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Author Archives: Todd Yamashita
Add your commentCommunity Support for OHA Bottoms Out
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Over 70 people walk out of the public meeting.
Because Machado is an OHA trustee, president of the Molokai Land Trust, and a board member of the Molokai Enterprise Community (a federally funded organization also partnering in the La`au development), some are crying foul.
“It’s like she wrote a check to herself. Conflicts of interest seem to be running rampant nowadays,” commented Mowat in an opinion letter.
Machado said the people who left the meeting should be ashamed for walking away “like spoiled brats.”
Lono’s Latest CD Release, Old Style IV, An Instant Hawaiian Classic
Despite the low-budget production, “Old Style IV” delivers an exceptional sound quality. Lono painstakingly reviewed each track, making sure the sound was superior, even when it meant re-mastering the entire album. The result was a month-long delay of the release date, but the final product was definitely worth the wait.
Aside from the melody, the mo`olelo (history) of Molokai gives the album depth and substance. Oral tradition is the piko (navel) of Hawaiian history. In that sense, mo`olelo, `oli (chants) and hula provide a live and colorful ongoing narrative of Hawaii’s past and present.
Lono is helping to tell Molokai history through his carefully crafted music. He says his songs are “full of ancient legends, myths, stories, tributes and everyday life.” It is inspiring that Lono is telling Hawaiian history, and at the same time perpetuating Hawaiian culture through his style of old Hawaiian folk music.
The album begins with a ceremonial conch-blowing giving way to the best track on the album, “Hanohano Wale No.” Paying tribute to Hina, the mythical mother of Molokai, Lono gracefully croons to a rambling melody. It’s one of those songs you will continue to hear in your heart long after it has stopped playing. Anyone who has a deep love for Molokai will recognize the passion which resonates from this song.
In “Imua Molokai Paniolo,” Jimmy Duvauchelle, Cowboy Otsuka, Buzzy Sproat and others are immortalized as modern legends of Molokai’s Paniolo heritage.
Lono showcases his range of style in “Molokai T.M.H. (Take Me Home)” and “Silvery Sea,” two old-fashioned tunes. His creative talent stands out in slack key pieces like Sunshine Slack and Kaunakakai Kani.
“Keep Molokai, Molokai” values the fight against development on the island. “Mobettah you stay, mobettah you go, mobettah you just stay away… on the Friendly Isle we say ‘keep Molokai Molokai.’” In such lyrics, Lono says visitors are welcomed to stay as long as they don’t try to change the island. Otherwise, they encouraged to leave Molokai.
If you are a fan of musicians such as Izrael Kamakawiwo`ole, Gabi Panui, Genoa Keawe, and other traditional Hawaiian artists, you will love this album. It represents the quintessential spirit of Molokai, the last Hawaiian island.
“Old Style IV, Molokai Nui A Hina” will be available near the end of October, and only in Molokai stores. Lono’s release is being printed as a limited run – which means once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. So do not let the opportunity of owning an instant-classic pass you by.
Lonoikamakahiki – Makahiki season begins on Molokai
Kevin Dudoit aids Herbert Ho in presenting subsistence gathering techniques. Dudoit and his cousins work regularly at restoring Ali`i Fishpond.
Tree Topples Utility Poles
Carla Brady, Local Island Manager at Hawaiian Telecom, said incident did not disrupt telecommunication services. She also said that construction crews would have to be sent from Maui to repair the busted polls.
No one was hurt during Thursday’s incident.
A Mountain of Metal
Schnitzer Steel shipped off 3,200 tons of scrap metal to Oahu this past weekend to be recycled. The massive amount of scrap metal removed from Molokai Landfill included cars, washing machines, and discarded appliances.
While the amount of scrap appeared to be immense, Lawrence Kalilikane, buyer for the company, says that another 4,000 to 5,000 tons of scrap remains at the landfill including 25,000 tires that are also targeted for removal.
