Agriculture

Rooted in Wellness

Sunday, July 7th, 2013

Rooted in Wellness

Molokai returned to its roots July 5 as moms and their supporters empowered the community to live healthy lifestyles. Keiki made recycled art while moms prepared local organic food. Performers sung along to the spirit of the evening as families and organizers shared how they love the land. Besides being a night of fun and aloha, the Grassroots Benefit Concert aimed to provide a path for youth to one day be restorers of health.

“The spirit behind [the event] is to promote an awareness of health and wellness on the island and be able to offer the upcoming generation support,” said Ehulani Kane, a member of the Mom Hui, the group that organized the event.…

Keiki Showcase Livestock

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013

Keiki Showcase Livestock

Acey Reyes knows how to steer her steer. At 11 years old, this 4-H member raises cattle for showmanship and market competitions. Her most recent exhibition was last weekend in Kaunakakai at the annual 4-H Livestock Expo.

Saturday afternoon she sat in the pen with her steer, nerves racing before she took him into the ring for the showmanship competition. Acey’s companion, Chuck, a Brangus Cross, is eight times her size. She had to guide the animal through the small ring alongside two other competitors’ steer, all while being watched and judged.

“It takes confidence,” said Acey. “You have to work with the animal and make sure he’s tame enough to compete.…

4-H Livestock Expo This Weekend

Thursday, June 27th, 2013

4-H Livestock Expo This Weekend

4-H Molokai News Release

This week, Molokai youth will have a chance to show off their livestock and agricultural efforts, while community members will enjoy educational demonstrations, live auctions, food and other entertainment. The 4-H Molokai Livestock Expo is slated for Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 at the Kaunakakai Ball Field.

4-H Molokai is partnering with The Hawaii Farm Bureau to educate the youth of Molokai about the many benefits of the 4-H programs established on island and across the U.S.

Friday will feature a small animal weigh-in, oral reasoning competition, vendor exhibits, 4-H parade and walk in the park followed by the Market Goat, Swine and Steer Competition.…

Island Legend: Paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Island Legend: Paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle

Fourth generation Molokai paniolo Uncle Jimmy Duvauchelle literally entered this world into the hands of a cowboy. When he was born in Kalamaula in the 1940s, there were only two doctors on the island — and when his mother went into labor, one doctor was in Honolulu and the other was busy, said Duvauchelle.

“My dad didn’t know what to do and panicked,” he chuckled. So he ran down the road and called for help from the only person who was experienced in delivery — an old time cowboy.

Back then, paniolo would be there with their cattle “whether it’s 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon,” said Duvauchelle.…

Funding Available to Enter “Made in Hawaii” Product Show

Friday, June 7th, 2013

 

County of Maui News Release
If you have a locally-made product you would like to showcase in the “Made in Hawaii” festival but do not have the funds to pay for an exhibit, assistance is available. Funding is being offered for locally-made product companies in Maui, Molokai and Lanai to exhibit at the Made in Hawaii Festival, announced the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and INNOVATE Hawaii. The festival will be held August 16-18 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall & Arena on Oahu.

The festival is a three-day showcase of “Made in Hawaii” products including food, books, art, gifts, fashions, plants, crafts, produce and more.…

Ag Exports Increase

Monday, June 3rd, 2013

Young Brothers, Limited, the intrastate cargo company serving Hawaii, released its numbers for their first quarter of this year, and the findings could reflect how Molokai is doing economically. Molokai saw a slight increase in its general and agricultural outbound cargo and a minimal decrease in inbound freight.  Meanwhile, larger islands showed more notable decreases.

Roy Catalani, Young Brothers vice president of strategic planning and government affairs, looked at the detailed numbers for the Dispatch and said the only significant increase he found was in the recyclable category. These scrap metal products leaving Molokai include old cars and washing machines.

Catalani said food shipments and construction cargo generally reflect the economic climate, and these numbers stayed the about same on Molokai as this time last year.…

Farmers — File Better Taxes Next Year

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

Kuha`o Business Center News Release

Risk Management Hawaii is bringing back Michael Holl to give an updated lesson for farmers and ranchers about business taxes. This workshop is specifically designed to enable Hawaii farmers to lower their tax liabilities through a better understanding of business deductions. The workshop also covers tax preparation and recordkeeping to minimize taxes and chances of an audit, business entities for your farm, how employment laws and independent contractor requirements affect your business, how to obtain relief from certain federal penalties, and special provisions in the tax code regarding farm income.

President of Tax Services of Hawaii and Michael Holl and Associates, Michael is a renowned speaker who has presented numerous tax workshops on taxes on behalf of the IRS, for the SBA Women’s Business Center, the National Association of Tax Preparers, UH, KCC, and various non-profits and foundations.…

Learn About Land Preservation Incentives

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Jean Brokish, Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council

The public is invited to attend a workshop exploring strategies and financial incentives to preserve and care for Hawaii’s agricultural lands on Thursday May 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the OHA conference room in Kaunakakai.

The Molokai Land Trust has been working with partners from around the state to bring this workshop to Molokai.

“This workshop will be of interest to landowners and people dedicated to caring for Molokai’s agricultural lands,” said Butch Haase, executive director for the land trust.

The morning session includes an overview of land preservation tools, including conservation easements and Important Ag Lands designation, and information on a variety of available funding sources. …

Food Producer Training

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Food Producer Training

Maui Culinary Academy and Hawaii Master Food Preservers News Release

A hands-on training program designed to explore value-added food production to support the skills necessary for a career in the food manufacturing industry. The Value-Added Food Production Cohort Training (VAFP) will engage participants in the development of specialty, niche food products to realize economic gains utilizing Molokai grown produce and farm products as a way to create more competitive “shelf ready” foods  through value-adding. This is valuable training for farmers, food distributors and others in the “farm-to-table” food chain.

“Adding value to crops by processing brings more money to the island and in the pocket of Molokai farmers,” said Glenn Teves, a University of Hawaii Molokai extension agent. …

An Evening for the Earth

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

An Evening for the Earth

The community gathered at Mitchel Pauole Center Friday to explore Molokai’s natural wonders and celebrate the gifts of the `aina.  With information on conservation, plant life, wildfire prevention, clean energy and more, Molokai Earth Day featured an abundance of learning for keiki and adults. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has organized the annual event since 1995, and this year the organization recognized its 30th year on Molokai.

Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapu`u (pictured here), Kualapu`u Charter School’s Hawaiian Language immersion program, kicked off the night, which included music, prizes and food.  TNC Molokai program manager Ed Misaki received the Malama Kuleana Honua Conservation Award for his 30 years of conservation through TNC, including Kamakou Preserve and the East Molokai Watershed Partnership.…