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Community

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

Molokai Land Trust Open Space Grant Meeting Today

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

County of Maui Press Release

Molokai Land Trust has applied for $480,000.00 from the County of Maui’s Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Scenic Views Preservation Fund for the acquisition of 196.4 acres on Molokai’s east end at Kawaikapu Ranch. Comment on the acquisition during a rescheduled County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation public meeting on the Molokai Land Trust grant application. The new meeting date will be Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 6 p.m. at the Kilohana Community Center, located at 334-A1 Kamehameha V Highway, Kilohana, Molokai.

The County of Maui’s funds are intended to be used as a match with the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources funding of $767,976.00 from their Legacy Lands Conservation Program for the purchase of this specific property. If approved, the County of Maui will hold a perpetual Conservation Easement on the property.

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Molokai Planning Commission Agenda 8/26/09

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

MOLOKAI PLANNING COMMISSION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MOLOKAI PLANNING COMMISSION

AGENDA

Members: Joseph  Kalipi (Chair), Steven  Chaikin  (Vice-Chair),  Nathaniel  Bacon, Lori Buchanan, Napua Leong, Joseph Kalipi, Mikiala Pescaia, John Sprinzel, Teri Waros, Don Williams


DATE: August 26, 2009 (Wednesday ) TIME:  12:00 p.m.
PLACE: Mitchell Pauole Center, Meeting Hall, Kaunakakai, Molokai

A. CALL TO ORDER

B. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON ANY PLANNING OR LAND USE ISSUE C. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1.  MR. MILTON ARAKAWA, AICP, Director of the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS requesting review and comments on the proposed Bill for an Ordinance Amending Chapter 18.04 of the Maui County Code, pertaining to Subdivision General Provisions.  The proposed bill addresses the issue of consistency. (RFC 2009/0199) (The public hearing was conducted on August
12, 2009.  Commissioners:  Please bring you documents.)

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Pharmacy Frustrations

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Molokai Drugs seeks exemption from new drug plan. 

Opinion by Kimberly Svetin

On behalf of Molokai Drugs, we would like to thank the community for their support—hundreds of letters, phone calls, e-mails, petitions—on behalf of asking the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) for an exemption in the mandatory mail order program for the islands of Molokai (including Kalaupapa, Kalalau County) and Lanai. We know that you have many choices and truly appreciate your support over the past 74 years.

Since the July 15, 2009 Board of Trustees meeting, we have been approached by a number of residents and wanted to give an update to our community on what has been happening. At the meeting, we (Molokai Drugs) were told by the Board of Trustees to work on a solution with informedRx, an SXC company (NASDAQ: SXCI) based in Lisle, Illinois. We were sent a pharmacy working agreement in writing on August 5, 2009 by our contact at informedRx and are reviewing this document. The topic of the exemption was tabled until the next Board of Trustees meeting, which will be held on August 26, 2009.

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Public Hearing Set for Ranch’s Water Rate Increases

Friday, August 14th, 2009

By Catherine Cluett

After months of delays, a general rate increase application has been successfully filed by Molokai Ranch’s water utility companies. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has set a public hearing on Molokai for September 3, 2009 at Mitchell Pauole Center at 5 p.m.

At the end of May last year, Molokai Ranch threatened to shut down their water utilities Molokai Public Utilities (MPU) and Wai`ola O Molokai (Wai`ola), citing financial hardship. In an unprecedented move, the PUC approved temporary rate increases that have been described as outrageous.

MPU and Wai`ola filed general rate applications with the PUC in March, requesting rate increases of as much as five times greater than what consumers were paying last summer. The utilities also requested their applications be accepted with unaudited financial statements in lieu of audited ones, which the PUC denied.

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Court Rules Against Molokai Properties, Ltd. In Utilities Dispute

Friday, August 14th, 2009

MPL is held legally responsible for the actions of its utilities. 

County of Maui Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2009

The First Circuit Court ruled on July 15, 2009 that Molokai Properties,
Ltd. (MPL) is legally responsible for the actions of the Molokai utility
companies whose stock MPL owns. The appeal arose out of MPL's threat
last year to shut down water and wastewater utilities providing service
to some 1,200 Molokai residents.

On May 8, 2008, MPL notified the State Department of Health that MPL
would not continue to operate water and wastewater utility systems in
Molokai beyond August 2008.  On July 21, 2008, the Director of the State
Department of Health initiated administrative proceedings against MPL
and the utilities to avoid a public health crisis that would have
occurred if MPL had made good on its threat.  MPL responded by claiming
that the Department of Health did not have any jurisdiction over MPL
because MPL was merely a stockholder in the utility companies. After an
evidentiary hearing, in which the County of Maui participated as an
intervenor, the Department of Health's hearing officer ruled that
although they had been set up as separate corporations, the utilities
and MPL were ignoring the necessary corporate formalities and were
operating essentially as one company controlled by MPL. As a result, MPL
could be held legally responsible for the actions of the utilities. The
hearing officer's decision was based on an "alter ego" theory,
sometimes known as "piercing the corporate veil." 
  
