Announcements

Fiber Optic Marine Cable to be Laid This Week

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Expect a big ship to be hanging out on Molokai’s southern shore this week. It’ll be laying fiber optic cable connecting Molokai with Maui and Oahu.

By Catherine Cluett

On Tuesday, Sandwich Isles Communications (SIC) is scheduled to lay undersea cables that will connect all of the land-based fiber optic networks in place on five major Hawaiian islands. The Molokai site of connection is at Ali`i Fishpond; two cables will run over the ocean floor connecting Molokai to Sandy Beach, Oahu, and Wahikuli, Maui.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) began constructing the cable infrastructure on each island in 2004. By the end of October, all of the undersea cables should be laid, and a goal has been set for the end of the year to have all cables connected for inter-island connectivity, says SIC consultant Dawn Chang.

Preparations for the Molokai undersea cable are already in place. A conduit was drilled using “horizontal directional boring” technology, Chang says, which travels under the reef system to a distance of about three quarters of a mile offshore, where the cable will surface to the ocean floor.

On Tuesday, the vessel S.S. Intrepid will be located, un-anchored, off the Molokai shore to lay the marine cable. SIC will send down a diver, who will run the cable through the submarine conduit, connecting Ali`i Fishpond site.

Chang says the undersea portion of the fiber optic cable project was financed by commercial funds, amounting to approximately $126 million.

Molokai residents are serviced by either Hawaiian Telcom or Sandwich Isles. Residents using Sandwich Isles won’t see much change in their service, says Chang, unless they live in recently-built homes.

SIC worked with such organizations as the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers during the approval process for the marine cable project. They also cooperated closely with NOAA to complete the cable-laying before whale season begins, says Chang.

Molokai Film Festival Preview

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

By Marie Nowell

Come join family and friends at the 5th annual Festival for Molokai in celebration of music, arts, culture and film perpetuating our Hawaiian culture.

The Molokai Film Festival will be taking place Saturday, October 18th at Duke Maliu Ball Park. Gates open at 3:30 p.m.

Bring your lawn chairs & blankets to enjoy an evening of entertainment. Live music with Uncle Boy Kanae, Ukulele falsetto Virtuoso Kamaka Kehau, Multi Na Hoku Hanohano winner Brother Noland, “The Master of Hawaiian Street Guitar” Henry Allen, Lono, and Hula. Please leave your coolers at home.

Be apart of the World Premiere on a Molokai made film, “Molokai Ka Hula Piko.” Also on the roster, is another new Hawaii made film, “Chief”, which premiered at the Sundance film fest. Films start at sunset under the Molokai stars.

Aside from the films, check out the arts and crafts booths and grab some delicious food from several different food stands.

The film festival also will be promoting Molokai’s fight against cancer.

Admission is free. For More Information Contact Ken Burgmaier, phone: (808) 573.5530

Animal Friendly Website Launched

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

New Molokai Humane Society center has served over 1000 pets.

By Marie Nowell 

A new Molokai Humane Society (MHS) website, at www.molokaihumanesociety.org, has been launched, sharing a wealth of information about the organization. Susan Savage, a Molokai resident, has generously designed the site at no charge.

The site hosts the mission and objective of the organization, adoption info, allows for tax-deductible donations. It also lists information on veterinarians and volunteers, MHS contacts, and MHS news.

The MHS clinic and office was established in January 2008 in Ho’olehua. Its mission is to educate the community and its children as to the care, protection, responsibility, and well being associated with animals.

Hana Highway Reopens Ahead of Schedule

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Over 10  miles of the road remained closed for the duration of the stabilization work and drivers that did not heed roadway signs announcing the road closure were forced to turn around at Kipahulu and return to central Maui via Hana’s winding roads. 

“Educating drivers-- mostly visitors-- that there was no ‘through’ traffic on the eastern side of the island, proved to be one of the more challenging obstacles,” Tavares noted. “To the dismay of the residents, many drivers used private driveways in Kipahulu to turn around and park illegally, which added to the distress of the affected community. I’m sure these residents are relieved as well.  

“I took office three months after the earthquake and began to work with the two communities that were facing hardship in the conditions that the earthquake created,” Tavares continued. “We had to quickly gain an assessment and focus our work on completing the large-scale mitigation work as soon as possible. We also needed to be sensitive and mindful of the cultural and historical importance of the areas.” 

Molokai Educational Center Flooded

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

 Soaking cancels classes for two days.

Maka’s Korner Opens for Business

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

There’re New Pumps in Town

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Rawlins’s new pumps are part of Chevron’s statewide upgrading and image refreshing program. Now all pumps are self-serve, and offer features for faster and more convenient service, such as intercom for customers to communicate directly to the cashier from each pump. “We haven’t had new pumps since we bought the station over 20 years ago,” says Rawlin’s owner Aunty Shirly.