“A lot of people think this is easy – it’s not bad if you know what you’re doing,” said Kalilikane, who is at retirement age, and has spent almost 24 years in the recycling business. The Molokai local says he can estimate tonnage of scrap by sight, and is usually within 3% to 4% accurate of a load’s actual weight.
Kalilikane estimates that it took over 600 truck-loads to fill the barge to capacity. The operation took three days and included late-night shifts. Another three or four barge loads are required to complete the contract. The next round is scheduled for Oct. 19, 20, and 21.
According to Kalilikane, the remaining tonnage might exceed Schnitzer’s county contract. The original bid placed three years ago called for 5,000 tons to be removed. Since then, the total was increased to 6,500. Kalilikane estimates the total amount of scrap in the landfill could be as much as 8,000 tons.
Schnitzer Steel performs similar operations on most of the neighboring islands. Kalilikane said the company recently removed 3,800 tons of scrap from Kauai, and 3,000 tons from Lanai. After his contract is finished, he doesn’t expect Molokai to need another removal for several years.
Land Use Commission Sets La`au Hearing Date
Commission will determine whether or not to accept Molokai Ranch’s EIS
By Todd Yamashita
The State Land Use Commission (LUC) will hold hearings on Molokai Nov. 15 and 16 to determine whether it finds Molokai Ranch’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be acceptable.
Senior LUC Planner, Cameron Lowry, said that the main purpose of the hearing was to decide if the LUC would accept the Ranch’s EIS.
“We realize there is a lot of public interest,” said Lowry, who expects a large turnout at the hearing. He says everyone will be provided an opportunity to give testimony.
Growing Pains
Making sense of Molokai’s water woes, angry hunters, conservationists, genetically modified organisms, La`au activists and land developers can be exhausting. Molokai sure has its share of issues for being such a small place.
But keeping up with it all can be easier when we know that we are not alone in our problems.
Everywhere in Hawaii, and throughout the world, the fight is the same – small communities are struggling to perpetuate their culture and fighting to keep hold of their unique identities.
On the Big Island, Punalu`u is threatened by a giant development which includes two resorts, a mall, golf course and over 1,000 houses. In Kona they’re fighting to keep Ahu`ena Heiau out of corporate hands.
Our neighbors on Maui are busy fending off the newly proposed Honua`ula development. They are also securing Honolua Bay from being developed by Maui Land and Pine.
Fighting alongside Maui, Kauai activists are trying to keep the Superferry from arriving on their shores. In Wailua, DHHL is considering giving up homestead land to timeshare developers who promise to build affordable housing.
Nature Conservancy VS. Molokai Hunters
It’s time to put down your guns
By now, mostly everyone has heard about that Molokai Hunters are battling the Nature Conservancy from bring professional hunters to Molokai.
The conservationists are arguing that the outside hunting group, Pro Hunt, will provide the technological sophistication needed to thin the island’s rampant goat and pig population. The Nature Conservancy is set on moving ahead with the project.
The local hunters who have worked side-by-side with the conservancy for almost 15 years, mostly unpaid, say the move is a slap in their face.
In a recent protest on Oahu, one person held up a sign proclaiming that the Nature Conservancy had a “missionary attitude.” That’s harsh, but not totally incorrect. “Missionary attitude” describes the idea that a person or group knows better than their indigenous host culture.
Farewell Molokai `Opio
It’s that time of the year when Molokai’s youth head off to the outer islands and the mainland. Some of them are fresh 2007 grads while others have just come back during the summer break. While many of these proud Molokai-born will return to visit, very few will return to stay.
It is a heart wrenching reality for the families whose children leave the nest. It is an accepted truth that in order to make a go in life our young must move on to the outside world where experience and a wider perspective await.
Unfortunately it is also widely believed that by returning to Molokai our youth forfeit their opportunity of having a good job, owning a home or supporting a family. Thus many of our youth remain away.
And it’s not just Molokai’s children. In fact, there are more native Hawaiians who live outside of Hawaii than there are who remain. While it makes economical sense – a four bedroom home in Las Vegas for $150,000 versus a $500,000 3 bedroom shack on Molokai – it doesn’t mean that there is no option for returning.
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