• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    June 19, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    June 20, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    June 25, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Announcements

Wrapping up the Flames

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Community comes together to fight fire.

By Dan Murphy

Thanks to the hard work of hundreds of community members and professionals from county, state and federal agencies, Molokai pulled through what could have been a disastrous fire.

The brushfire, first reported Saturday, Aug. 29, was called officially contained last Thursday evening. The Makakupa‘ia Section of the forest is the only part of the island that remains closed and the majority of the agencies that came to Molokai to help fight the fire left Sunday morning, according to Maui Civil Defense Administrator Gen Iinuma.

“From our standpoint, we just want to say mahalo to everyone that supported the effort – community folks that came by all week with home cooked meals and thank you notes and the donations from various businesses and people around town,” Iinuma said. “It just shows how all the residents were very appreciative of the people there.”

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Makakupa`ia Section of Molokai Firest Reserve to Remain Closed

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

DLNR Press Release

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife today announced that the Makakupa‘ia Section of the Moloka‘i Forest Reserve will remain closed until further notice as a result of the wildland fire that was first reported on Saturday August 29, 2009.

This past Monday, an announcement was made closing the entire Molokai Forest Reserve as concern arose for the safety of the general public observed in the burning forest area.  As efforts continue to control the fire, it remains necessary to keep the public out of the Makakupaia section of the Forest Reserve.  

“Falling trees, smoldering hot spots and underground burning within the interior of the burned area present extreme danger to persons on foot and vehicles”, said Paul J. Conry, Division Administrator  “Any person entering the fire area is subject to injury, including severe burns or even fatality,” Conry said.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Burned area tops 8,000 acres

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Burned area tops 8,000 acres

Brushfire Update -- Wednesday 9 a.m.

 

The isolated columns of smoke dotting the mountains behind Kaunakakai are becoming less and less visible. 

Today the National Guard sent to Chinook helicopters to the island to help stamp out any remaining hot spots that have been flaring up. The Chinooks refuel on Oahu and are monitoring the area near Kawela Three. 

Fire fighters say that the blaze in now firmly under control and almost pau. Their main job now is to mop up hot spots and embers that have the potential to start again. 

At last report - late Tuesday night - roughly 8,000 acres of land have been scarred by the fire. Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona and Major General Robert Lee got a first hand look at the scorched terrain when they toured the island on helicopter Tuesday afternoon.

All schools opened once again Tuesday morning and the fire continues to move further away from any houses. 

 Below is a video of one the chinooks, operated by the National Guard, that were on Molokai helping to fight the fire on Wednesday. 

 

 

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Schools closed today

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Brushfire Update – Monday Morning 8:00

All Molokai schools with the exception of Kilohana Elementary and Maunaloa Elementary are closed today. The Fire Department has decided to keep sections of Kamehemeha V Highway closed to through traffic because of the risk of the fire jumping across the road. Schools were forced to close because buses and other students would not be able to get through the roads and arrive at school.
Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Brushfire Update — Sunday Afternoon 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Brushfire Update — Sunday Afternoon 1:30 p.m.

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Molokai Land Trust Open Space Grant Meeting Today

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

County of Maui Press Release

Molokai Land Trust has applied for $480,000.00 from the County of Maui’s Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Scenic Views Preservation Fund for the acquisition of 196.4 acres on Molokai’s east end at Kawaikapu Ranch. Comment on the acquisition during a rescheduled County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation public meeting on the Molokai Land Trust grant application. The new meeting date will be Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 6 p.m. at the Kilohana Community Center, located at 334-A1 Kamehameha V Highway, Kilohana, Molokai.

