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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Queen Emma’s Taro Patch

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH CTAHR

Queen Emma is best known for establishing Queens Hospital to serve the Hawaiian people, but few of us know that she was quite knowledgeable about the culture of taro. The wife of Kamehameha IV, Queen Emma lived from 1836 to 1885 and was considered one of the most influential queens of the Hawaiian Monarchy. In one of her writings found in the Bishop Museum archives entitled ‘Observations on Varieties and Culture of Taro’, she discusses constructing a lo`i, the different varieties, different planting techniques, and harvesting.

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Go Fish

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

The latest edition of the Pono Fishing Calendar, an important tool in preventing overfishing, came out last month. The calendar teaches fishermen when not to fish, based on each species’ life cycle, to ensure healthy fish stocks.

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Energy Efficiency on Molokai

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

By Sean M. Costello, Mechanical Engineer, President Hawaii Energy Consultants

I have been travelling to Molokai about every quarter from Oahu since May of 2008.  While there have been great strides made by the resilient residents of Molokai in installing solar water heaters, compact fluorescent lamps, and solar photovoltaic systems - it becomes increasingly apparent that the local electric utility has neglected the needs of the residents of Molokai for economically viable and sustainable electricity production. Access to the grid being denied for renewable energy systems is both irresponsible, and for the island of Molokai in my opinion, bordering on the unethical.

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DLNR Extends Public Comment for Hunting Rules

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Department of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Hunters have been given another chance at contributing to hunting regulation. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is extending the comment period for Hawaii Administrative Rule amendments for regulating game bird and mammal hunting, field trials and commercial shooting preserves. Public hearings were held statewide on November.

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Big Gains in Metal Recycling

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Big Gains in Metal Recycling

While frustrated residents have built up a cache of large metal materials needing to be recycled, the county’s temporary program is almost done – but with a lot of success.

Molokai’s recycling center and landfill used to host a metal recycling facility, but was shut down in Dec. 2009 after reaching its capacity. Patience Gaia, administrator for metals and abandoned vehicles in the county Department of Environmental Management, said hosting metal recycling events is actually more cost effective for islands like Molokai and Lanai.

“The previous facility [was] meant to be temporary,” Gaia said, adding that keeping the equipment and staff for metal recycling was costly. “We get more collection [of materials] in a short time than ongoing.” 

The county contracted Kitagawa Towing to receive and process the material, and the Community Work Day Program (CWDP) to provide assistance cleaning up sites and bringing material to the landfill.


Gaia said more than 120 cars have been received, as well as 200-plus appliances, 100 tons of scrap metal, and over 1,000 tires. After being crushed, the metal is sent to Oahu, and sometimes on to other markets such as China. Tires are shredded and turned into playground material or other rubber-based products, and cars and appliances are melted down to form new metal parts.

Rhiannon Chandler, executive director of CWDP, said they received a lot of calls from residents, and on-island crews were sent out to help clean up.

“It was really overwhelming,” she said. “People had this stuff on their property for a while, unable to get rid of it.”

The county is planning another metals collection event next spring, and Chandler added CWDP is planning on working with a towing company to help bring in large items like cars.

Almost Pau
Metal materials accepted during landfill hours until Sat., Dec. 11:
Tues-Sat 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
No charge for residents; call 658-9029 for more info

Can It Be Recycled?
Regular recycling accepts:
Cardboard, glass jars and bottles, aluminum, tin and steel food and drink cans, paper, newspaper, plastic bottles, plastic bags, yard debris, motor oil, HI-5 Deposit Bottles and Cans
NOT: Styrofoam, aluminum foil, molded plastics, magazines, ceramics, light bulbs, containers with food residue

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The Nature Conservancy Goes Solar

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

The Nature Conservancy Goes Solar

TNC News Release

The Nature Conservancy’s Molokai office is sporting a new look – a large rooftop photovoltaic system that will significantly reduce energy  costs while providing enough power to meet the office’s electricity needs for years.  
 
 “We were able to basically cover all of our energy needs and put a cap on our energy costs into the future,” said Suzanne Case, the Conservancy’s Hawaii executive director. “It’s good for Hawaii both economically and in terms of sustainability.”

The 8.88-kilowatt photovoltaic array was installed by Maui’s Rising Sun Solar at the Conservancy office in the Molokai Industrial Park on the hot leeward side of the island. The PV system, which cost $69,596, will use solar energy to power lights, electronics, air conditioning and other office needs.

“Tapping into the clean, renewable energy resources that Hawaii has in such abundance holds tremendous potential for Molokai, which has one of the highest electrical rates in the nation,” said Matias Besasso, a partner with Rising Sun Solar. “Not only can it reduce costs, but it can lead to job creation and greater energy independence and self-sufficiency for Molokai’s people.”  


The estimated cost of generated power over 12 years is $53,572, compared to $109,295.32 with regular utility power.

