Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

19-Person Plane Starting Service This Fall

Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

19-Person Plane Starting Service This Fall

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Come this fall, a larger plane will once again be servicing Molokai travelers. Mokulele’s parent company, Southern Airways, will be bringing in a 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900 aircraft to offer two roundtrips to Honolulu from Molokai and Lanai most weekdays initially, the airline announced.

Tickets will be available starting this summer to begin service in the fall, pending the approval of the Dept. of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.

The pressurized, twin-engine turboprop aircraft will allow kupuna and those with limited mobility greater ease in boarding and moving in the cabin, said Mokulele Chief Marketing Officer Keith Sisson.…

Hawaiian Electric Celebrates a Century With Nonprofit Donations

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

Hawaiian Electric News Release

In commemoration of 100 years of serving its customers and communities on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, Hawaiian Electric is recognizing 21 nonprofit organizations across the county with a total contribution of over $11,000. The company’s employees nominated the organizations to receive donations for their impactful and positive efforts in the areas of community resilience, environmental sustainability, and educational excellence. On Molokai, Molokai Community Service Council and Molokai Land Trust both received $1,000.

“We’re celebrating our century of service with a reflection of our employee’s long-standing commitment to supporting our communities and customers,” said Mahina Martin, director of government and community affairs for Hawaiian Electric in Maui County.…

Virtual Ohana Garden and Grindz Program

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

UH CTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

Do you and your ohana love gardening? Do you love cooking? Do you love eating healthy food? If you answered yes to all three, then you should consider registering for our Molokai Ohana Garden and Grindz Program. Space is still available for the program, which is open to ohana (parents, grandparents, keiki) with youth ages 9-13 and teaches gardening skills, safe food handling skills, kitchen skills and more. Due to COVID-19, the program went virtual. We now garden together, cook together and eat together in a virtual setting so you can join all from the comfort of your own home.…

4-H Virtual Cooking Challenge

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

HI 4-H News Release

Hawaii 4-H Cooking Challenge is open to youth in grades five through 12. Molokai youth can participate in this virtual event, and do not need to be a current 4-H member to participate.

Compete by submitting a five to seven minute video featuring a local commodity (plant or animal) that demonstrates the successful completion of a healthful recipe.

Entrants will participate in a county-level competition and county winners will be selected to compete in a state competition. The state round of the contest will feature the youth showcasing their food photography skills.

Youth will learn food safety, kitchen skills, nutrition facts, and presentation skills.…

Energy Coop Seeks Local Contractors

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

Ho’ahu Enery News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a new local entity formed to support community-owned energy projects, seeks interest from individuals and companies based on Molokai with qualifications relevant to energy development.

As a locally-led cooperative of Molokai residents, we are committed to supporting local people and economic development on Molokai. Our energy development partners, Shake Energy Collaborative and Mana Pacific, are equally committed to hiring locally and we collectively put out this call for interest.

We are looking for Molokai people interested in participating in the design, construction and operation of energy projects at this time for several upcoming projects.…

All About Avocados

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

All About Avocados

By Dayanti Karunaratne, Community Reporter

It’s looking to be a banner year for avocados, as farmers from Kalae to Waialua are seeing clusters of flowers in bloom. Upon walking amongst their trees, however, a curious realization occurs: some trees are full of fruit, while others are just beginning to flower. That’s because avocados have the longest flower-to-fruit times of any tropical fruit.

And that’s just the beginning of the marvelous world of avocados. In speaking with people who have spent years tending avocado trees, it’s clear that the diversity, especially in Hawaii, is so huge that some don’t care to talk about the type of tree.…

Energy Coop Seeks Local Contractors

Thursday, April 29th, 2021

Ho’ahu Energy News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a new local entity formed to support community-owned energy projects, seeks interest from individuals and companies based on Molokai with qualifications relevant to energy development.

As a locally-led cooperative of Molokai residents, we are committed to supporting local people and economic development on Molokai. Our energy development partners, Shake Energy Collaborative and Mana Pacific, are equally committed to hiring locally and we collectively put out this call for interest.

We are looking for Molokai people interested in participating in the design, construction and operation of energy projects at this time for several upcoming projects.…

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.…

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.…

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.…