Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Kawela Stream Flows Again

Thursday, May 19th, 2022

Kawela Stream Flows Again

Earthjustice News Release

On Tuesday, May 11, full flow was restored to Kawela Stream, which has been diverted to West Molokai for over a century.  

The movement to restore Kawela began officially in 2019, when community group Molokai No Ka Heke filed a formal request for stream restoration with the State Water Commission.  This year, Molokai No Ka Heke and youth advocates from ‘Aina Momona conducted public outreach and appeared before the Water Commission three months in a row, in February, March, and finally in April, when the Commission agreed to the community’s request to pursue 100 percent restoration of Kawela Stream. …

Maunaloa School Garden Manager

Thursday, May 19th, 2022

Maunaloa School News Release 

Maunaloa School is looking for a school garden manager. The primary duty of the garden manager will be to oversee and manage a productive, organic fruit and vegetable garden while providing support to teachers as they utilize the space to accomplish learning objectives. The garden manager will work closely with administration and teachers, recruit volunteers to help maintain the school garden, create and foster community relationships, track the financial expenditures for the garden, and train school staff and volunteers in best practices for place-based, regenerative farming in school gardens. 

The timeframe of this position aligns with the 2022-2023 school year.…

Join the Climate Crew

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

Blue Planet News Release 

Blue Planet is recruiting for our fourth Climate Crew cohort! If you know of any motivated high school students on Molokai, Lanai, or Maui who might be interested in making an impact in their community through clean energy and sustainable efforts, please forward this to them! Up to 12 students will be selected for this two-month program in June and July.

Being part of the Climate Crew helps you find your voice in whatever form that might be; understand the legislative process through an equity, climate and energy efficiency lens; connect with other passionate students from other schools/islands to make impacts in your community; and build your college resume!…

Water Use Plan Outreach

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

Townscape News Release 

As a part of our community outreach for the Molokai Island Water Use and Development Plan, Townscape, Inc., consultant to the Maui County Department of Water Supply, will have staff on island to conduct in-person outreach. We would appreciate a chance to talk story with you and to get your manaʻo about your island’s water resources.

We will be setting up a booth pop-up style at a variety of locations during the third week of May. On Wednesday, May 18 we will be at Kualapuʻu Market from 1 to 5 p.m.; Thursday, May 19 at Friendly Market from 9 a.m.…

Inspected Meat Remains Safe as bTB Outbreak Continues

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

With concern about bovine tuberculosis (bTB), which has rapidly spread across livestock herds in central and west Molokai this year, some residents have wondered, is it safe to eat meat slaughtered on Molokai? The answer is yes. 

“The Molokai Livestock Cooperative would like to assure you, our community, that the procedures of how we handle every single animal, whether it be cattle, hogs, deer or sheep, must go through a stringent inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also known as the USDA,” wrote Randy Cabreros, interim manager of Molokai’s slaughterhouse, in a social media post last week.…

Developing Resilience Hubs

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Maui County News Release

The Maui County Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability is discussing the formation of Resiliency Hubs in Maui County. 

“Resilience Hubs help communities respond to natural and other disasters to expedite emergency recovery,” said Mayor Michael Victorino. “These hubs work best when they are customized to meet specific community needs. So please participate in the workshop closest to where you live. In this era of climate change and extreme weather, there’s no such thing as being over-prepared for the unexpected.”

Community input will help determine what services will be offered in Resiliency Hubs, but they are envisioned as places, most of the time, for residents, businesses and organizations to come together for workshops, events and training.…

Free Energy-Savings Kit

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Molokai residents are invited to pick up a free kit containing energy-saving items to help reduce energy use at home on Wednesday, May 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the drive-through locations on the island. The events will be held at Kaunakakai, Maunaloa and Kilohana elementary schools. 

Hosted by Hawaiian Electric in partnership with Hawaii Energy and the County of Maui Department of Water, the drive-through events will be distributing one kit per vehicle, first come-first served and while supplies last.

The kits include energy-saving light bulbs, water-saving faucet aerators and other items to help residents reduce energy use and manage their energy bills.…

Water Use Plan Pop-Ups

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Townscape News Release

As a part of our community outreach for the Molokai Island Water Use and Development Plan, Townscape, Inc., consultant to the Maui County Department of Water Supply, will have staff on island to conduct in-person outreach. 

We will be setting up a booth pop-up style at a variety of locations during the third week of May. The purpose of the outreach is threefold. We want to reach out to folks who have not been able to participate in the virtual meetings. We will share information about the work that has been done so far on the plan. And we want to better understand community sentiments and values for the island’s water resources.…

Historic Ruling to Restore Kawela Stream Flow

Thursday, April 28th, 2022

Historic Ruling to Restore Kawela Stream Flow

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

In a landmark decision last week, the state Commission on Water Resource Management unanimously ruled to restore flow levels to Kawela Stream and four others in the area, after they had been almost fully diverted for more than a century. It’s a huge victory for community members who advocated through group Molokai No Ka Heke, which filed a formal request for stream restoration in 2019. 

“After over a hundred years of Kawela waters being diverted across the island and wasted, we finally said enough is enough,” said Molokai No Ka Heke member Walter Ritte.  “The big ranching and ag operations are gone, and we couldn’t just sit and watch this precious water be thrown away.”…

Molokai TB Crisis Causes Statewide Concern

Wednesday, April 20th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai is currently experiencing the worst outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in decades, according to officials, and they’re worried it could spread across the state, causing a massive hit to the ranching industry. 

It has already had a huge impact on Molokai’s cattle and pig populations, and officials are still trying to determine how far it’s spread. Of four infected herds from west and central Molokai, more than 100 pigs and 60 cattle have already been depopulated, and testing is ongoing, according to the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture. More than 400 more cattle have been exposed, Jason Moniz, veterinary program manager for the animal disease control branch of the state DOA, told KHON2 last week.…