Ed Misaki, the Conservancy’s Molokai director, said installation of the new system has been in the works for three years. “Going green is one of our big goals,” he added, noting that the new array will be hooked up and dedicated on Dec. 1, 2010.

Misaki said the Conservancy’s Molokai office will remain connected to Maui Electric’s grid under a Net Energy Metering contract, so that electricity is still available to the office on cloudy days, while excess power can be sold to the utility on days when office power use is low.

After twelve years, the Conservancy will have the option of negotiating a new contract or purchasing the system at fair market value.

“It’s a win-win for us,” said Conservancy Director of Internal Affairs Rico Gomez.  The Nature Conservancy on Molokai has been paying about 41 cents per kilowatt-hour, and under the new arrangement initially will pay 30 cents, he said.

“Every single one of us has to do what we can to reduce our use of fossil fuels – to try to put a limit on global warming, which poses a serious threat to nature and people,” Case said.

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Coffees of Hawaii ‘Back to the Basics’

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Coffees of Hawaii ‘Back to the Basics’

would be an issue,” said Holmes, adding the previous plantation owners already had a liquor license in 2001.

Coffees of Hawaii officially withdrew the liquor license application two weeks ago.

“We’re going back to the basics,” said Holmes. “We can not afford to keep losing money.”

What Could Have Been
Phase one of the expansions – an extended deck for additional seating and entertainment and a kitchen behind the espresso bar for a limited food menu – were completed at Coffees in 2008.

Phase two, scheduled to begin this year, was to include a full, certified kitchen; a small, portable bar and a special area for minors during bar hours. An on-staff chef was going to cook up “plantation-style comfort food,” with dishes such as curried shrimp with fried haupia, pan fried pork chops with grilled Maui onions, and stuffed Molokai waygu beef burger with blue cheese, to name a few. The menu was specifically formulated not to compete with other local restaurants.

Staff hired for the extended food services would have doubled from the current 12 to 25 employees. Holmes said people have even moved home from Oahu in anticipation of a job. Because of the current cuts in hours and services, seven employees will be let go, according to Pua Naeole, espresso bar and gift shop manager.

Holmes said their goal was a farm to table theme, buying locally from farmers, fishermen and the slaughterhouse. The restaurant was to be open seven days a week, open until 9 p.m. and Saturdays until 10 p.m., so as not to disturb the local community and neighbors.

A portable bar would allow service during limited hours – beer and wine from noon to 3 p.m., and full service from 4 p.m. to closing.

Coffee sales and the plantation side of the operation is where the business makes most of its money – Holmes said food brings in little revenue. Jazz night will be discontinued, but Na Ohana Hoaloha plans to take a holiday break to work on new songs and arrangements and be back to entertain beginning Jan. 2, 2011. Holmes said the espresso bar will remain open during their program, but only with drinks and limited food offering. She said the business actually lost money during the Saturday and Sunday music programs.

The gift shop will close at the end of the year. Naeole said she tried to stock local products, keep new products available, and keep them affordable. But with tourism down and local spending decreased, the shop wasn’t paying off. Instead, they hope to lease the space to a local vendor who will run a similar gift shop and “be in harmony with what we’re doing,” Holmes said.

Coffees of Hawaii New Hours
December: Espresso bar: Mon.-Fri. 10-2, Sat. 8-2, closed Sun.
Gift shop: Mon.-Sat. 10-2
Starting New Year:
Bar: Mon.-Fri. 10-2, Sat. 8-2, Sun. 2-5
Gift shop: Closed

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Organic Inspection Training to be Held in Hawaii

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Hawaii Organic Farmers Association News ReleaseA unique opportunity is available for organic inspectors or those interested in working in the organic field, including county extension agents, regulatory agency staff, organic processors and industry activists, in order to better understand the organic inspection and certification process.The Hawaii County Department of Research and Development has provided a grant to enable the International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) and Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) to offer Basic Organic Farm (Crop) Inspector Training, to be held January 25-29, 2011, and Process and Handling Inspector Training, to be held February 1-5, 2011, in Hilo, Hawaii Island. Registration deadline is December 12, 2010.
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To Bee or Not to Bee

Friday, November 26th, 2010

Community Contributed

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

The relationship between humans and honeybees is ancient, as demonstrated by cave paintings in Spain, South Africa, and Nepal, depicting honey hunters collecting honey from wild hives. The honeybee was introduced to Hawaii in 1857, but the accidental introduction of the Varroa mite in 2007 puts this relationship in jeopardy and is one example of Hawaii’s vulnerability to invasive species.

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The Life of the Land Part 1 of 7

Friday, November 26th, 2010

“Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono – The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”

This, the state motto of Hawaii, is one of the few if not only state mottos that alludes to man’s integral relationship to the natural world. This series will explore the Molokai’s life of the land with a brief history, both natural and human – its ample strengths and clear fragility, our diverse cultures and our common bonds. In our first part we will examine where we are in the broad expanse of the universe.

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