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Community

General news which affects the Molokai community in one way or another.

Return to the Banyan Tree

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022

Community Contributed

Opinion by Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

I was the first to arrive at the venerable old tree. I had wanted to assure myself of a good seat before they had all sold out to the eager masses. Soon they all began to arrive, in ones and twos, on foot, in cars, vans and trucks. It was like the prelude to a football game. Then he approached the grassy verge of the banyan’s shelter, flanked by Dr. Wasserman and Baron Chan. It was like a reenactment of the Lord’s transfiguration on the mountain all over again. Ken Seamon, our administrator, had abandoned his golf club and armed himself with a clip board.…

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Molokai Hit Hard with Rising Cost of Fuel

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Molokai Hit Hard with Rising Cost of Fuel

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As drivers gasp at the gas prices skyrocketing recently, rising fuel costs around the globe will soon drive the cost of living for Molokai residents even higher, and officials are urging consumers to find ways to save. Hawaiian Electric just warned of a 25 percent increase for Molokai customers in upcoming electric bills from a jump in fuel prices, and changes to the global oil market will affect everything from food costs to airfares to monthly utility charges. 

Last week at the gas pumps, residents saw an overnight jump from $5.63 to $5.78, coming after recent weeks of frequent increases.…

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Indoor Mask Mandate Ending

Friday, March 18th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Hawaii becomes the last state in the U.S. to lift its indoor mask mandate on March 25. Gov. David Ige announced the statewide mask requirement for inside settings will end this month. It will be the first time masks won’t be required indoors since April 2020. 

“Together, we have reduced COVID-19 in Hawaii to the point where most of us will be safe without masks indoors,” said Ige last week. “Right now, hospitalizations are trending down. Case counts are falling. We are better at treating people who are infected. Booster shots are saving lives. And the CDC has rated the state’s COVID-19 community level as ‘low.’…

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Boys Volleyball Starts Season with Split

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Boys Volleyball Starts Season with Split

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The Farmers Volleyball team won a game and lost a game during last weekend’s season starter hosting Seabury at The Barn. 

“Last night and today was a blessing just to have boys’ volleyball back in competition mode. To have fans cheer on our kids brought happiness to The Barn,” said Head Coach Hale Domingo on Saturday. 

Friday’s game closed with Molokai taking the win over Seabury 3-2. Molokai’s Jaydon Kaupu got 20 kills, Dreydon Garces had 18 kills and three aces, and Elijah Kadowaki had 12 kills and 35 assists. 

“Friday night was as exciting as it could get, point after point, play after play, squeeze okole action,” said Domingo.…

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Playing for a Cause

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Playing for a Cause

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The Kalaupapa Backyard Band performed a special show last Friday night at Paddlers Restaurant and Bar. All proceeds from the tip jar will be donated to the Ukraine through the United Church of Christ and the Kalaupapa churches, Kana’ana Hou and Siloama, through their minister Richard Miller. Playing to a packed house, the band raised $850 for the cause, which will be sent to assist Ukrainians in need, being invaded by Russia. 

Miller, the band’s harmonica player, is one of the founding members of KBB and will be returning to his home in Pennsylvania on May 1 after almost 20 years of service at Kalaupapa National Historical Park and the churches.…

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Input for Important Ag Lands Designation

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Maui County News Release

The County of Maui Department of Planning is seeking community review and comment on the initial steps to identify and map parcels on Molokai, Maui and Lanai that may be eligible for designation as Important Agricultural Lands under state law.

The law aims to preserve the highest quality agricultural lands in each county for current and future agricultural use and food security. The Planning Department is working with lead consultant Christine Feinholz of Pacific Cartography and Project outreach lead Anders Lyons of Kapalaea Consultants.

“Agriculture has always been a big part of our heritage throughout Maui County,” said Mayor Michael Victorino.…

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DHHL Molokai Cesspool Survey

Friday, March 18th, 2022

DHHL News Release

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is beginning an assessment of active and inactive cesspools throughout the state starting with homestead communities on Molokai.

Governor David Ige signed Act 125 into law in 2017, requiring the upgrade, conversion, or sewer connection of all cesspools in the State before January 1, 2050. It is estimated there are approximately 88,000 cesspools statewide.

The data collected from this survey is expected to provide accurate information for officials to determine appropriate funding mechanisms to assist families in complying with Act 125.

DHHL, through its contractor Hawaii Engineering Group, will conduct the Molokai field survey from March through April, weather permitting.…

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Temporary Water Shut Off for Hoʻolehua

Friday, March 18th, 2022

DHHL News Release

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), through its contractor Goodfellow Brothers, is conducting improvements to a main water line of the Hoʻolehua Water System on Molokai from Monday, March 14 through Friday, March 18.

Water service is scheduled to be shut off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, for customers on Lihi Pali Avenue west of the Keena Place intersection, Molokai High School, and the Hoʻolehua Fire Station.

Affected customers are asked to store water and adjust schedules accordingly.

The temporary water service interruption is a portion of DHHL’s $37 million capital improvement project aimed at improving Molokai’s 80-year-old Hoʻolehua Water System.…

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Community Acquisition of Molokai Ranch

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Please join us this month for the first of two meetings on community acquisition of Molokai Ranch. The first meeting is a working group meeting on March 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. held over Zoom. 

The purpose of this first meeting is to introduce the legwork that has been done to prepare us to dive into the research necessary for us to answer questions such as: How will we pay for Molokai Ranch? What kind of ownership structure would we utilize to own the Ranch? How would we manage the lands? How will we generate revenue?…

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Molokai Endangered Species Get Federal Funds

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Sen. Schatz News Release

The Molokai Land Trust will be receiving $350,000 in congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, in this year’s appropriations bill, secured by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. The new earmark funding will be used to support construction of predator-proof fencing to protect threatened and endangered species within the Mokio Preserve.

“This new earmark will protect dozens of threatened and endangered species on Molokai,” said Sen. Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “By supporting the Molokai Land Trust, we’re helping to care for native wildlife, strengthen local ecosystems, and preserve the island’s environment for years to come.”…

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