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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Food for Thought

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Food for Thought

If you love food, then you’ve probably already gathered it’s not just about knowing where to find good food –it’s also understanding where good food comes from. This year, the Maui County Agricultural Festival is paring together 12 chef-and-farmer teams to not only prepare mouthwatering dishes, but to also educate the community with a holistic understanding of local agriculture. Molokai homesteaders Lynn and Russell DeCoite of L&R Farm will represent the Friendly Isle at the upcoming festival’s Grand Taste Education this year.

The DeCoites were selected to participate in the event by Humuhumunukunukuapua`a restaurant Chef Isaac Bancaco of the Grand Wailea, who orders sweet potatoes for his menu directly from L & R Farm.…

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Kaunakakai Resident Completes 78-day Expedition

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

National Outdoor Leadership School News Release

Colby Smith of Kaunakakai recently completed a 78-day semester exploring the mountains, deserts and coastlines of the Baja California Peninsula with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS.)

From Sept. 21 to Dec. 7, 2011, Smith’s group of 14 students was introduced to a variety of adventure-based skills such as backpacking, sea kayaking, sailing and costal navigation.

The first section of the students’ semester began with 21 days of hiking in the Sierra San Pedro Mountains in northern Baja California— a volcanic mountain range extending over 1,000 miles down the spine of the peninsula. Students learned skills like terrain management and navigation.…

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Bicycles? No Sked Um!

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Community Contributed

Opinion by Christopher Carey

When was the last time you thought about bicycles? Was it watching Carlo riding down from Kaunakakai Wharf, or a vague memory of keiki days?

Many of us dismiss bicycles as childhood relics, but gasoline prices continue to soar in Hawaii. Rather than casting stink-eye at Molokai Chevron as we pass, perhaps it’s time to do something more constructive about a real economic crisis that only continues to worsen each month.

Recently, three college students drove an old London taxi 32,500 miles around the world in about 14 months. Buying gasoline in a number of countries highlighted the fact that the United States has the cheapest gas in the world.…

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Aha Kiole Drafts Protocol for Passenger Boat Industries

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

As the Molokai community continues to determine its future and where tourism fits into the economical equation, the Aha Kiole, a resource management group, has compiled the results from a series of community meetings and surveys. The document outlines guidelines for tour companies arriving to the island by boat, including American Safari Cruises (ASC), which has been making controversial stops to Molokai since October 2011.

Results of feedback gathered by the Aha Kiole over the past several months showed different levels of agreement with ASC’s visits through surveys and moku meetings. In the surveys, 85 percent of the 395 residents surveyed voted “no,” 11 percent voted “yes,” and 4 percent said “yes” but with controls.…

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MIS files for Emergency Drought Declaration

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

Despite heavy rains three weeks ago, Molokai farmers are concerned that the summer may bring continued drought and adverse effects for agriculture. That concern motivated Molokai Irrigation System (MIS) board members to vote in favor of an emergency drought declaration for Maui County, which could bring government assistance.

Department of Agriculture (DOA) officials have filed the request for Gov. Abercrombie’s approval, and expect a response within a month to six weeks, according to DOA Chairperson Russell Kokobun, via video chat at last week’s MIS meeting. If the governor does declare a state of emergency for Maui County, the agricultural community may be able to access low-interest emergency loans if funds are available, according to the DOA’s Randy Teruya.…

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Marine Corps Consultations to Be Held on Molokai Airport Use

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Marine Corps Base Hawaii News Release
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii is proposing renewed use of the Molokai Airport as a re-fueling location for MV-22 “Osprey” and H-1 “Huey” and “Cobra” helicopters, as well as increased use of Kalaupapa Airport by the H-1 helicopters. On Tuesday March 27, at Mitchell Pauole Center conference room from 5 to 7 p.m., the Marine Corps is holding National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 consultations to discuss issues and concerns related to potential effects on historic properties in the vicinity of these airports.

MCB Hawaii initiated Section 106 consultations in November 2010, and expanded consultations in December, 2011, to include discussions of other locations in Hawaii outside Oahu.…

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Organic Initiative Funding Available

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

NRCS News Release

Federal funding is available for organic farmers, and now is your chance to benefit from this program. Offered under the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Organic Initiative provides a wide array of conservation practices specifically designed for organic production. Practices will help the selected applicants meet many requirements of their USDA Organic System Plans and stay in compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program.

“We are pleased to provide this federal funding to help organic growers in our farming community,” said Mr. Angel Figueroa, NRCS Director of the Pacific Islands Area (PIA).…

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Kalaupapa Storm Damage

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Kalaupapa Storm Damage

While Molokai residents were battling flooding two weeks ago, Kalaupapa was also hit with damages. This garage was one of 13 structures in the settlement affected by rain and high wind for a total of $300,000 in damages, according to Kalaupapa National Park Superintendent Steve Prokop. While some homes suffered loss of roofing shingles that might require the service of a roofing contractor Greensboro, other damages were more serious; two garages were flattened. Dynamic Roofing Concepts, Inc. committed to roofing excellence in Lakeland Florida can help provide professional roofing services.

“My admin building had a waterfall wall at one point and operations were moved to another location,” said Department of Health Kalaupapa Administrator Mark Miller.…

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Fuel Costs Rising, Worse to Come

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

Fuel Costs Rising, Worse to Come

Molokai residents are used to some of the highest gas prices in the nation. But with an overnight jump of 25 cents last week – reaching $5.36 for regular unleaded – even locals were left in disbelief. While Molokai has seen higher prices before, experts predict record-breaking highs in gas prices by summer of this year.

In 2008, the Dispatch investigated just why oil prices were so much higher on Molokai than other parts of the state or nation. The conclusion was a combination of factors – first, supply-and-demand economics dictates that less consumption requires higher prices to turn a profit.…

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Wailau Filming Canceled

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

This week, filmmakers planned to shoot a pilot episode for TNT called “Drop Zone” in Molokai’s remote north shore valley of Wailau. But those plans were nixed after a meeting with local residents last week, who expressed concerns about lack of protocol in holding a community discussion of the project, and “commercialization” of the valley many consider sacred.

“It was apparent people weren’t too excited to have us there, and out of respect for their wishes and for our best interest, we decided not to move forward,” said Maui –based filmmaker Mark Moquin on Friday.

“It’s a very special place; I don’t want [filming] to happen,” resident Palmer Naki, whose family takes care of the valley, told Moquin during the meeting last Wednesday.…

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