The County of Maui’s funds are intended to be used as a match with the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources funding of $767,976.00 from their Legacy Lands Conservation Program for the purchase of this specific property. If approved, the County of Maui will hold a perpetual Conservation Easement on the property.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Molokai Planning Commission Agenda 8/26/09

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

MOLOKAI PLANNING COMMISSION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MOLOKAI PLANNING COMMISSION

AGENDA

Members: Joseph  Kalipi (Chair), Steven  Chaikin  (Vice-Chair),  Nathaniel  Bacon, Lori Buchanan, Napua Leong, Joseph Kalipi, Mikiala Pescaia, John Sprinzel, Teri Waros, Don Williams


DATE: August 26, 2009 (Wednesday ) TIME:  12:00 p.m.
PLACE: Mitchell Pauole Center, Meeting Hall, Kaunakakai, Molokai

A. CALL TO ORDER

B. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON ANY PLANNING OR LAND USE ISSUE C. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1.  MR. MILTON ARAKAWA, AICP, Director of the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS requesting review and comments on the proposed Bill for an Ordinance Amending Chapter 18.04 of the Maui County Code, pertaining to Subdivision General Provisions.  The proposed bill addresses the issue of consistency. (RFC 2009/0199) (The public hearing was conducted on August
12, 2009.  Commissioners:  Please bring you documents.)

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Public Hearing Set for Ranch’s Water Rate Increases

Friday, August 14th, 2009

By Catherine Cluett

After months of delays, a general rate increase application has been successfully filed by Molokai Ranch’s water utility companies. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has set a public hearing on Molokai for September 3, 2009 at Mitchell Pauole Center at 5 p.m.

At the end of May last year, Molokai Ranch threatened to shut down their water utilities Molokai Public Utilities (MPU) and Wai`ola O Molokai (Wai`ola), citing financial hardship. In an unprecedented move, the PUC approved temporary rate increases that have been described as outrageous.

MPU and Wai`ola filed general rate applications with the PUC in March, requesting rate increases of as much as five times greater than what consumers were paying last summer. The utilities also requested their applications be accepted with unaudited financial statements in lieu of audited ones, which the PUC denied.

Posted in , comments1 Comments

Court Rules Against Molokai Properties, Ltd. In Utilities Dispute

Friday, August 14th, 2009

MPL is held legally responsible for the actions of its utilities. 

County of Maui Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2009

The First Circuit Court ruled on July 15, 2009 that Molokai Properties,
Ltd. (MPL) is legally responsible for the actions of the Molokai utility
companies whose stock MPL owns. The appeal arose out of MPL's threat
last year to shut down water and wastewater utilities providing service
to some 1,200 Molokai residents.

On May 8, 2008, MPL notified the State Department of Health that MPL
would not continue to operate water and wastewater utility systems in
Molokai beyond August 2008.  On July 21, 2008, the Director of the State
Department of Health initiated administrative proceedings against MPL
and the utilities to avoid a public health crisis that would have
occurred if MPL had made good on its threat.  MPL responded by claiming
that the Department of Health did not have any jurisdiction over MPL
because MPL was merely a stockholder in the utility companies. After an
evidentiary hearing, in which the County of Maui participated as an
intervenor, the Department of Health's hearing officer ruled that
although they had been set up as separate corporations, the utilities
and MPL were ignoring the necessary corporate formalities and were
operating essentially as one company controlled by MPL. As a result, MPL
could be held legally responsible for the actions of the utilities. The
hearing officer's decision was based on an "alter ego" theory,
sometimes known as "piercing the corporate veil." 
  
MPL appealed the hearing officer's ruling that MPL was the alter ego
of the utilities. The appeal was assigned to Judge Eden Elizabeth Hifo
of the First Circuit Court and following oral arguments on July 15,
2009, Judge Hifo ruled in favor of the State and the County, and against
MPL. Judge Hifo held that no due process rights of MPL had been
violated, and she affirmed the hearings officer's rulings on the alter
ego issue.

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Paddler’s Inn Changes Hands

Friday, August 14th, 2009

By Dan Murphy
 
After abruptly closing earlier this summer, Paddler’s Inn is preparing to reopen its doors to Molokai under new management.

The restaurant’s previous owners, Robert and Sharon Spruiell, decided to close the restaurant and bar in early June because they were struggling to run it from their home in Arizona. According to Paddler’s property owner Jerry Johnson, the Spruiells officially turned over the building’s lease and keys to Darrin Abell on Aug. 5.

Abell comes to Molokai from Modesto, Cali where he previously worked in the restaurant business. He hopes to have the restaurant open for business by Sept. 1, Johnson said.

“I think he’ll be really good. I think he’ll give the place the food product it needs to succeed,” Johnson said. “He also has a really great attitude about the community, which is what I was looking for.”
Posted in comments1 Comments