Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Invasive Species Committee Honored

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Invasive Species Committee Honored

Hawaii State Senate News Release

The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), as well as its state-wide counterparts including the Molokai ISC, were recognized for their biological control program by the Hawaii State Senate. Molokai resident and MISC member Lori Buchan and other representatives received the award last week.

MISC was the first Invasive Species Committee to form in 1999. The group works to protect the Valley Isle from non-native and harmful species like coqui frogs, pampas grass, veiled chameleons, and miconia. The partnership brings together scientists, resource managers, foresters, botanists, wildlife biologists, and representatives from county, state, and federal agencies to contribute their time and expertise.…

Molokai Scooters Opens Shop

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Molokai Scooters Opens Shop

With gas prices on the rise, Molokai Scooters may be just what residents and visitors to the island need. Oregon natives David and Jane Kelly are opening the moped rental store next door to the Bank of Hawaii in Kaunakakai, with an expected start date of April 9.

With years of experience in the retail business shared between the two, the Kellys are hopeful for the future of Molokai Scooters even before its official opening. They currently have a fleet of 20 mopeds available for rent with a 50cc engine –an engine small enough to operate with only a driver’s license under Hawaii law.…

The Rakefish Makes a Splash

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

The Rakefish Makes a Splash

Kaunakakai Elementary sixth graders learn about ocean pollution.

What fish is 4 feet long, has a rectangular body, can travel on land, and has helped bring awareness to ocean pollution across the nation? Answer: the Rakefish.

The Rakefish is not a real fish but a large fish-shaped sculpture with a broken rake as a fin. The “fish” has journeyed from A.W. Cox Elementary School in Guildford, Connecticut to teach Kimberly Ka`ai’s sixth grade class at Kaunakakai Elementary school about ocean pollution. Kaunakakai Elementary will be the sculpture’s only stop in Hawaii before continuing to its next destination in Washington, D.C.

Molokai parent Suzette Onofrio, whose niece attends the elementary in Connecticut, acted as a liaison in the process of bringing the Rakefish Project to Hawaii.…

Aeroponics at Kilohana School

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Aeroponics at Kilohana School

Community Contributed

By Val Hart, Horticulture Instructor

Students at Kilohana School are learning some high-tech agriculture during a 21st Century grant horticulture class. Using a technique called aeroponics, students will grow fruits and vegetables without the use of soil.

Using an Aeroponics Grow Kit, students will have the opportunity to learn this aero hydroponic gardening technique. Increasing the aeration of your nutrient solution, by using sprayers, foggers, nebulizers or other devices, more oxygen is delivered to plant roots, stimulating growth and preventing algae formation. Plants form oxygen from carbon dioxide only on the green parts of themselves, so enhancing the dissolved oxygen at the root zone enhances the metabolism and growth of plants.…

Letter: Good News on the Wind Front

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Good news for Molokai Ranch may be good news for us all!

Many of you remember early last year when Molokai Ranch CEO Peter Nicholas held a series of informational meetings, where he explained that Governor Abercrombie’s threat of eminent domain — condemning private land for public use — had forced the Ranch to lease 11,000 acres to Pattern Energy for the construction of 90 giant wind turbines.

Two weeks ago, members of I Aloha Molokai (IAM) were invited to meet with former Castle & Cook Resorts Lanai land development director Mr. Clay Rumboa, who is now the new Ranch general manager.…

Proposed Marine Corps Training on Molokai

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

The U.S. Marine Corps is looking to expand their presence in Hawaii, and some of their proposed operations may take place on Molokai. New aircraft would be based at Kaneohe on Oahu, but the Marine Corp’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) calls for increased activity at the Kalaupapa airport, and use of the Ho`olehua Airport for training.

“With new squadrons [coming], it’s important to take a look at all potentially available facilities,” said Maj. Alan Crouch.

The proposed activity was met with unanimous objection from Molokai residents who attended a Marine Corps consultation meeting last week. A public scoping meeting for the project was held on Molokai back in 2010, with a public comment period open last fall.…

Bills Supporting Irrigation System Move Forward

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Bills Supporting Irrigation System Move Forward

Rep. Mele Carroll News Release 

The Molokai Irrigation System (MIS), currently facing drought conditions, has help on the way from Representative Mele Carroll. Last Friday at the Hawaii State Capitol, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on two measures that would address the short-term and long-term concerns regarding the MIS.

Both House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) 207 and 208, introduced by Rep. Carroll who currently represents the island of Molokai, were unanimously passed unamended in the House Committee of Agriculture.

The first House Concurrent Resolution 207 requests that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture convene a task force to develop long range goals and plans for the MIS.…

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.…

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.…

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.…