• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    August 14, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    August 15, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    August 20, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Brushfire Burns 20 Acres

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A brushfire on Puu Kapele Ave. in Ho’olehua burned 20 acres last Friday. Firefighters responded at about 3 p.m. with three fire engines, one emergency callback crew, two fire tankers and tankers and dozers from the County Dept. of Public Works. A helicoper also responded from Maui.

Crews on the ground initiated the battle against the blaze, while Air 1 assisted with water drops in hard to reach areas, according to Maui County Fire officials. Dozers cut roads for access as well as cut firebreaks to help prevent the fire’s spread.

The Fire Dept. reported dry conditions and winds at 15 to 25 miles per hour.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Krazy for Kolea Kontest

Wednesday, July 29th, 2020

Krazy for Kolea Kontest

By Arleone Dibben-Young

It’s time for the 23rd annual Krazy for Kolea Kontest to report the return on the kolea, Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) to Molokai. The bird is revered in Hawaiian mythology as Koleamoku, a messenger of high chiefs, and was considered to be the embodiment of the god of healing. On their northern migration, kolea may have aided ancient navigators with the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. Within a few weeks, the kolea will make a southbound transoceanic migration between breeding grounds in Alaska to wintering locales as far away as
Madagascar. Research using light level dataloggers have tracked kolea at speeds from 36 to118 miles per hour, and with an average flight between Hawaii and Alaska taking 40 hours.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Douglas Brings Hurricane Warning

Wednesday, July 29th, 2020

Douglas Brings Hurricane Warning

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The first hurricane of the season, Douglas, brought storm conditions and closures to Molokai as it passed just slightly north of the islands last Sunday.

Hurricane prep for many residents was in full swing over the weekend and by Saturday evening, Rawlins Texaco reported they had sold out of Plus grade gas as well as propane. Long lines for gas and grocery stores extended Saturday evening and into Sunday morning for gas stations.

Young Brothers cancelled their Sunday barge so the next barge this week will be Thursday. Misaki’s closed Sunday rather than holding regular store hours.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Help with Utility Payments

Thursday, June 4th, 2020

DHS News Release

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides heating and/or cooling assistance to needy Hawaii households by assisting with a one-time payment towards their utility bill (electric or gas) in two ways.

Energy Crisis Intervention (ECI) program assists needy households in crisis, the electric or gas service has been disconnected or will be terminated as the household has been notified via a disconnect notice from utility company. Applications for ECI are accepted year-round, but the amount of approvals each month are limited and fill quickly.

Energy Credit (EC) program assists needy households who are not in crisis but need assistance with bill payment for the heating and cooling of their residence.…

Posted in , , , , , comments1 Comments

Young Brothers Seeks State Help for Barge ‘Crisis’

Thursday, June 4th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Interisland shipper Young Brothers has declared an “impending cash crisis” and is now seeking help from the state to continue operations, the company announced last week.

YB officials said the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a 30 percent drop in cargo volumes and the company reported losing nearly $8 million through April and projects mounting losses totaling approximately $25 million by the end of the year. In a letter to the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC), YB called its financial situation “extremely dire.”

The company claimed it will no longer receive cash infusions from its parent company as of June 1.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Malama Meals Shut Down, Interisland Travel Considered

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Hundreds of families on Molokai benefitted from Malama Meals, a program that delivered more than 1000 precooked home-style dinners to Molokai residents three times a week, free of charge. The Oahu-based program was shut down last week by the state Dept. of Health (DOH) for violations, however.

“The operation had multiple food safety issues as it prepared and packaged hot meals on Oahu and shipped them to the neighbor islands without proper temperature controls,” said Peter Oshiro, chief of the DOH Food Safety Branch. “Without proper controls, the risk of an outbreak of food illness is high and could have a devastating impact especially on those who are elderly and have underlying conditions.”…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

Second Phase of Reopening Parks

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Additional County parks and beach parks reopened on Saturday, May 16, Mayor Michael Victorino announced. The reopening of parks facilities includes select tennis and pickleball courts. Players of both tennis and pickleball may invest in essentials and equipment such as rackets, paddles, tennis and pickleball scoreboards, etc., to improve their plays. County parks and beach parks will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Many of these parks are neighborhood parks, which give our families more options for exercise near home,” Mayor Victorino said. “Although we encourage everyone to stay active and use these facilities, we want to stress the importance of social distancing and good hygiene.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Food Packages

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

On April 17 and May 1, the Molokai Youth Center/MCSC and Maui Food Bank provided food packages to the community. We’d like to send a mahalo to those who volunteered their time: Aunty Honey Girl English, Ekolu Ah Yee, Ui’lani Smith, Sybil Lopez, Ashlynn Kaulili, Shae Pualihau, Whitnelle Phifer, Gwendolyn Dudoit and MCSC staff, Karen Holt, Katie Juario, Shaye Lauifi, Lilinoe Bush, Kalola Kaulili, Ali Kaina and daughters, Rose Pettigrew, Ashleigh Dudoit-Polido, Darlynne Mollena. For the generous donations, Kualapu’u Ranch donated two cows that provided 5 pounds of hamburger packages, Molokai Livestock, Josh and Harmonee Pastrana, Mike and Nani Kahinu, and other generous supporters.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Hunting or Killing?

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Definitions of hunting can include the activity of pursuing wild game for sport and food harvest. I grew up in a hunting family, and for me, hunting is filled with anticipation, excitement, and challenge, along with the possibility of eating the best, healthiest meat on Earth. Hunting isn’t just about the harvest for me; it’s also about observing wildlife in their natural habitat. Tools like a starlight scope have enhanced my experience and helped me score some of my best hunts. My son and I have often sat together for hours, watching deer, goats, or pigs enjoying life in their natural environment.…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

More Molokai Farmers Awarded Grants

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

HDOA News Release

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) will be issuing a second round of grants totaling an additional $200,000 under the COVID-19 Emergency Farmer Relief Program to assist farmers, ranchers and growers who have experienced financial damage. In this second round, 96 grants were issued ranging between $2,000 and $4,000 each and will provide stop-gap financial relief to help agribusinesses during the COVID-19 crisis, including seven grants on Molokai. The funds may be used to help utilize an oversupply of agricultural products resulting from decreased demand due to closures of restaurants, schools and other businesses.

Last month, HDOA issued 106 grants totaling $270,000, of which $250,000 came from the State’s barrel tax fund (Agriculture Development and Food Security Special Fund) and made available through Gov.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment