also said that the OHA Trustees had ignored their constituents and never responded to the community after their 2006 meeting on Moloka`i.  The audience listened to his presentation.  But the Trustees appeared very busy reading and writing things down.  Why would they?  This wasn’t a formal meeting.  It appeared to me that they didn’t want to hear what Mr. Ritte had to say.  Why should they?  They don’t live on Moloka`i.  Why would it matter to them?

 

As Walter ended his testimony, he asked that those who are against the development of La`au stand and walk out as a way to protest this evening’s no-quorum informal “community meeting.”  This is where I got up and left.

 

As I started towards my car, I heard my name mentioned over the microphone by Trustee Apoliona.  I was drawn back to find out what she was saying about me.  I walked up to the microphone and asked why she had mentioned my name.  Ms. Apoliona told those still present that the Board of Trustees had responded to the community by writing a letter to Bridget Mowat. I reminded Chair Apoliona my letter was a personal letter so my response was a personal response. Not a community response.

 

On February 22, 2007, long after the October 2006 community meeting, I wrote a personal letter to Ms. Apoliona seeking support to stop the La`au development and to rescind OHA’s resolution to support the Molokai Properties Limited (Molokai Ranch) Master Plan.  I received a response from Mr. Clyde Namu`o on April 26, 2007.  It was addressed only to me, not to the community.

 Mr. Namu`o’s response included an apology for the “tardiness of our response to your letter…..may be to extenuating circumstances …we understand your concern…”  He also clarified that the “resolution adopted by OhA’s Board of Trustees does not specifically support the development of La`au Point.”  He wrote that OHA supported the collaborative efforts toward community input and planning…. And the vast and generous contribution made by Molokai Properties Limited to the Community of Molokai”  He wrote all the hard decisions they had to make and how they could not reject such as offer of these lands for the future .. I just didn’t feel it.Attached to his letter to me was a copy of the Resolution of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs which reads in part:       “WHEREAS Molokai’s Properties Limited has committed to seeking a land use boundary change from Agriculture to Rural through the State Land Use Commission for a 200-lot subdivision, which will be limited to 500 acres with associated cultural and environmental resource protection in excess of 1,000 acres.  This environmental resource protection zone will be the subject of an easement to the Land Trust and controlled by the Land Trust and homeowners” (I wonder where that could be.  No wonder he said the resolution adopted does not specifically support the development of La`au Pt.  They kept the name of the area out of the whereas!!) 

So Walter’s statement was true up until recently.

 

OHA’s public response to the community’s plea for support was to award $100,000 to Trustee Machado’s Molokai Land Trust.  Trustee Machado supports development of La`au Point, even though the majority of Hawaiians on Molokai oppose the development. 

 

The OHA Trustees came out loud and clear at the Molokai meeting.  They aren’t listening to the people they are supposed to serve.  Instead, they are financially backing their fellow Trustee Colette Machado, who supports developing La`au Point against the wishes of the majority of her constituents on Molokai.  And when five Trustees fail to show up at the one and only annual community meeting on Molokai, that also tells us how little respect they have for our community.  Shame!  Shame!

 

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OHA Has Ignored the Molokai Community

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

To OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS -
OCT. 17TH 2007


OHA ignored the community of Molokai for an entire year.


Last year a hundred plus people attended the OHA meeting to request in unison that OHA RESCIND THEIR SUPPORT RESOLTION OF THE RANCHES PLAN TO DEVELOP LA’AU POINT. They asked that OHA remain neutral on the issue of La’au. It was a clear visible and passionate request that could not be ignored or mistaken.


Until today, one year later, OHA did not respond in any way. This shows lack of respect for our community by OHA. THE TRUSTEES OF OHA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEIR TREATMENT OF THEIR MOLOKAI CONSTITUENTS.


We would like to hear from each trustee their response as to why they have ignored this community on the La’au issue.


What trustee Colette Machado has done to the credibility of OHA on this island of Molokai is worse than what President Bush has done to the credibility of the Republican Party. She has brought OHA to an all time low. She challenged this community that if they did not like her position on La’au, then vote her out. This community did just that, and in a land slide one sided vote got her out. More people participated in this vote than did in the general election. No sooner than all the cheering was over, that she got her self appointed back onto the EC board. This was a clear slap in the face to the democratic process of people power.


She continues to serve on many other boards and committies and has earned the reputation of being a “bully” untill she gets things her way. Your funding of a 100,000 dollars to her Land Trust which this community does not support adds insult to injury.


