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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Kalaupapa Munitions Clean-Up

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

Kalaupapa Munitions Clean-Up

Not only was Kalaupapa historically known as a place of exile for patients of Hansen’s disease, but the peninsula was also used as a bombing range during the 1940s. As with other Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDs) around the state, efforts are being made to remove the unexploded ordnance. This fall, crews will be working in Kalaupapa to clean up the area.

A 937-acre region on the northwest side of the peninsula is known as the Makanalua Bombing Range. It was used by the U.S. Navy for bombing and rocket training from 1941 to 1946. Now, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Native Hawaiian Veterans, a munitions response company called USA Environmental and others are spearheading the clean-up.…

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Food Production Database for Molokai

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Food Production Database for Molokai

Sust`aina ble Molokai News Release

Sust`aina ble Molokai is working to integrate our island’s legacy of `aina momona (abundance) with modern self-reliant precepts to build a sustainable Molokai rooted in traditional knowledge and supported by emerging green practices and industries. We are creating Molokai-pedia, an open source multi-layered database project, which will focus on creating a needs assessment picture of Molokai’s resources.

Molokai-pedia will draw what is available on Molokai in the areas of environment and natural resources, land use and subsistence, waste management, community health and safety, culture, green economy and local businesses, eco-education, water, renewable energy, transportation, green building and affordable housing, and food production and security.…

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Effects of Rain and Drought

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Community Contributed

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

We’ve been in a drought for several years now. The dry winter into early spring was worrisome until last week’s storm brought welcome relief. But rains don’t always alleviate a dropping reservoir unless it arrives in moderate, not heavy amounts, and drops into Waikolu Valley. This storm resulted in heavy runoff and washed precious soil into the ocean. The water will be muddy until the dirt settles on the bottom and that’s not good. The drought had already left its mark.

Everything is connected. A less-than-average flow of artesian water percolating along the coast can adversely affect the fisheries habitat, resulting in a lower than average hatching of fingerlings or pua.…

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Senate Bill Encourages Remote Air Service

Thursday, March 15th, 2012

Hawaii Senate News Release

The Hawaii State Senate passed Senate Bill 2960 last week that would suspend landing fees for air carriers that provide interisland service to rural airports, which include Kapalua, Hana, Kalaupapa, Lanai, Molokai and Waimea-Kohala airports.

“This measure encourages commercial air carriers to continue service to the remote parts of our State,” said Sen. J. Kalani English, chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and International Affairs. “In effect, I hope it increase reliability and stabilize air fares.”

According to a Department of Transportation report, flight activity at Kalaupapa, Kapalua, Hana, Waimea-Kohala and Lanai has steadily declined over the last five years.…

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Passenger Boats Survey Results

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

Community Contributed
By `Aha Kiole o Molokai

The `Aha Kiole o Molokai has made a concerted effort to reach the community to get feedback and input regarding the arrival of the American Safari Cruises. Now, results are out from an island-wide “Advent of Passenger Boats and Yachts Survey.” A vast majority – 85 percent – of people voted “no,” 11 percent voted “yes” and 4 percent voted “yes, with controls.” We had 395 people participate in our surveys.

The results of the four Moku meetings showed 36 percent voting “no,” 8 percent voting “no” and the majority, 56 percent, voting for controls.…

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Protecting Our Sacred Places

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Community Contributed

Opinion by Lori Buchanan

On Molokai, the Navy is proposing to “re-activate” the abandoned Marine base in Ho`olehua, on the doorstep of homesteaders, and significantly increase military training (primarily at night) in Kalaupapa. These are two of the actions, trainings and construction around Hawaii outlined in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement released by the US Department of the Navy in November 2011.

Intermittent military training has been ongoing at Kalaupapa, the Ho`olehua Airport and along Molokai’s western and northern coastline for many years. Currently, old munitions lie buried along the Kaluakoi and Ilio Point coastlines in large numbers below several years and layers of windblown top soils.…

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Bracing for Drought: Molokai Irrigation System planning ahead

Monday, February 27th, 2012

With water levels in the Kualapu`u Reservoir reaching concerning levels and little seasonal rain in sight, members of the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS), which serves the bulk of the island’s agricultural and homestead users, are starting to prepare for the worst.

At this time last year, the reservoir held 18 feet of water. Currently, however, the water level is hovering around 10 feet.

Representatives of the six major commercial users of the MIS came to the MIS board meeting last week with some serious concerns: they want to begin preparations for a possible drought crisis in the coming months.

“We are extremely concerned about current reservoir levels and worried about extreme emergency conditions over summer,” said Ray Foster, general manager for Monsanto Molokai.…

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Surf’s Up

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Surf’s Up

With high surf advisories around the state for the past two weeks, Molokai surfers and body boarders have been taking advantage of the swells. Papohaku Beach, known for its expanse of white sand, is also known for its treacherous and unforgiving surf. Last Monday, a local youth takes advantage of a smaller, easier-going shore break and pulls into a sandy three foot tube. Photos by Catherine Cluett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Airport, Service Improvements Coming to Kalaupapa

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

For the first time in six years, Kalaupapa will again have firefighting equipment and staff at their tiny airport. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is providing a “skidmount unit” – a firefighting devise on a flatbed truck – to aid in the case of emergency, along with 24/7 personnel to man it, according to DOT spokesperson Dan Meisenzahl. The equipment should arrive to the settlement in March, he said. Two additional firefighters are being hired by the state, who will rotate service in Kalaupapa.

“If things ever go bad, it would be a collaborative effort,” said Department of Health Kalaupapa Administrator Mark Miller at last week’s community meeting, adding that the additional equipment and personnel would greatly aid in the event of emergency.…

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Mo`omomi to Be Gated

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Ten years ago, Mo`omomi was vibrant, green and healthy, with plentiful fish, according to Molokai-born Halealoha Ayau, Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) acting district supervisor for Molokai. Now, he said, the landscape is suffering, resources are being depleted, and the buildings are facing a high level of vandalism and damage. Because of this, Ayau has made a tough decision: erect a gate at Mo`omomi and initiate managed access to the area.

“You’re not permanently being blocked,” Ayau told attendees at a DHHL meeting held last week to get community feedback on how access should be managed. “We need to let her heal.”…

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