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Announcements

Solar Scholars

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

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.

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Water Conditions Remain Fragile, but Improving

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Water Conditions Remain Fragile, but Improving


Maui County Press Release

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.


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Ala Palaau Trail Project Meeting

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

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. 

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Jetstream Wind Plans Molokai Hydrogen Power Plant

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

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
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Water Update

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

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.

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Immediate Kaunakakai and Kalae Water Conservation Required

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

Maui County Press Release

A 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.
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Sust-AINA-ble Molokai

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

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

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‘Ohana Offering

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

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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Keiki Crops

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Keiki Crops

New garden for Kilohana Elementary

By Melissa Kelsey


On top of reading, writing and arithmetic, growing fresh produce will be part of the school day at Kilohana Elementary School. For the patch of land behind the school, members of the group Ka`ano imagine a community garden.

“This is one of the things that we have been wanting to do for a long time,” said Charlene Martin, a volunteer at Ka`ano, the organization known as the Molokai Seed Bank.  

In addition to growing food, keiki will also learn how to preserve seeds, according to Ka`ano volunteer Jade Bruhjell. One of Ka`ano’s goals is to establish a seed bank of heirloom seeds on Molokai that Bruhjell said could decrease the island’s dependence on outside food sources.     

“You start with the children,” said Martin. “We are going to teach them how to save their seeds, so they will have quality seeds of their own.”

Martin said Ka`ano members and Kilohana Elementary School teacher Mapuana Hanapi were both interested in a garden project for the school, so they worked together to brainstorm ideas. The school may use the garden’s produce to supplement its cafeteria food options and generate trade opportunities for the school, according to Martin.

“Hopefully, this will be a foundation of understanding for this generation of youth that will bring a resonance between the natural land and people,” said Bruhjell.      

Martin said in the future, Ka`ano hopes to tackle similar projects at other Molokai schools.
 
Cultivating the Past
The idea of growing food at Kilohana Elementary School is not new. Garden project volunteer Russel Phifer attended the school in the 1960s. At the time he was a student, he said there was an educational farm at the school. Keiki worked on farm projects, recycling as much as possible for future use.

“It is good to know the past, and how things were before,” said Phifer.  

Molokai schools also have a history of producing other food products, according to Phifer, who said Molokai High School used to run a dairy farm and produce milk.

“Back then, everything was produced here,” said Phifer, remembering how the island used to be less dependent on the barge. “Now, everything is packaged and shipped in,” he said.  


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Krazy for Kolea Kontest

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Krazy for Kolea Kontest

Prizes offered for sightings of annual migratory birds     

Nene O Molokai Press Release   


The fall migration of the Kolea has begun. Also called the Pacific Golden Plover and scientifically known as Pluvialis fulva, the birds are returning from their breeding grounds in the Alaskan tundra. Kolea are territorial and live for twenty years or more, annually returning to Hawaii. Many Molokai residents have named their distinguished winter guests, noting their arrival and departure dates on calendars.

The Kolea is a swift flyer. In around 40 hours at speeds averaging from 56 to 60 miles per hour, the Kolea performs an incredible nonstop migration across the Pacific Ocean. The Kolea spends most of its daylight hours foraging, and can be recognized from a distance by its peculiar ‘run-stop-run’ feeding behavior.   

The Kolea is a prominent figure in Hawaiian folklore. It was considered to be the embodiment of Koleamoku, the god of healing, and a messenger of high chiefs. The northern migration of Kolea may have aided ancient navigators with the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands.

If you report the return of your Kolea, you could win a prize. The observer of the first confirmed Kolea sighting will win a Kolea research t-shirt from the Hawaiian Audubon Society. The first ten confirmed observations will receive a gift certificate for a scoop of ice cream at Kamoi Snack-N-Go in Kaunakakai. Any individual reporting a banded Kolea will receive $20 cash, after the sighting and location have been confirmed.

The Kolea is easily recognized by its bold black and white breeding feathers. However, this ‘alternate’ plumage is lost by winter when the bird molts back to ‘basic’ plumage.
Kolea banded on Molokai have a green or yellow band over a silver metal band. Also, be on the lookout for birds banded with a combination of three colored and one metal band. Bird bands are read as if reading a book, from left leg top to bottom, then right leg top to bottom.

To report your Kolea sightings, call Arleone at Nene O Molokai at 553-5992, or send an email to researchbirds@yahoo.com. Include the date, time and location of each sighting with your report. Molokai sightings are collected at Nene O Molokai and emailed to Peter Pyle, an ornithologist who compiles the information for the Bishop Museum.   

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