OHA AND TRUSTEE MACHADO IS AND HAS IGNORED YOUR CONSTITUENTS OF MOLOKAI. WE ARE ANGRYAND READY TO BURST.

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Tutu Talk

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Teaching Young Children:  Kuleana-responsibility; ownership or authority for

It is important for our children to understand their role in the success of each of our families.  Giving children kuleana over tasks that serve to benefit themselves or those around them helps to build their self esteem.  Kuleana also serves to encourage positive self worth and empathy for others.  Explain to your child how important their contribution is to the overall happiness and success of your family.

  

Try this at home:

            Set good examples

            Give your child chores to do at home like setting the table, folding clothes, or putting away toys

            Do simple activities with your child such as baking cookies, mixing poi, or stringing a lei.  Praise him/her for             his/her efforts and contributions everyday.

Remember:  Understanding the kuleana within our own families helps us to further understand how important we are to our community and the world around us.

 

“Nathan & Kamakana are learning kuleana through play.  Play is work and work is play.”

 
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“The Plan” and West Molokai Growth Issues (Part I)

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Conservation Land Easements, More questions than answers

Locations of Rural Landscape Easements seem to suggest that these are future add-on developments as opposed to conservation districts. 

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“The Plan” and West Molokai Growth Issues (Part II)

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Conservation Land Easements, More questions than answers

In Part 1 of this article I focused on the 10,560 acres of so called “conservation land” that fall into a category referred to as  “Rural Landscape Easements” in Molokai Ranch’s Master Plan.  In this article I will discuss the other 14,390 acres referred to as “Agricultural Easements.”  These lands also play a significant role in “The Plan” and are being offered as part of a tradeoff to develop La’au Point. Again the same question has to be asked- Are these really conservation lands or does the Ranch really intend to use these areas as future development sites?


Over 8 years have passed since the current Molokai Ranch administration first revealed to the community its Ag development plans. Because of this gap in time it is easy to lose track of Molokai Ranch’s original intention with this portion of its West End Land holdings.


In the initial EC/EZ Process at a 1998 Environmental Subcommittee meeting, Harold Edwards, Vice President of Molokai Ranch at that time, unveiled Molokai Ranch’s Plan which included 15,000 acres of agricultural subdivisions which would create 1,350 additional gentlemen’s estates (5-20 acres in size).  Harold Edwards also stated that the Ranch did not intend to use these large lot agricultural subdivisions to support diversified agriculture. At this same meeting Harold agreed that in all, the Ranch's new ag subdivisions would bring an estimated 15,050 additional residents to the island.


At the time of the original conception of this plan, Molokai Ranch had not yet purchased the La’au lands from Alpha USA.  The original location for these 15,000 acres of Ag land was on the southern coast of Kaluako’i extending from Hale O Lono into the Punakou district. Although the current location of the proposed Agricultural Easements is different from that proposed in 1998, we still see almost the same amount of acreage being set aside, possibly with the same intention in mind.


In defense of these Agricultural Easements, Molokai Ranch states that only Farm dwellings will be allowed on such lands. This statement is rather misleading, and is representative of Molokai Ranch’s disingenuous approach to many different issues. Statements like “One Last Development;” “never ask for any more dinking water;” “The Public will be the ones to decide whether La’au will be developed;” are all promises meant to pacify and disarm the general population. The statement that “Only Farm dwellings will be allowed on these lands” is a glaring example.  The legal classification of a “Farm” dwelling includes all of the houses in the Kaluako’i and Kawela subdivisions.  In fact, John McAfee’s 10,000 square foot compound is categorized as a Farm Dwelling.


The “Agricultural Easements” and “Rural Landscape Easements” have yet to be subdivided into smaller portions of land, however questions arise as to whether or not the community would have a voice in the reclassification or subdivision of these lands. One foreseeable problem lies in the fact that these areas would be under a joint jurisdiction between Molokai Ranch and The Molokai Land Trust, making it possible to have the two largest landowners in the future pitted against the rest of Molokai. Thus far neither one of these groups have shown any real willingness to hear the majority voice of the community.  This is ironic since the Ranch claims that the Molokai EC’s approval of its Master Plan represented the public’s wishes.


Are the Ranch’s Conservation lands really what they are proposed to be?  Or are these areas really future development sites for “rural” mansions and 10,000 square foot “farm” dwellings?

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