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Community

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

Mallory Go Awarded Top Scholarship

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Mallory Go Awarded Top Scholarship

HLTA News Release

Two Maui County seniors were recently named the top statewide Scholars in the Citizen-Scholars award program through the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) while another was named the top scholar for Maui County. Mallory H. Go of Molokai High School, who was selected as the top female scholar, will attend Brown University in the fall where she intends to study Public Health and Japanese.

Hana High and Intermediate School’s Owali Moea‘i was chosen as the top male scholar and will attend Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he will major in Computer Science and Hawaiian Language. King Kekaulike High School Senior Aleth Sabugo was announced as the top scholar for Maui County and will attend the University of Hawaii – Maui.…

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Molokai Water Use and Development Plan

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

Townscape News Release

Please join us for a Hoʻolauna Meeting, the first community meeting to discuss the Molokai Water Use and Development Plan, on Wednesday, June 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The State of Hawaii Water Code requires each county to develop a Water Use and Development Plan and Maui County has chosen to develop separate plans for Molokai, Lanai and Maui to better address the unique needs of each island. The Molokai Water Use and Development Plan will analyze the island’s water resources and project how future water needs will be met.

The Water Use and Development Plan for the island of Molokai is being updated in a collaboration of Townscape, Inc.,…

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Maunaloa Post Office Reopens

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

After a three-month closure, the Maunaloa Post Office reopened on Tuesday, June 1. The facility was closed since late February due to structural concerns and pest control issues.

“We want to thank our Maunaloa customers for their patience and support during the temporary closure,” said USPS Hawaii District Manager Eileen Veach. “We’re eager to resume our operations and to demonstrate our commitment to serving our loyal customers in Maunaloa and across the state.”

During the temporarily closure, customers had been picking up their mail at the Ho’olehua Post Office, a situation that caused inconvenience for many and overcrowding of the Ho’olehua building, according to concerned customers.…

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‘Ohana by Hawaiian Not Returning

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Not Returning

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

‘Ohana by Hawaiian, which had temporarily suspended flights to Molokai in January, announced it is permanently closing operations. The passenger service previously offered flights between Honolulu and Molokai and Lanai, as well as cargo service.

Hawaiian Airlines cited a severe decline in travel demand from the COVID-19 pandemic and state and county quarantine measures triggering a labor provision that led to the temporary suspension of passenger and cargo flights early this year. Hawaiian representatives said the company decided to permanently end service following an in-depth assessment of the overall operation and its long-term viability.

“This is a heartbreaking decision, particularly for those of us who were involved in launching the business in 2014,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines.…

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2 Molokai Seals Dead from ‘Human-Inflicted Trauma’

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

2 Molokai Seals Dead from ‘Human-Inflicted Trauma’

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Two endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals were found dead on the west end of Molokai on April 27, and state and federal officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Post-mortem exam results indicate that both seals died as a result of “human-inflicted trauma,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced last week.

There was no indication of disease or other health concerns, officials reported, and both seals were sighted the previous week appearing to be in good health.

The 4-year-old male seal known as RJ08 and 3-year-old female, RK92, were both born on Molokai and were known to spend time on Molokai’s west side.…

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Masks No Longer Required Outside

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged three new COVID-19 cases last week, bring the island’s total to 79 since the pandemic began. The relatively low case count for the week indicates a decline in the two clusters that skyrocketed the island’s cases in the previous two weeks.

Last week, Gov. David Ige lifted the statewide mask mandate for all individuals outdoors, effective immediately. Mask wearing is still highly recommended outdoors when in large groups. The indoor mask mandate remains unchanged.

“The virus is still circulating in our community, and unvaccinated people are particularly at risk,” said Gov. Ige. “Until more people are vaccinated, we must continue to take precautions indoors and outdoors in large groups for the safety of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”…

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Hawaiian Electric Urges Hurricane Preparedness

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

Hawaiian Electric News Release

The 2021 Central Pacific hurricane season starts on June 1 and Hawaiian Electric is advising customers, both residential and commercial, to be prepared and have emergency plans in place.

Hawaiian Electric crews work year-round to harden the company’s five island grids so they are better able to withstand the effects of powerful storms. A major focus of Hawaiian Electric’s efforts to build resilience involves reinforcing poles, lines and other equipment. The utility also spent $18 million in 2020 to clear trees and vegetation from around power lines and equipment, resulting in fewer and briefer outages during storms.…

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OHA Awards Nonprofit Grants

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

OHA News Release

A Molokai program is among 14 nonprofit organizations statewide that received grant awards from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs totaling $1.25 million that will support the Native Hawaiian community through its new ‘Ohana and Community Program Grants. The funding is intended to help reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ ‘ohana (family), moʻomeheu (culture) and ʻaina (land and water).

On Molokai, Maui Family Support Services, Inc., is awarded $41,199 for their “Ho‘owaiwai Kaiaulu Project – Molokai” to provide a continuum of programs to strengthen the physical and mental wellbeing of Native Hawaiian ‘ohana and keiki, to increase their social and emotional competence, and improve ‘ohana strengths and resilience.…

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Pass Automatic Voter Registration

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Hawaii instituted for the first time ever, an all mail-in voting system which resulted in the state recording its highest rate of voter participation since 1994. Last year, Maui County tallied a 42.7 percent voter turnout at the primary and a 66.4 percent turnout at the general election — a respective increase of 6.5 percent and 14 percent from the previous election.

Surely other factors influenced voter motivation in 2020, but the transition to an all mail-in ballot system was likely the largest contributor to the record turnout. Although this boost is encouraging, Hawaii’s voter turnout rates still score among the lowest in the nation.…

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Firewise Success

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Saturday, May 1 was Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national campaign that encourages people and organizations everywhere to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks. Paniolo Hale was awarded $500 from State Farm for the removal of stored fuel sources that could potentially ignite due to embers or radiant heat.

Mahalo nui loa to all for making the 2021 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day possible: The Molokai Dispatch and Hawaiian Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) for getting the word out; Paniolo Hale owners for your participation and the Firewise Committee for the many hours that went into organizing this event; Cameron Chemical Corporation (CCC) and Molokai Recycling, Refuse and Landfill for taking care of the materials; and to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm for sponsoring the 2021 Prep Day.…

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