Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Co-Design Molokai’s Renewable Energy Future

Thursday, November 11th, 2021

Co-Design Molokai’s Renewable Energy Future

Sustʻainable Molokai News Release

Are you interested in learning about clean energy solutions designed by and for the Molokai community? If so, join the Molokai Clean Energy Hui (MCEH) next Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. for a community meeting on the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (Molokai CERAP).

Today, Molokai electricity remains dependent on expensive and environmentally damaging fossil fuels. While Molokai residents are the lowest electrical consumers in Hawaii, Molokai continues to have the highest electrical costs in the country. Fortunately, there is a way for you, the community, to steer what types of technology and energy storage options we would like to see on Molokai. …

Nonprofit Works to Restore ‘Aina

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021

‘Aina Momona News Release

Aloha Molokai, we are ʻAina Momona, a Native Hawaiian nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of achieving environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty. Our team of kiaʻi are committed to restoring Molokai ʻAina Momona. 

We are advised by a board of exceptional Native Hawaiians who work in concert with our staff on the ground. Our board members include Dr. Jon Osorio, Dr. Trisha Kehaulani Watson, and Molokai’s own, Dr. Keoni Kauwe, among others. Dr. Kauwe is a graduate of Molokai High and Intermediate (ʻ96) and recently became the eleventh president of Brigham Young University — Hawaii and the first of Native Hawaiian descent.…

Sea Level Rise Walk-Thru Workshop

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

If you care about using our coastal roads, surfing, eating kole, ʻoio, limu, and going to the grocery stores in Kaunakakai, sea level rise affects you!

The sea level is expected to rise approximately 4.07 feet in Hawaii before the end of 2100 if we continue to operate business as usual. Large parts of Kaunakakai town will be flooded with seawater, including major infrastructure. Sust’ainable Molokai is leading the planning process to ensure that our community is prepared to adapt to this already occurring and ongoing change. Coastal communities and waterfront property owners may need to start new seawall construction projects and look for equipment like a bobcat rental to prepare for the rising sea level.…

Help Design Molokai’s Next Energy Project

Wednesday, October 27th, 2021

HECM News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a local group formed to support community-owned energy projects, invites you to join us for our next virtual workshop on Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The workshop continues Hoʻahu’s work to design solar and battery storage projects for Maui Electric’s upcoming Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) Request for Proposals (RFP).

This Saturday, we will focus on discussing how best to make sure that low-income residents have the opportunity to save money on their electricity bill by participating in Hoʻahuʻs CBRE project. 

This meeting will be held over Zoom and is open to all who would like to listen and participate.…

Wet Season Outlook

Wednesday, October 20th, 2021

Wet Season Outlook

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

With the winter season approaching, weather forecasters have released predictions for how much rain we might see in the coming months. Kevin Kodama, a senior hydrologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Honolulu, said similar to last year, we may not see significant rain until January. With Molokai coming out of “exceptional drought” conditions over the summer, the island may not fully recover from drought before next dry season. 

Weather experts say this is the second year of La Nina conditions, which are marked by cool sea surface temperatures near the Equator – as distinct from El Nino, which has warm sea surface temperatures.…

Visitors Bureau Seeking Nonprofit Partners

Thursday, October 14th, 2021

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau (MVCB) is seeking nonprofit organizations on Maui Nui to take part in the statewide Malama Hawaii program, an initiative to inspire mindful travel, while encouraging visitors to give back to the destination. Through this initiative, industry partners and volunteer organizations across the state have come together to build the Malama Hawaii initiative.

“There are currently nearly 80 hotel partners and more than 30 nonprofit partners statewide that have joined the program,” said Meagan DeGaia, destination manager of the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We are extremely proud that of those partners, 28 hotel partners and 10 nonprofit partners are based in Maui… With such tremendous support and success from our industry and nonprofit partners on Maui since the inception of the program, we are hopeful that other nonprofits not only on Maui, but on Molokai and Lanai would be interested in partnering with us as we continue to grow the Malama Hawaii program to the greater Maui Nui.”…

Join the Conservation Planning Committee

Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

County of Maui News Release  

Applications to fill Molokai, Lanai and East Maui seats on the Conservation Planning Committee are being accepted until Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m., Councilmember Michael J. Molina, chair of the council’s Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee, announced.  

“The Conservation Planning Committee provides recommendations to the mayor, council and county agencies prior to acquiring parcels for land conservation purposes using Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Funds,” Molina said. “It is important we have representation from community members in our remote locations as lands in those areas are best known by its nearby residents.”…

Molokai Water Use and Development Plan Meetings

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

Molokai Water Use and Development Plan Meetings

Townscape News Release

Please join us for regional meetings to share your manaʻo about the water resources in your region: Central, East and West Molokai. We would like to hear about wahi pana, water needs, critical issues, sensitive areas, and more. 

The meeting for central Molokai will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 6 to 7 p.m. The meeting for east Molokai will be on Tuesday, Oct. 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. and west Molokai will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. All meetings will be held virtually on Zoom. …

Kalaupapa Barge Day

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

Kalaupapa Barge Day

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Kalaupapa’s once a year barge arrived at the peninsula on Saturday, Sept. 11 bringing nonperishable food, gas, equipment, building supplies, vehicles and other essentials to the remote settlement. Rose Hartman captured this photo of the barge’s approach to Kalaupapa along the cliffs on her flight from Honolulu to Molokai via Kalaupapa. …

6th Monk Seal Dead on Molokai This Year

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

6th Monk Seal Dead on Molokai This Year

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

On Sept. 19, a resident found and reported a young female seal dead on the south shore of Molokai. The death of the seal, known as L11, marks the sixth seal death on Molokai since the beginning of the year – “an unprecedented number of deaths over a 9-month time period,” according to officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). An investigation is underway. 

L11 was born last year in Kalaupapa. Hawaii Marine Animal Response Molokai Outreach Coordinator Todd Yamashita said she had been known to haul out on lawns and sandy parking lots on the east side of Molokai, describing her as curious and healthy.…