MPL appealed the hearing officer's ruling that MPL was the alter ego
of the utilities. The appeal was assigned to Judge Eden Elizabeth Hifo
of the First Circuit Court and following oral arguments on July 15,
2009, Judge Hifo ruled in favor of the State and the County, and against
MPL. Judge Hifo held that no due process rights of MPL had been
violated, and she affirmed the hearings officer's rulings on the alter
ego issue.

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Paddler’s Inn Changes Hands

Friday, August 14th, 2009

By Dan Murphy
 
After abruptly closing earlier this summer, Paddler’s Inn is preparing to reopen its doors to Molokai under new management.

The restaurant’s previous owners, Robert and Sharon Spruiell, decided to close the restaurant and bar in early June because they were struggling to run it from their home in Arizona. According to Paddler’s property owner Jerry Johnson, the Spruiells officially turned over the building’s lease and keys to Darrin Abell on Aug. 5.

Abell comes to Molokai from Modesto, Cali where he previously worked in the restaurant business. He hopes to have the restaurant open for business by Sept. 1, Johnson said.

“I think he’ll be really good. I think he’ll give the place the food product it needs to succeed,” Johnson said. “He also has a really great attitude about the community, which is what I was looking for.”
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MAUI COUNTY SHELTER STATUS

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Maui County Press Release 

As of 2:30 pm Monday, August 10, 2009

The National Weather Service has reported a change in expected onset times of Tropical Storm Felicia. In response to a forecast of a later arrival to Maui County, the scheduled opening and list of emergency shelters on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai have been revised as follows:

SCHEDULED SHELTER OPENINGS 

MAUI:Hana School Gym, Hana
War Memorial Gym, Wailuku
Kihei Community Center, Kihei
Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina
Eddie Tam Gym, Makawao
Haiku Community Center, Haiku

MOLOKAI: Molokai High School Gym
Mitchell Pauole Community Center

LANAI: Lanai High School Gym

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County Announces Precautionary Closures, Shelter Preparations

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Maui County Press Release

In light of the approaching tropical storm, the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced that as of 4 p.m. today, several rural, east-facing parks were closed, including Honomanu, Keanae and Kipahulu Point Light Station. Other County parks may be closed as needed, pending weather conditions.

Other closures include:
● All County campgrounds will be closed by noon Monday: Kanaha and Papalaua on Maui, and One Alii and Papohaku on Molokai.
● All County-sponsored recreation programs will be canceled for Monday afternoon and evening.
● Swimming pools will be closed by noon Monday; Waiehu Golf Course may close pending weather conditions.
● Other County parks will be assessed for closure on Monday, based on public safety concerns from flooding, high surf, winds, falling trees and branches. Closures may also need to be extended to clean up debris and make safety assessments after storm conditions have passed.

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Pau Hana Inn Bought By Molokai Community Health Center

Friday, August 7th, 2009

By Dan Murphy

Molokai has seen its share of ups and downs and the Pau Hana Inn has weathered many of them. Now, it is about to experience another transformation – one that will foster both good health and economy for the island. The Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) purchased the old Pau Hana Inn from New Hope Christian Fellowship on July 31 for $2.75 million.

MCHC’s Executive Director Desiree Puhi spearheaded the effort to complete the sale. Puhi took over at the Health Center in July 2008 and immediately recognized a need for more space. The 5.9 acre plot, located makai of King’s Chapen in Kaunakakai, will be a major increase in space from the 2,400 square foot office that the MCHC has used since its opening in 2004.

“We were too cramped to meet all of our patients’ needs and we also needed more room to continue to grow,” MCHC Financial Director Cyrus Siu said.

Siu estimated that the process to convert the retreat center into a medical facility will take almost a year. He said they hope to be fully functional by July 1, 2010, but that date may change based on how quickly they can acquire Special Management Area permits and begin the renovations.

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Possible Budget Cuts for Kalaupapa

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Submitted by the office of Senator J. Kalani English

As the state budgets tighten and dwindle, law-makers like Senator English lobby to protect the communities they serve. The Department of Health in Kalaupapa does not appear to be exempt from the chopping block.

July 9, 2009
Dear Governor Lingle:

The purpose of this letter is to request an exemption of the Hansen Disease Branch within the State Department of Health (DOH) from any possible budgetary cuts that may be imposed. I feel that the patients of Kalaupapa have endured enough hardships and to induce further deprivation upon them would be detrimental to their welfare.

The State of Hawaii has statutory commitments to all persons forced into exile by the DOH for Hansen's disease to insure them adequate health care, medical treatment, and other services for the remainder of their lives. Moreover, the patient residents of Kalaupapa are entitled to the same health care and services regardless of whether or not they have been successfully treated.

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