Community

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

Over-the-Counter Medications and Keiki

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

Community Contributed

By Jon Mikami, RPh, and Kelly Go, RPh, Molokai Drugs, Inc.

Giving drugstore medications to your keiki is no big deal, right? Well, it shouldn’t be, as long as you use them the right way. But just because a medication is sold over the counter doesn’t mean it comes with a risk-free guarantee.

If your child has ever had a bad reaction to an over-the-counter (OTC) medication, stop giving the medication right away. Tell the doctor and pharmacy staff about it. Keep a record of its name, dosage directions, the illness it was used for, and the side effects it caused.…

Big Wind Environmental Impact Statement Meeting

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

Dept. of Energy News Release

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the State of Hawaii have established a long-term partnership to transform the way in which renewable energy and energy efficiency resources are planned and used in the state. In 2010, DOE announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) with the state as a joint lead for wind energy development under the Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program (HIREP). In response to public comments, as well as regulatory and policy developments, DOE has broadened the scope of the PEIS to now include energy efficiency, distributed renewables, utility-scale renewables, alternative transportation fuels and modes, and electrical transmission and distribution.…

What’s Up with Carrots?

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

What’s Up with Carrots?

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR

When you think of an orange vegetable, carrots come to mind, but once upon a time the most common color of carrots wasn’t orange. It wasn’t until the 1500s that the Dutch stumbled upon an orange carrot and focused on developing more orange varieties.
Believed to be native to the area around Afghanistan, the first carrots were purple and yellow. Around A.D. 900-1200, they spread to the eastern Mediterranean, then to China and Eastern Europe by the 1300s. By the 1600s, yellow carrots reached Japan, but it wasn’t until the 1700s that orange carrots emerged in Holland and adjacent areas.…

IAM Expanding Efforts and Membership

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

IAM Expanding Efforts and Membership

IAM News Release

I Aloha Molokai (IAM) is delighted to announce the formation of IAM West, which includes members from the Maunaloa community and the 800-member West Molokai Association. West Molokai is the planned site for a proposed 90 turbine industrial wind power plant. Members of all three groups unanimously agreed to oppose this project, no matter what so-called “benefits” may be offered. This is a big step toward our goal of uniting the entire island of Molokai in opposition.

IAM is already a partner with Friends of Lanai and Kupa`a no Lanai. Because it appears that Hana on Maui may be the next scenic, rural community threatened by large scale, profit-driven development, we are currently working with people in Hana to create an IAM Hana.…

Going for Gold

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Going for Gold

Molokai paddlers place first at this year’s Great Kahakuloa Race

The men’s team from Molokai’s Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club returned as champions of this year’s Great Kahakuloa Race, held on Maui Sunday morning. The race, sponsored by Na Kai Ewalu, spanned 26 miles from Maliko Gulch to Canoe Beach in Lahaina. The team finished in 3 hours and 25 minutes, followed closely by Wailea Canoe Club and then Hawaiian Canoe Club, both from Maui.

Last year, the crew placed third in this race. This is the first time since the 1980s they have beaten Hawaiian Canoe Club, one of the top crews in Maui, according to paddler Clint Labrador.…

Leading By Example

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Leading By Example

MHS student represents Molokai on teen council against meth use

It’s no secret that methamphetamines –commonly known as “ice” –has been a prevalent problem on Molokai. Meth is currently the top drug of choice and the number one drug problem in Hawaii, according to the latest assessment done by The National Drug Intelligence center.

But one student from Molokai High School (MHS) is taking action in the fight against meth use. MHS Junior Hope Will has become the first student from Molokai to serve on the Teen Advisory Council for the Hawaii Meth Project, a statewide campaign started in 2009 to prevent and reduce meth use across the islands, especially amongst teens and young adults.…

Keeping Kalaupapa Beautiful

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Keeping Kalaupapa Beautiful

Waste at the settlement up 50 percent from previous years

The amount of solid waste exported out of the Kalaupapa settlement is estimated to near 41,000 pounds by the end of September, increasing almost 50 percent from last year’s 27,000 pounds of trash.

Park officials suspect the reason for this upsurge is the increase of guests and visitors, according to Arthur Ainoa, the National Park Service’s (NPS) Grounds and Recycling Supervisor. At the monthly community meeting last week, he said many guests to Kalaupapa are unaware of the recycling and composting program, dumping all their waste into one trash pile instead of sorting it per the program’s policy.…

Fortifying the Pier

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Fortifying the Pier

Kalaupapa’s historic landmark currently under repair

It’s been a noisy week for the Kalaupapa settlement. Helicopters have been transporting mixed concrete from topside Molokai to the settlement for repairs to the historic pier since last Monday. The $5 million repairs should fortify the pier for the next 50 to 75 years, according to Steve Prokop, superintendent of the Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

The pier, which is over 75 years old, requires repairs on a regular basis after being pounded by winter surf on the north shore of Molokai, said Prokop. The pilings, or large posts that support the pier, are worn and the bulkhead wall below the warehouse building has deteriorated over the years.…

Na Pu`uwai Receives $1.6 M to Continue Programs

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Molokai’s Native Hawaiian health care provider, Na Pu`uwai, recently received $1,696,281 in federal funding. The funding, part of an ongoing grant, enables the organization to continue current programs, according to Executive Director William Akutagawa.

The funding was part of $10,673,171 allocated to healthcare, education and wellness programs designed to address the needs of Native Hawaiians across the state. The money comes through a series of five grants administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding was announced last week by Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Representative Mazie K. Hirono, and U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa.…

Taking Steps for Charity

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Taking Steps for Charity

The 34th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walks held in May this year raised a record breaking $613,025 across Maui County. On Molokai, 130 walkers from eight local charities participated, raising $12,700.

Of nonprofit agencies, Molokai Farmers Alliance raised the most money with $5,135, followed by Molokai Cancer Fund with $1,156, and Hospice Hawaii for Molokai with $1,130. Monsanto was the business that raised the most money with $2,500. All of the monies raised by these organizations are redistributed to local charities throughout the county. This year, an extra $10,000 from funds raised on Maui was added to increase Molokai’s distribution, resulting in $22,7000 allocated to a variety of nonprofit organizations on the island, according to Carol Reimann, Executive Director for the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, who organizes the event each year.…