• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    March 13, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    March 14, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    March 12, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Making a Difference with the Climate Crew

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

From September to December 2022, three of Molokai’s young women strived to make an impact and create awareness for Hawaii’s climate policy and clean energy. Kirakai Yamazaki-Gray, Kayla Holm and myself, Sage Yamashita, were picked to join Blue Planet’s Cohort called Climate Crew with eight other Maui County high school students. Through the cohort, the students completed multiple climate actions, meetings, and workshops, helping the Climate Crew’s work to reach more than 1500 people. 

“I was really impressed with the Molokai girls that joined the Maui County Climate Crew,” said Griff Jurgens, Blue Planet’s education director.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Molokai Group Awarded for Highway Cleanups

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Molokai Group Awarded for Highway Cleanups

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A group of Molokai residents were honored for their exemplary public service in picking up debris from the highway. The Kawela Plantation Homeowners’ Association was recently named the recipient of the No Ka Oi Highway Hui Award, a program of the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation Highways Division, Maui District. The award recognizes Adopt-A-Highway groups for their environmental volunteerism. 

The Homeowners’ Association is comprised of nearly 200 full- and part-time residents. They committed to cleaning a two-mile segment along Kamehameha V Highway and have organized a cleanup every few months. With an average 10 volunteers, they pick up about 20 bags of rubbish each time, according to a press release. …

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

$2.7M Awarded for Small-Scale Agriculture

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

HDOA News Release 

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has announced the award of 579 grants, totaling $2,684,350, for small-scale agriculture; including home gardening, herding and livestock operations in areas that are food insecure.

More than 7,400 applications were received this fall under the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP). The applications and project proposals were evaluated and ranked by HDOA’s Market Development Branch (MDB) and final approval was received last week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding for this grant program is provided by the USDA under the 2018 Farm Bill. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $5,000.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Deer Meat Giveaway

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Deer Meat Giveaway

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

On Dec. 10, Molokai Hunting Club held a Holiday Deer Meat Drive to provide venison to the Molokai community and honor the fifth reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, King Kamehameha V, who introduced axis deer to Molokai.  

More than 100 households were reached during the giveaway, held at Project Coordinator Troy Tancayo’s house. 

“The first hour was for kapuna. At La Pilina, many kupuna were saying how they grew up with deer meat, and now they don’t have that in their household anymore,” said Keo Hirata, interim PR at Molokai Hunting Club. “We had a lot of families come and about 20 Molokai Hunting Club members to help to distribute the meat that day.”…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

It’s 2040, Do You Know Where Your Water Is?

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

It’s 2040, Do You Know Where Your Water Is?

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

On an island, water is life. “Ola i ka wai.” So what does the future of this life look like?  

On Dec. 8, Maui County presented a preliminary draft for Molokai’s future water production goals and usage. The plan examined current water demand and production on Molokai and consequently how to meet future water needs. 

The “preliminary” aspect of the draft means that Molokai community members have a chance to comment on it before a “much more detailed” draft which takes into account these comments will be made available. 

The Molokai Water Plan, formally known as the Water Use and Development Plan, is part of a statewide requirement that each county adequately prepare for future water demands and production.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Farmers Union United Molokai Chapter Grows

Wednesday, December 7th, 2022

HFUU Molokai News Release

Hawaii Farmers Union United (HFUU) is a statewide organization of farm owners, foodies, ranchers, gardeners, perma-culturalists, cultural practitioners, landscapers, suppliers, businesses, and policy advocates that are all part of the local food chain. HFUU is a partner of the National Farmers Union. HFUU asserts that a multitude of smallholder diversified family farms that implement regenerative ecological techniques in growing and raising our food will create a resilient, vital, and productive agricultural system to better feed the people of Hawaii. HFUU represents 15-regional chapters across six Hawaiian islands, including Molokai.

Our Molokai Chapter began on Dec. 17, 2021 initiated by a 10-person group of Hoʻolehua homesteaders after visiting Maui HFUU farms and members.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

The Garden of Easy

Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

The Garden of Easy

By Paul Hanley, Community Reporter

It’s been about 15 years since Nelson Puailihau—aka Easy, aka Honeyboy—gave up his rough and rowdy ways. Three years ago, he began to tend a parcel of land near Kilohana school. From the thicket of bananas, papayas, and taro to the expansive, impeccable lawn, the “Garden of Easy” is the expression of his deep desire to bring life and beauty to the ‘aina.

“Since I got clean and sober and turned my life around,” says Puailihau. “I’ve put my heart and soul into this land.”

Each plant he nurtures symbolizes his commitment to growth, not just in the garden but in his own life.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Lightening Show

Sunday, November 27th, 2022

Lightening Show

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai residents watched a lightening storm roll by Thursday night. From bright flashes illuminating the clouds, to bolts extending into the ocean, a light show of nature wowed onlookers. East end also experienced heavy rain, with a flood advisory issued early Friday morning for the island and Kamehameha V Highway getting flooding and debris.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Building Relationships for a Brighter Future

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

Building Relationships for a Brighter Future

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

Last Saturday, community event Lā Pilina created relationships between community and local organizations’ planning efforts for Molokai. Sust’ainable Molokai hosted the event creating interconnection and rapport, as the meaning of Lā Pilina is relationships. Held at Mitchell Pauole Center, residents engaged in learning about future planning, ongoing efforts and how to live a more sustainable life.

“Growing up on this island, relationships are important,” said Tehani Kaalekahi, executive director of Sust’ainable Molokai. “Culturally it’s part of our kuleana, our responsibility to create these relationships. In many of the things we do here, it’s the relationships we build that helps us get to the end goal.”…

Posted in , , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Banana Management Workshop

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

UHCTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Molokai Cooperative Extension invites you to a Banana Tree Management Workshop on Monday, Nov. 21 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. The workshop will cover insects that affect banana trees in Hawaii and fertility management of banana trees.  Speakers for the workshop include Roshan Manandhar, Kauai County Extension Agent for Invasive Species and Jennifer Hawkins, Edible Crops Agent for the Molokai Cooperative Extension Office. 

To register for the event please contact Jennifer Hawkins by phone at 808-567-6934, or by email at jhawk@hawaii.edu.  Please include the workshop title, your name, phone number, and email address when registering. …

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment