Community

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

Committee Considers Ferry Subsidy

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

Possible financial aid is in sight for the Molokai ferry, whose recent losses in ridership and funds have forced company president David Jung to consider a shutdown as early as June.

On May 15, the county’s Budget and Finance Committee will discuss a bill in which Mayor Alan Arakawa has proposed a $105,000 subsidy for the ferry. The money would come from the county’s Economic Development Revolving Fund (EDRF) and apply to the 2015 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

“The ferry throughout the year has seen a decrease in ridership as hard times have come to Molokai,” said Jung, testifying at the county council’s May 7 meeting.…

Veterans Corner

Friday, May 8th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha, all my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events.

Well, I must say that when I went to the general membership meeting on Friday, April 24 at the new Veterans Center, it was wonderful being at a Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans (MVCV) meeting in our own building. The meeting was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Commander Sam Makaiwi, with approximately 25 members in attendance. All reports were read, and accepted as read. Vice Commander Longie Dudoit announced that veteran service officer Ray Sambueno will be on Molokai on Tuesday, May 19 from 8 a.m.…

Ahonui: Patience with Perseverance

Friday, May 8th, 2015

Community Contributed

Opinion by Rick Baptiste

We are on the last and fifth phase of our joint efforts in renewing the “Aloha Spirit” in our community so we all can live blessed lives on Molokai.  In my last article “h,” from the acronym ALOHA stood for Ha`aha`a, the quality of humility.  Humility is a great quality to possess as we launch into deeper waters with the last “a” in ALOHA. “A” stands for Ahonui, which is patience expressed with perseverance.

Have you ever noticed when you are impatient that whatever you are waiting on seems to take longer and leads to frustration and anger?  …

Hawaii Farmers Have a Bright Future

Friday, May 8th, 2015

UHMCM News Release

According to Gov. Ige’s Action Plan “Engineering Hawaii’s Future, “Agriculture is critical to self-sufficiency and food security.  Instead of continuing to import 90 percent of our food, we need to take steps to produce more food locally.  We are committed to making farming and local food production a thriving industry here in Hawaii.”

UH Maui College, Molokai (UHMCM) offers certificates and degrees in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management.  The Molokai farm includes a 5,000 square foot greenhouse, orchards, and vegetable fields.  In Fall 2015, UHMCM will be offering Agriculture classes in Sustainable Crop Production (propagation planting, fertilization, irrigation, harvesting and marketing) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m.…

Proposals Sought for Community Grants

Thursday, May 7th, 2015

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is seeking funding proposals for a second round of proposals for a total of $1.7 million for Fund Year 2015 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016).

The deadline to submit proposals is 3 p.m. on Friday, May 8. Proposals may be submitted “ATTN. 2015 CDBG Application” and delivered to the CDBG Program Office at 251 Napua Street in Wailuku, or mailed (must be received by the deadline) to Office of the Mayor, CDBG Program Office, 200 S. High Street, Wailuku, HI  96793.

Earlier this year the CDBG program office submitted six proposed projects to the County Council, which rejected the following proposals:

Ka Hale A Ke Ola, $653,869 for rehabilitation and improvements to its homeless shelter; County of Maui, $650,000 for a Maui Fire Dept.…

Grassroots Benefit Concert

Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

Grassroots Benefit Concert

Last Saturday’s third annual Grassroots Benefit Concert at Duke Maliu Park celebrated homegrown, all-natural products –and the creatures that make it possible. The event’s message was “Mahalo i Na Halihali `Ehu Pua,” which means Thank You to the Pollinators, and highlighted the need to protect pollen-carrying creatures like butterflies and bees.

“Pollinators are vital to growing food, and we want to just bring that issue to light,” said Mercy Ritte, one of the event organizers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Pathologist Matthew Goo said that butterflies face the predatory challenges of spiders, wasps, lizards and in particular, the bulbul bird. Goo offered people a way to help through the Pulelehua Project, which seeks to record sightings of the disappearing Kamehameha butterfly, a native species that has yet to be officially documented on Molokai.…

New Service at Business Center

Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

KBC News Release

May 4-8 is Small Business Week and to celebrate the occasion we are proud to announce a new service for Molokai business owners and entrepreneurs.  Online Business Office Hours is a free, by-appointment service, developed as a partnership with the Kuha`o Business Center (KBC) and the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, to help new and existing business owners explore and transition into the world of online business.

If you are overwhelmed with your options, not sure how to start, or have questions about which social media tool, online platform, or web technology will be your best bet, then schedule a free session with web designer and online business consultant, Mark Moran, at KBC in Kaunakakai.  …

Tips for Cutting Electric Costs

Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

For electric ratepayers looking to cut down on utility costs, options abound. Outdated air conditioning models can be upgraded for rebates. Extra refrigerators and old freezers can be sent in and recycled for cash. For Molokai residents, however, these and other options don’t always apply, explained Hawaii Energy’s Helen Wai at a workshop on Molokai last week. Consulting a qualified residential electrician can also help identify energy-saving upgrades and ensure your home’s electrical systems are running as efficiently as possible.

Kenco Electric is an electrician Triad area. By providing expert guidance on energy-efficient upgrades and smart home technology, they can help you implement practical tips for cutting electric costs, such as optimizing your lighting, using energy-efficient appliances, and conducting regular energy audits to identify potential savings.…

Speed and Quickness Clinic

Friday, May 1st, 2015

Speed and Quickness Clinic

Na Pu`uwai News Release

On April 11, the County of Maui Parks and Recreation, with the help of Na Pu’uwai, put together Molokai’s first youth sports clinic.  This clinic was provided for the children of Molokai to teach them athletic drills and to help them get faster, stronger and more competitive. Former Olympic weightlifter Chad Ikei and former NFL defensive back Rich Miano, who run Speed and Quickness Clinics throughout the state, came to coach kids.…

Phonebook Recycling Kicks Off

Friday, May 1st, 2015

Berry Company News Release

The Berry Company, LLC, proud publisher of the Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages, is partnering with schools on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui and Molokai to launch “Think Yellow, Go Green,” the company’s annual environmental awareness and recycling campaign. The seventh annual program kicked off on Earth Day, April 22, through the end of May, and runs concurrent to the 2015 Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages directory delivery on the neighbor islands.

Local schools on each island will compete to collect the most outdated telephone directories, which will keep the directories out of landfills through recycling. The schools have the opportunity to win cash prizes for their students’ participation in the program, and award amounts vary based on the school’s location.…