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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Car Crash Caused Power Outage

Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last Thursday, a car hit a utility pole in Kamalo, causing a power outage to the east end that lasted more than five hours.

“Around 8:10 a.m. on April 22, about 400 customers in the East End of Molokai experienced a power outage when a vehicle hit and damaged a utility pole along Kamehameha V Highway,” said Shayna Decker, a Hawaiian Electric spokesperson.

The car flipped over, knocking down the pole across the road and blocking traffic for several hours. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, left the scene unassisted, eyewitnesses reported.

Power was restored around 1:40 p.m.…

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Maunaloa Garden Will Grow Learning, Food and Dreams

Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

Maunaloa Garden Will Grow Learning, Food and Dreams

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Something special is sprouting in Maunaloa. Last week, Maunaloa School students, staff and community joined in a groundbreaking and blessing of a new school garden with its roots set in a vision of hands-on learning through cultivation and community partnerships. The $50,000 project, called Maunaloa Mala, has a landscape design that will encompass about 23,000 square feet on school grounds and form the basis for a new curriculum that school leadership hopes will inspire students to see their full potential. A landscaping project of this scale is best completed with the help of a commercial landscaping company and local suppliers that offer gravel delivery services.…

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Molokai Water Protectors

Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

Molokai Water Protectors

By Walter Ritte

Molokai has a long history of fighting for the rights to use the limited “surface” and “ground” water resources on our island. The battle is about to heat up again. I will be writing a few articles to keep our community informed and abreast.

The Hawaii State Water Commission will have on its agenda in a few months a petition filed about a year ago regarding the “diversion” of surface waters (streams) by Molokai Ranch. Older issues such as using ground water at Well 17 with out permits for over 10 years will also be raised.

Some of the issues (there will be others), include the impacts on our forests and stream life, the impacts on our springs along our shorelines, reefs and fishponds.…

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Strong Volunteers Sought

Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

MEO News Release

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) on Molokai is looking for three or four strapping individuals to handle boxes of food during the monthly federal food surplus and kupuna distributions.

The federal surplus food distribution, part of SNAP, occurs every third Thursday of the month, except for December when the event is on the second Thursday due to barge availability. The next event is set for May 20.

MEO receives food from the Maui Food Bank, including fresh produce from Molokai and Maui farmers, picks up the items from the barge and transports the goods to MEO offices in Kaunakakai.…

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Input on Proposed Molokai Addition to Forest Reserve System

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

DLNR News Release

Five proposed changes, including four additions totaling roughly 8,100 acres and one withdrawal of about 2.7 acres, are being considered for the State Forest Reserve System (FRS), which is managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). One of the proposed additions is on Molokai.

The FRS represents the state’s largest public forest lands that provide a variety of benefits including aesthetic benefits; watershed restoration; native, threatened, and endangered species habitat protection and management; cultural resources; and recreational and hunting opportunities, among others. DOFAW will hold a virtual hearing at 6 p.m. on April 28 to receive testimony on the proposed changes affecting the FRS.…

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Kalaupapa’s First Seal Pup of Season

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Kalaupapa welcomed its first Hawaiian monk seal pup born this season earlier this month. The baby was born to first-time mom RG18, herself born in Kalaupapa in 2015.

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park shared the news on their Facebook page, reminding the community to give new moms and pups plenty of extra space, with no swimming advised if they’re present on the beach.

Kalaupapa’s quiet coastline is a popular spot for monk seals to give birth each year, usually beginning in late March or early April. Pups are born with black fur and their coats later change to dark gray or brown.…

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Helping Molokai Get Firewise

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

Paniolo Hale News Release

As one of 15 communities across the State of Hawaii to be recognized as a certified NFPA Fire-wise USA Community, Paniolo Hale is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm ® in helping communities take steps toward safety with the national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on Saturday, May 1.

Preparedness Day encourages people and organizations to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks. Individual and community actions remain a key component to reducing wildfire risk around homes and neighborhoods. In an effort to mitigate fire fuels for Molokai, the Division Manager of the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division has helped Paniolo Hale to compile a list of items that the Molokai landfill will accept.…

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Laptops for Moms on Molokai

Friday, April 9th, 2021

Office of Keani Rawlins-Fernandez News Release

At her March 30th virtual town hall meeting, Maui County Council Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez announced plans to distribute 20 Dell laptops to mothers and female caregivers with children in preschool to 12th grade, living on the island of Molokai.

“Our moms on Molokai are working so hard, raising and supporting their families,” said Rawlins-Fernandez. “With COVID forcing so many mothers to work from home, the situation has only compounded the need for technological support in their households.”

The trend towards remote work has increased the demand for innovative business solutions. In this context, services like https://www.virtualoffice-london.co.uk/…

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Large-Scale Renewable Energy Bids Opening Soon

Friday, April 9th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In a couple months, a bidding process will open for renewable energy projects on Molokai that will hugely impact the way the island gets power. Featuring larger-scale solar installations and battery storage, one project will garner renewable energy straight into the grid, while another will be available to community members through a subscription program at a discounted price for electricity.

Last week, two sets of documents were filed by Hawaiian Electric (HE) with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) — one for a general Request for Proposals (RFP) for Molokai and an revised draft RFP for Molokai Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) proposals.…

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Free College Credit in Sustainability for HS Students

Friday, April 9th, 2021

PAAC News Release

This summer, 30 Hawaii public high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit for free through an online course focusing on sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students will examine a broad spectrum of social, environmental, and economic concerns that all nations must confront in the face of issues such as climate change, hunger, and poverty. Special attention will be paid to how these issues impact Hawaii.

Molokai students are invited to apply, as this is a fully online course.

The course is offered by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and the College of Hawaiian Language (Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani and ʻImiloa Center) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.…

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