Environment & Ecology

The Rarest of Orchids

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

The Rarest of Orchids

Community Contributed

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

You would think the rarest orchids would be found deep in the steamy jungles of the Amazon or even in an isolated island such as Irian Jaya. Although they are found in one of the most isolated areas of the world, it just happens to be right here in our Molokai forest. Hawaii has only three endemic orchids, Ke kino o Kanaloa or the Hawaiian Jeweled Orchid, Awapuhi a Kanaloa or the Hawaii Widelip Orchid, also known as the Hawaiian Twayblade, and Puahala a Kane, the Hawaiian Bog Orchid. Their flowers are not showy, but these plants are precious jewels nonetheless.…

SB2785 Passes the Senate

Sunday, May 6th, 2012

Community Contributed

Mahalo to all those who testified in opposition to Senate Bill 2785, a bill which, according to legislators, provides a framework for Big Wind. Legislatures commented about all your calls, letters, visits and emails – we got their attention.

The bill passed at the very last minute, with acknowledgements of our concerns. The senate floor discussion on SB2785 centered on opposition from Lanai and Molokai. Senators Hee, Chun Oakland and Slom voted “no”, and we congratulate and thank them for having courage to say NO. Ten senators voted “with reservations,” which means that a majority of the Senate had problems with this bill.…

Think Yellow, Go Green

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

Hawaiian Telcom and Berry Company News Release

Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages, The Berry Company, Hawaii Food Banks and Local Schools, Work to Collect Directories for Recycling

Students around the state are competing in an annual event to recycle the most telephone directories with the goal of surpassing last year’s recycling totals and winning cash prizes. The Think Yellow, Go Green program is put on by Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages in conjunction with its sales agent, The Berry Company, LLC. The companies team up with schools on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui and Molokai for the program, set to run April 25 through May 25.…

Ocean Resources Management Meeting

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Governor’s Office News Release

Add your input to a new state ocean resources management plan during a listening session on Molokai, to be held May 30, at the Mitchell Pauole Center. An open house will begin at 5:30 p.m., with a formal presentation at 6:30.

The State of Hawaii Office of Planning Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program is inviting coastal and ocean users, as well as other stakeholders and interested individuals, to the state-wide series of listening sessions as it begins the Hawaii Ocean Resources Management Plan (ORMP) update.

The ORMP takes a place-based approach to management of ocean resources in the islands, taking into account recognition of the ecological connections between land and sea, the link between human activities and impacts on the environment, and the need for improved collaboration and stewardship in natural resources governance.…

Undersea Cable Impacts and Costs Too Severe, Says National Grid

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

I Aloha Molokai News Release

A high-voltage undersea transmission cable planned for Massachusetts has been killed by one of the nation’s major utilities because it would be a “high-risk” installation, too expensive to construct, with too many severe environmental impacts and too difficult to maintain.

The National Grid, which serves much of New England and New York State, released the findings of its Cable Feasibility Study this week. The cable would have been built using the latest technology called horizontal direct drilling – the same technology planned for sections of the interisland cable proposed by Governor Neil Abercrombie and HECO, and now being considered by the Hawaii Legislature.…

Be Fire Safe: Tips To Prepare

Thursday, April 26th, 2012

Be Fire Safe: Tips To Prepare

Community Contributed

By Richard Schonely, Fire Inspector

Recent heavy rains have created new brush growth. Check your house or lot now and take steps to protect your property from fire hazards.

The Department of Fire & Public Safety asks property owners to make sure their land is in compliance with the Uniform Fire Code pertaining to brush as adopted by the County of Maui. Fire personnel will be inspecting parcels yearly throughout Molokai.

Visit the nearest fire station to pick up a brochure on how the parcel should be maintained. You can also visit firewise.org to get tips on making your home safe from a brush fire.…

Aloha Honua

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Aloha Honua

Biologist Bill Puleloa receives first ever Malama Kuleana Honua Award.

This year’s annual Molokai Earth Day celebration, hosted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) marked the beginning of a new tradition –the “Malama Kuleana Honua” (Caring Responsibly for Earth) Honorary award. William “Bill” Puleloa, a recently retired aquatic biologist for the state’s Department of Land and Resources, was its first recipient. He was commended at Earth Day for his work with monitoring the conditions of Molokai streams, collaborating with local fishermen and researching the native honu, or green sea turtles.

“Bill has always been a resource and supporter to conserving our resources,” said Ed Misaki, TNC’s Program Director.…

Looking for Nutrition

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Looking for Nutrition

Community Contributed

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

One of man’s greatest achievements was the domestication of plants for food, but in the words of Jacob Bronowski, “Humans domesticated crops, then crops domesticated humans.” Many of us think we eat a balanced diet, but interestingly enough, we all lack some basic nutrients. Our domesticated crops supply some of our most important nutrients and other health enhancing compounds. A good example is Vitamin C, only found in fruits and vegetables.

At least half of the U.S. population is deficient in Vitamins A, C, K, and probably E, in addition to Calcium, Magnesium, and fiber.…

Molokai Student Winners in Poster Contest

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Molokai Student Winners in Poster Contest

Dept. of Water Supply News Release

Kilohana Elementary School Kindergartener Kiara Lima took first place in her division in the county-wide Department of Water Supply’s third annual Water Conservation Poster Contest. The contest drew 543 entries from public, private and home schools around Maui County. Kualapu`u School’s Carly Dudoit also placed third in the Kindergarten division.

The goal of the contest was to educate Maui Nui’s youth on the importance of water conservation and to encourage them to take an active role in ensuring the sustainability of our islands’ water supply. This year’s theme was “Malama I Ka Wai,” or to take care of the water.…

Molokai Kupuna Mervin Dudoit Honored

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Molokai Kupuna Mervin Dudoit Honored

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas

A Molokai resident who has volunteered thousands of hours to fishpond restoration was honored by the Hawaii State Teachers’ Association (HSTA) with the 2012 Friend of Youth Award. Mervin Dudoit received the award at the annual HSTA state convention on Saturday, March 30, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu.

The award recognizes countless citizens in Hawaii, nonprofessional educators and volunteers, working in relative obscurity and with limited budgets, who make invaluable and lasting community contributions to the education of children. The award to Uncle Mervin was made after a state-wide search and selection process. Jennifer Tsuji, Chairwoman of the Award Committee, said, “When we reviewed all the applications, Mervin Dudoit’s work stood out so strongly that we knew we had to honor him with this award.”…