Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Improvements for Kualapu`u Rec Center

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

County of Maui News Release 

The Department of Parks and Recreation announced last week that, with ongoing repairs and renovations at the Kualapuʻu Recreation Center, the facility’s basketball/volleyball court will be closed from Monday, Sept. 20, through Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, for the construction of the Kualapuʻu Recreation Center Court Improvements project.

The court renovation project will include the removal and replacement of existing court equipment, resurfacing and restriping of the court, and an accessible route along the court to the existing walkway. The construction contract was awarded to Site Engineering Inc.

As part of the ongoing improvements to the Kualapuʻu Recreation Center, the renovation will also focus on upgrading the facility’s entrance and interior areas to enhance accessibility and security.…

$950K for Na’iwa Subdivision

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Improvements to the Na’iwa Subdivision on Molokai Hawaiian Home Lands are moving forward with the release of an additional $950,000 in capital improvement funds, Sen. Lynn DeCoite announced last week. The funds are allocated for design and engineering services for roadway access, water and electrical service for the subdivision area. 

After years of waiting, the Na’iwa agricultural subdivision in Ho’olehua near the airport, which encompasses 341 acres and 58 lots, is getting infrastructure improvements including access roads, driveways, electrical connections and potable and irrigation water lines. Site inspections and field work for the improvements began in February and March.…

Kalaupapa General Management Plan Released

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

NPS News Release

The National Park Service (NPS) released the Kalaupapa National Historical Park General Management Plan last week after years of planning and public input.

The plan provides broad guidance for the management of the park. It will navigate the NPS and its many partners in the protection of the Hansen’s disease community at Kalaupapa and its legacy. With malama i ka ‘aina (care for the land and waters) at its core, the plan provides direction for the preservation of Kalaupapa’s cherished resources and future visitation over the next 20 years and beyond.

“We are especially grateful to the many people who provided their mana‘o to the development of the general management plan over several years,” said Amy Sakurada, Acting Superintendent of Kalaupapa National Historical Park.…

Halawa Surfing

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

Halawa Surfing

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Surfers of all ages caught some late summer swell in Halawa Valley. Pictured here, Dickie Stone rides the whitewash on Aug. 22. …

Congressman Kahele Visits Molokai

Wednesday, August 25th, 2021

Congressman Kahele Visits Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Congressman Kaiali’i Kahele spent four days Molokai last week to get a better understand of the challenges and strengths of the community, as the last stop in a district-wide tour. He spoke with sustainability leaders and fishpond restorers, large-scale farmers and backyard gardeners, as well as staff at a variety healthcare organizations on island.
U.S. Rep. Kahele took office on Jan. 3 of this year, representing the second Congressional district, which covers the whole state.

“My first six to nine months in office [I wanted to] get a chance to go to all the different islands to really start to hear what are the community’s concerns and how can my voice at the federal level help answer some of those things,” he said during his Molokai visit, which spanned Monday to Thursday last week.…

Free Ag Business Marketing Workshop on Molokai

Wednesday, August 11th, 2021

UHCTAHR News Release

Are you a farmer or an agriculture entrepreneur? Do you have an agriculture related product you are looking to sell? Need help learning how to find and connect with future customers? If you answered yes to any of these questions you will want to make plans to join us on Thursday, August 26 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for our Ag Business Summer Series workshop on Marketing. This is where the audience can learn how important other services like Marketix Digital can be in their business.

In a competitive market landscape, leveraging insights from the Marketing Secret black book by Russell Brunson can provide businesses with a competitive edge by uncovering innovative approaches to engage and convert their target audience effectively.…

Community Energy Meeting a Success

Wednesday, August 11th, 2021

Molokai Clean Energy Hui News Release

More than 50 Molokai residents and clean energy experts Zoomed in to the Molokai Clean Energy Hui’s first community meeting on Aug. 4.

“Our top priority today is to ask for your help by providing your mana‘o and getting the word out about the upcoming Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (CERAP) so that this can be a truly community-led and island-wide process,” said Leilani Chow, Hui Coordinator and Sust’aina ble Molokai (SM) Energy Program Manager.

Matt Yamashita, Executive Hui and SM Board member, recapped Molokai’s renewable energy history. When Sust’aina ble Molokai surveyed nearly 300 residents in 2012, there was overwhelming support for transitioning to community-friendly renewable energy.…

Students Name Monk Seal

Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

Students Name Monk Seal

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai students got to name a Hawaiian monk seal born on Molokai during the pandemic. The one-year-old male seal was gifted his name, Kepuhinui, meaning “the great one of Kepuhi Beach,” during a haku inoa, or name weaving exercise, by almost 20 second grade Hawaiian language immersion students at Kualapu’u School.

Most young monk seals get identification tags attached to their hind flippers, but the seal, previously identified only with a fading bleach mark L4, finally got a culturally meaningful name in added to his identity in May.

The naming process used environmental, geographical, astronomical and cultural information particular to a specific seal to weave together a unique name, according to the Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR).…

Emergency Repairs Bring Ho’olehua Water Restrictions

Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Ho’olehua water users are asked to conserve water usage after a significant leak was discovered in the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ (DHHL) tank. Emergency repairs were initiated last week Monday to the 200,000-gallon tank.

The department days remediation will include the tank being removed from service while a temporary bypass is installed. This temporary fix will allow the water system to remain in usage while permanent repairs are made.

“Ho‘olehua Water System users are asked to immediately reduce their water usage by 25 to 50 percent during the repair period,” said DHHL in a release last week.…

Agri-Business Workshops for Farmers

Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

UHCTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

Whether you are an experienced farmer, an up and coming market gardener, or find yourself anywhere in between, then this is the workshop series for you! There will be four free workshops offered throughout August and September that will focus on the business side of agriculture and farming. The workshops will be offered both in person and have a Zoom component for those who are unable to meet in person.

The first workshop will be held Thursday, Aug. 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the UH Molokai Applied Research and Demonstration Farm Classroom (next to Kumu Farms).…