Ekolu Kalamas Wins Molokai Channel Race – UPDATED
This after winning the standup paddling world cup in Germany just two weeks prior (see photo). Congrats from the Dispatch gang!
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This after winning the standup paddling world cup in Germany just two weeks prior (see photo). Congrats from the Dispatch gang!
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Add your commentWater Service Resumes
Community rallies to conserve water as county pump is repaired.
By Melissa Kelsey
Contractors from Beylik Drilling and Pump flew in an extra crew to allow for both day and night work shifts to replace the pump at Kualapu`u Well.
After more than a week of uncertainty, repairs to the pump at the county well in Kualapu`u were completed last Saturday. The county well began pumping water into the one million gallon Kaunakakai water tank at a rate of 800 gallons per minute after the fix, according to county spokesperson Mahina Martin.
“It is so amazing to me how this community pulled together and handled the situation,” said Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares.
Tavares explained that a Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) well had been temporarily supplying the Kaunakakai tank with water, ever since repair work to Kualapu`u Well began last month. The real problem occurred when the DHHL pump broke, leaving Kaunakakai and Kalae without a stable source of water.
If residents of Kaunakakai and Kalae had not been able to conserve water, their taps would have run dry within 24 to 36 hours, according to Tavares.
Molokai General Hospital and its 28 dialysis center patients would have been most severely affected if the Kaunakakai central water tank had gone dry, Martin said. During the water shortage, most of the dialysis patients were relocated off-island to minimize risk.
“The correct decision given the information at hand was to move the patients out,” said Tavares.
Last weekend, county officials praised the Molokai community for their water conservation efforts. Work crews from the Department of Water Supply, the Department of Public Works and Beylik Drilling and Pump who worked for nine days straight to avert a potential crisis were also lauded. Officials said Fire Captain Travis Tancayo led disaster prevention efforts. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands generously allowed the county to make use of a second well. Liberty Dialysis worked with the county to care for Molokai dialysis patients. Firefighters, hospital and community volunteers went door-to-door to inform the Molokai community about the situation. Queens Hospital and Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) donated $2500 each to help dialysis patients with travel costs.
Molokai Pizza Café stopped using their ice cream machine because it requires water to operate, and began using paper dishes to avoid dish washing, according to Martin. Monsanto voluntarily turned off water sprinklers even though their water comes from a different source than Kualapu`u Well. Although their water supply was not at risk, Martin said they wanted to avoid misdirecting others.
Solar Scholars
Renewable energy system installed at Kualapu`u School.
ProVision Solar Press Release
When Lydia Trinidad, principal of Kualapu’u School, saw the school’s electricity costs go through the roof last year, she knew it was time to do something. Last year, the average electricity rate at Kualapu`u School was the highest rate in the United States. With the prospect of that cost going up even higher, the school’s local advisory panel decided to install a net energy metered photovoltaic solar system.
“We knew we needed a way to keep our costs in check and invest in a system that would keep our costs stable, as the price of power fluctuates,” said Trinidad.
After receiving a number of bids for the project, Trinidad chose to work with ProVision Solar, a company based in Hilo. ProVision president Marco Mangelsdorf said the system should produce about 20 percent of the daily power needs at Kualapu`u School. The system has the capacity to cover over half of the school’s daily power needs if the school chooses to expand the system. It is the largest renewable energy system of its kind for any public school in the state of Hawaii.
Water Conditions Remain Fragile, but Improving
With the help of Kaunakakai and Kalae residents and businesses, the level of water in the Kaunakakai water tank has somewhat stabilized. However, the situation remains very fragile. Until the repairs to the water well pump are completed, efforts must continue to avoid unnecessary water use that can cause the water level to drop. Saving the water that is in the tank is critical because it helps meet hospital and dialysis center needs and provides water to fire hydrants. Contractor crews and personnel from the county’s Department of Water Supply are continuing to work days and evenings to expedite repairs.
