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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

County Food Distribution This Month

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced that food distribution events will be held on each Friday in the month of October for Molokai residents in need.

The last food distribution took place 10 a.m. on Oct. 9 at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Kaunakakai.

Volunteers passed out 150 boxes of fruits and vegetables on a first-come, first-served basis. Recipients are required to wear face masks.

To maximize social distancing, food distribution will be done in a grab-and-go drive-through (no walk up). Motorists will have the option of getting boxes placed in their vehicle’s trunk or rear cargo area.…

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‘Ohana by Hawaiian to Suspend Service

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

‘Ohana by Hawaiian to Suspend Service

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

‘Ohana by Hawaiian, one of the two passenger air carriers serving Molokai, announced last Friday it will temporarily stop service beginning Nov. 1 due to low travel demand from COVID-19. Flights between Honolulu, Molokai and Lanai will be affected.

‘Ohana’s 48-seat ATR-42 turboprop aircraft represent the only planes currently serving Molokai that accommodate passengers boarding in a wheelchair and those weighing more than 350 pounds. Along with concerns that its suspension of service will leave those who are wheelchair bound without travel options, ‘Ohana’s termination would also leave its Molokai employees, as well as local TSA agents, jobless.…

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No New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged no new COVID-19 cases last week, as statewide, the total cases as of last Friday reached 13,300 and COVID-19-related deaths in Hawaii totaled 166 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Starting this week on Oct. 15, the state will allow a pre-testing program for residents and visitors entering Hawaii that will allow travelers to bypass the 14-day quarantine if they show a negative COVID test within 72 hours of travel. Mayor Michael Victorino requested for an additional layer of safety for Maui County by also requiring a post-arrival test, but that request was denied by Gov.…

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$2.5M in Grants for Local Farmers

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui and Maui Economic Opportunity launched today a $2.5 million program to assist small local farmers in Maui County. The Agriculture Micro Grants Program provides grant funding of up to $25,000 to farmers on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Applications are available online at meoinc.org.

“This program will benefit local consumers by improving the availability of local produce, livestock and poultry in Maui County, while also increasing farm capacity, productivity, name recognition and income for farmers,” Mayor Michael Victorino said.

Farm qualifications include:

• Operating farms throughout Maui County (crops, livestock, poultry and products).…

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Molokai Mechanics Inspire Electric Vehicle Donation

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

Molokai Mechanics Inspire Electric Vehicle Donation

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric recently presented a donation of two 2012 Nissan Leaf electric vehicles (EV) to the University of Hawaii Maui College’s (UHMC) Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Educational Program to provide mechanics hands-on experience in maintaining and repairing EVs.

The new program addresses a need that came up during discussions Hawaiian Electric conducted with the Molokai community.

“There was interest in EVs, but residents pointed out if they invested in the vehicles there were no on-island EV technicians who could provide servicing and repairs,” said Gregg Kresge, Hawaiian Electric’s electrification of transportation project delivery manager. “In further discussions with the vehicle mechanics on Molokai, all were enthusiastic about participating in EV training if it was available.…

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Free Grab-and-Go Meals for All Youth

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

HIDOE News Release

The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) Grab-and-Go school meals program will be returning for the fall semester at 203 public schools beginning on Monday, Oct. 12, through Friday, Dec. 18, to provide free meals to children ages 18 and younger. The meals are available to children regardless of whether or not they are enrolled at the distribution site, are public school students, or are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program.

On Molokai, distribution sites are Kaunakakai, Kilohana and Maunaloa elementary schools, as well as Molokai Middle and Molokai High School.

Unlike during the summer, meal distribution will be at lunchtime only.…

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Downed Pole Caused Power Outage, Road Closure

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

Downed Pole Caused Power Outage, Road Closure

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Electricity was out across the island last Saturday morning after a utility pole fell across Kalae Highway in Kualapu’u shortly before 7 a.m., causing downed power lines to lie over the road, which was closed for about nine hours.

“Preliminary assessments show that after a utility pole came down along Kalae Highway, it caused a fault on the electrical system and triggered a loss of power generation at the Palaau baseyard,” said Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Shayna Decker.

The outage affected all 3,200 electric customers on Molokai. A majority of the island’s electricity service was restored by crews around 11 a.m.,…

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Hawaii Sustainability Plan Update

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

HI Office of Planning News Release

Molokai residents wanting to participate in the State of Hawaii Office of Planning (OP) Statewide Sustainability Program will be able to do so in a series of virtual statewide Information Sharing Sessions to inform everyone about the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan (the Plan). The Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan is being updated and revised to serve as the State’s climate and sustainability strategic action plan.

“The people of the State of Hawaii have long understood the challenges of our finite resources and the importance of co-existing with our ʻaina,” said Gov. David Ige. “We are witnessing rising sea levels, temperature rise, and a decrease in precipitation; these climate change hazards require long-term sustainability planning to guide strategic implementation.”…

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One New Molokai Case Last Week

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

One New Molokai Case Last Week

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged one new COVID-19 case last Wednesday, Sept. 23, bringing the island’s total case count to 17.

Despite requests to break down the island’s total and active cases, the Dept. of Health has not yet begun providing that information so it remains unclear how many of Molokai’s cases are active.

Last week, Gov. David Ige signed a proclamation extending the COVID-19 emergency period through Oct. 31, leaving in place the 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for both out of state and interisland travelers. However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow out of state travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine by providing a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to travel to Hawaii.…

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Brush Fire Burns 50 Acres Above Town

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020

Brush Fire Burns 50 Acres Above Town

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A brushfire above Ranch Camp in Kaunakakai burned about 50 acres Sunday afternoon.
Ranch Camp residents reported their homes filling with smoke but no houses were damaged or evacuated.

The Fire Dept. got the alarm at 3 p.m. and responded with three engine companies, two tankers, two helicopters, two callback crews, and two county and state tanker trucks. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, efforts to fully extinguish the blaze were ongoing but considered 70 percent contained, according to the Maui Fire Dept.

“Helicopters did a great job… was getting close to Kupa Place culdesac and everyone [was out] with their hoses and sprinklers,” resident P.J.…

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