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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Farmer Relief Program

Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

HDOA News Release

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) mailed out the first batch of checks under the COVID-19 Emergency Farmer Relief Program last week. Four Molokai grants are among the recipients. HDOA received 333 applications for the grants and was able to award 106 proposals that ranged from $2,000 for individual farmers and ranchers and up to $10,000 for nonprofit organizations, commodity groups, and agricultural associations that have experienced financial damage due to the COVID-19 emergency.

The total funding for the program was $250,000 which was drawn from the State’s barrel tax fund (Agriculture Development and Food Security Special Fund) and made available through Gov.…

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Molokai Food Banks

Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Hungry and don’t know where you can get food? This list of on island food banks may be able to help.

Information compiled by the Kuha’o Business Center on covid19mauinui.com/molokai. Information is subject to change.

Ho’olehua/Kualapu’u:

Alu Like Inc., Hoala Hou
Please call for more information
808-646-1592

Gospel Shoes of Jesus Christ
Currently serving both Mana’e and Hoolehua. Please call for more information if in need.
Contact: Judy Caparida at 808-558-8558

Molokai Baptist Church
Open: Tues, Wed, Fri, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Please call first. There are certain guidelines that need to be followed.
808-567-6689

Salvation Army Molokai
Please call for more information
808-213-5674

Kaunakakai:

Child and Family Services
*Located next to Bank of Hawaii- knock on door
Pick-ups available Mon to Fri 8am to 4:30pm (except state holidays).…

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Young Brothers Requests Once-a-Week Barge to Molokai

Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

Young Brothers Requests Once-a-Week Barge to Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Young Brothers interisland freight company is seeking to make emergency cuts to its shipping schedule, including reducing Molokai’s barge from twice to once weekly. Last Friday, it submitted a filing to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), requesting reduced sailing schedules for Maui and Hawaii counties, effective May 5.

“…During these unprecedent[ed] times where YB is experiencing a drastic drop in cargo volumes and revenues, YB is seeking to cut costs by reducing the number of weekly sailings.…” the company wrote to the PUC.

YB currently has two sailings to Kaunakakai per week, departing from Honolulu on Sundays and Tuesdays.…

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National Guard Community Service

Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

National Guard Community Service

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The seven members of the Hawaii National Guard currently on Molokai for a month helped in various community causes and events last week, in addition to their primary tasks of performing thermal scans for departing passengers at the Molokai Airport and assisting the Molokai Police Dept. Molokai’s own Staff Sgt. Laurence Kimoha’e Puailihau, Jr. was among those who assisted Kualapu’u Market staff as they reopened their doors to customers last week. He said guardsmen are also helping distribute meals at Molokai High Schoo’s Grab and Go program during the week, and last Saturday, assisted during the chili plate distribution at Lanikeha.…

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‘Ohana by Hawaiian Offers Free Food Transport

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Offers Free Food Transport

Hawaiian Airlines News Release

When Kristina Gomez learned her elderly parents on Molokai were impacted by the abrupt closure of a main grocery store in the town of Kaunakakai due to COVID-19 cases, she wanted to find a way to help. A Hawaiian Airlines guest service agent in Honolulu, Gomez reached out to our leadership team late last week, suggesting we set up a transportation service between Oahu and Molokai to assist the rural island’s residents.

Teams with Hawaiian Air Cargo and ‘Ohana by Hawaiian – our turboprop operations offering passenger service to Molokai – worked through the weekend discussing requirements of the proposed service, consulting with local government officials, and obtaining necessary TSA approvals.…

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Hawaii Beaches Closed

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

DLNR News Release

Governor David Ige issued a Fifth Supplementary Proclamation to his Emergency Rules. This one includes limitations on activities outside homes or places of residence and closes all beaches on Molokai and statewide. It became clear that many people are continuing to access beaches, waters, and trails for social and recreational activities without proper social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. Such activity contributes to the risk of spread of coronavirus across the state.

Under these new rules, all beaches are closed, which means no sitting, standing, lying down, lounging, sunbathing, or loitering on beaches and sandbars. People can still cross beaches to access the ocean for outdoor exercise like surfing, solo paddling and swimming as long as social distances are maintained.…

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Mokulele Grocery Delivery

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Mokulele Airlines News Release

Last week, Mokulele Airlines announced it would that it would offer free grocery delivery to Molokai and Kalaupapa in response to a temporary closure of one of the island’s two main grocery stores. Some store employees there reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The offer for free shipping is good for up to 50 pounds of groceries per customer and is valid for the rest of the April.
Later in the week, Mokulele expanded its Grocery Airlift to include flights to Lanai, Hana, and Waimea starting last Friday morning and lasting until the end of the month.

Friendly Market on Molokai has announced that it will be closed until April 20, with all employees currently in self-quarantine.…

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In the Quiet of These Hours

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

It’s not too late to start a garden
it’s not too late to plant some trees
it’s not too late for solar power
or water catchment, or keeping bees.

It’s not too late to think of others
it’s not too late to learn to cook
it’s not too late to learn a language
or read, or even write a book.

It’s not too late unless we give up
it’s not too late to turn around
in the quiet of these hours
can be where tomorrow’s found.

Are you happy and contented
with this world that you can see
if you’re not then switch the power
walk outside and plant a tree.…

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Focused on Food: Residents adapt to new grocery routines

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Focused on Food: Residents adapt to new grocery routines

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As Molokai residents struggle to settle into routines of a new normal amid stay at home orders, shopping for food has proven a challenging task for many on the island. With Friendly Market’s continued closure anticipated until April 20, and the other main stores limiting customers to placing orders for curbside pickup, lines for food have been hours long.

Many residents reported attempting to reach Misaki’s two phone order lines hundreds of times. Car lines for shopping at Kualapu’u Market often extended to Molokai High School. Both stores have limited the amount of items each customer can purchase.…

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Maui County Updating Hazard Mitigation Plan

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Molokai residents are being asked to help find solutions to problems associated with natural hazards by participating in hazard mitigation. One way is to fill out the Public Mitigation Planning Survey at surveymonkey.com/r/mitigatemaui.

The survey is part of the Maui Emergency Management Agency’s work to develop an update to the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. It addresses threats such as wildfires, significant beach erosion and highway rockslides and now includes the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health threat.

The plan looks at how the County can lessen the impact of natural hazards such as wildfires, tropical storms and erosion on all three islands.…

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