Kaunakakai and Kalae residents and businesses are advised to take the following actions:
• Continue to avoid unnecessary water usages
• Alert your family, friends and neighbors
• Use water from the water tankers provided
The water tankers are located at Kaunakakai Regional Park. The potable drinking water tanker is available 24 hours per day. The non-potable water tanker is available daily from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Residents should bring their own containers, labeling separate containers for potable drinking water and non-potable water for everything else.
Ala Palaau Trail Project Meeting
There will be a community meeting on Saturday, August 1 to update everyone and request input on the planning process for the Ala Palaau trail project. The meeting will be at the Palaau Park Pavilion at 10 am and will be followed by a potluck lunch. Seating is limited in the pavilion, so the meeting organizers are requesting that people bring chairs or blankets to sit on.
Jetstream Wind Plans Molokai Hydrogen Power Plant
The Honolulu Advertiser and the Associated Press have reported that a New Mexico-based company called Jetstream Wind, Inc. has plans to build a hydrogen power plant on Molokai. We have been unable to verify these claims, and are currently investigating the situation. Our attempts to obtain a press release or comments from Jetstream Wind have so far been unsuccessful. Please contact The Molokai Dispatch office if you have any information on this situation.Follow this link to read an article by The Honolulu Advertiser and the Associated Press, printed in Maui News:
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/521136.html
Water Update
By Melissa Kelsey
Pumps at both the Kualapu`u Well and the state Department of Hawaiian Homelands well are broken, severely affecting residents and businesses in Kaunakakai and Kalae, according to Maui County officials. Earlier today, Maui County Community Relations and Communications Director Mahina Martin said repairs could take up to a week.
County officials said residents of Kaunakakai and Kalae should make every effort to conserve as much water as possible, preserving system water for essential health, safety and hygiene purposes.
At a community meeting at Kaunakakai Park earlier today, Martin urged Molokai residents to hold off on washing cars, watering lawns, doing laundry and any other nonessential water uses. Whenever possible, residents should visit family and friends in Ho`olehua, Maunaloa or the east end for showers. She also urged the community to alert their friends and neighbors to the situation.
Immediate Kaunakakai and Kalae Water Conservation Required
Maui County Press ReleaseA mechanical breakdown affecting a water pump will severely affect residents and businesses in Kaunakakai and Kalae on Molokai. Until repairs can be completed, residents and businesses in the areas of Kaunakakai and Kalae should make every effort to immediately conserve water and limit usage to minimum requirements needed for health, safety and hygiene. Water customers will experience low water pressure or no water as water tank storage levels diminish. The county is working with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to utilize a second DHHL well.
The county of Maui has mobilized a 5,000 gallon water tanker which is located at the intersection of Ala Malama Avenue and Kukui Place near the post office in Kaunakakai. It will be available in the evening and daytime until repairs are completed. Residents are encouraged to fill personal containers at this location should water service diminish.
Sust-AINA-ble Molokai
Future of a Hawaiian Island Conference
Sustainable Molokai Press Release
Artwork by Alex Gilliland
The Sust-AINA-ble Molokai: Future of a Hawaiian Island Conference is here. The conference will take place Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18. From Hawaiian voyaging and navigation to eco-friendly building, there is a little of something for everyone. See you there!
To view the schedule of events at the conference, follow this link:
http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/downloads/Molokai_2009_Conf.pdf
‘Ohana Offering
We proudly announce that our Molokai Little League Junior Division baseball team members are the undefeated 13 and 14 year old District III Champions. Our team has worked hard to earn this opportunity to qualify for the Hawaii State 2009 Junior Division Tournament, scheduled for July 24-28. The tournament will take place at Hans L’Orange Field in Waipahu, Oahu.At this time we are asking for assistance from our friends, family and businesses within our community to help defer the cost of our air and ground transportation and possibly housing, meals and other incidentals.
If you have any questions or are in a position to be of assistance, please contact Hala Pa-Kala, the Junior Division Vice President at 658-0260 (cell) or 553-5391 (home).
We do realize that these are difficult economic times for all, and we truly appreciate any and all assistance we receive.
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