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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

A’o ‘Aina Professional Development Program

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Kupu News Release 

Intermediate and high school educators on Molokai are eligible to apply for a paid professional development opportunity. Kupu, Hawaii’s leading conservation and environmental education nonprofit, recently announced that applications are open for the Aʻo ʻAina Professional Development Program. The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 29. Visit www.kupuhawaii.org/aoaina/  to apply. 

In partnership with the Malama Learning Center, this paid professional development opportunity for educators within the Department of Education on Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii Island is designed to expose participants to careers and topics in natural resources and grow connections between educators and community organizations.…

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New Archaeological Findings

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

New Archaeological Findings

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff 

Along the coast of Molokai, the spiny, purple ha’uke’uke, or helmet urchin, lives among opihi on the wave swept rocks. Although less commonly eaten today, new studies reveal the pivotal role this spiny urchin occupied hundreds of years ago. 

Archaeologist Marshall Weisler has been leading this study of ancient dietary habits on Molokai. Sifting through mounds of 500-year-old-post-dinner trash piles, Weisler has found new evidence for the kinds of foods critical to ancient diets. The study comprises 25 years of work, 10 sites along the north coast of west Molokai, and over 185,000 ha’uke’uke fragments. 

As the distinguished past of the ha’uke’uke is revealed, further details about how these animals were used as food, tools, cultural artifacts and more on Molokai have likewise come to light.…

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The Historical Importance of Hā’uke’uke Sea Urchins

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Marshall Weisler, Archaeologist

Few people routinely eat sea urchins today, but were they important to ancient diets? A new study reports that sea urchins were essential food centuries ago. 

Unlike the long-spined wana, hā’uke’uke or helmet urchin, with its armour-like plates covering its domed shell, is adapted to live amongst ‘opihi on the wave-pounded, windward shorelines of all the Hawaiian Islands.

Walking along the rocky north coast of west Molokai from Hinanaulua past Mo‘omomi to ‘Īlio Point, you’ll notice piles of white, sun-bleached ‘opihi shells, the remains of ancient meals accumulated over the past 500 years. Amongst the ‘opihi shells you will need to look closely to see the short, thick and flat purple spines and the small plate-like body parts of hā’uke’uke. …

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Successful Mo’omomi Beach Clean-up

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

Successful Mo’omomi Beach Clean-up

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

In a collective effort to safeguard the island’s pristine coastline, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii (SCH) spearheaded a dynamic cleanup at Moʻomomi Beach on Molokai on August 12. The event saw participation from more than 30 community members, resulting in the removal of hundreds of pounds of debris from this remote shoreline. 

According to the SCH press release, the removed debris encompassed a variety of materials, such as ghost nets, microplastics, mesoplastics, oyster spacers, hagfish traps, single-use plastic products, ghost net fragments, and plastiglomerates – a combination of melted plastic and natural elements fused together. Furthermore, SCH, in collaboration with Puʻu O Hoku Ranch, embarked on an additional mission to cleanse another remote coastline near Mo’omomi as well.…

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More Clean Energy Techs for Molokai

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

More Clean Energy Techs for Molokai

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

“It was the chance of a lifetime,” said Christina Bethke, one of the 12 Molokai residents who are now qualified to work as clean energy technicians. 

“I lived off the grid my whole life,” explained Bethke who was born and raised on a homestead. “Solar was my passion for decades now.”

Bethke and the other Molokai students just finished a four-month, fully-funded intro to photovoltaic training course put on by the Ho’ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai (HECM). The training was a hybrid of curriculum-based and hands-on learning, explained HECM’s training and workforce developer Liliana Napoleon, M.B.A. 

Napoleon explained that the course was intended to educate both in life skills and job opportunities, allowing graduates to transition from a “typical on-grid lifestyle” to an “energy farming lifestyle.” …

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Molokai Irrigation System Rate Increase

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

Molokai Farm Bureau News Release 

The Molokai Farm Bureau would like to remind those who receive water via the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS), that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture is holding a public hearing for their proposed 122 percent rate increase for water delivery services. An increase of 122 percent would increase an average monthly bill of $500 to $1,110 a month, or $1,000 to $2,220 a month. 

The public hearing will be on Aug. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. by Zoom, at us02web.zoom.us/j/81478479811. 

Molokai residents can submit written testimony three different ways: via email at HDOA.ARMD@hawaii.gov; via fax at (808) 973-9467; or postal mail to Agricultural Resource Management Division c/o Department of Agriculture, 1428 S.…

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Podcast Highlights Sustainability on Molokai

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga | Editor  

Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) launched a new podcast last month called “O ko makou Hawaii keia: This Is Our Hawaii.” It is HPR’s premiere “digital-first” podcast.

Episode four in the series is called, “On Molokai, sovereignty starts with food” and examines Molokai’s efforts to establish local food and resource sustainability. The episode features interviews with Molokai’s own Todd Yamashita and Malia Akutagawa. 

“Molokai’s story is a vital piece of this podcast because of how the tight-knit community has come together to focus on food sustainability and resource sovereignty — efforts that can be an example to the rest of the state of how Hawaiians and locals can have more of a say in the future of our ʻaina,” said Russell Subiono, host of “This Is Our Hawaii.” …

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Milestone in Renewable Energy Planning

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Molokai Clean Energy Hui News Release 

The Clean Energy Hui, a community-based volunteer group, submitted the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (CERAP) 1.0 report to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on July 14. It marks another step towards Molokai meeting the 2045 state commitment for 100 percent renewable energy. 

The CERAP journey started in July 2021, when the Hui requested a PUC status conference to place on hold a Hawaiian Electric-proposed project at Pala’au and provide time for Molokai to develop their own community-based renewable energy plan. The unprecedented status conference request was successful, and the Hui began developing and executing the community-initiated and led renewable energy planning process in partnership with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute which are the renewable energy technical advisors.…

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Kupuna ‘Ai Program

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Help us continue to provide fresh, locally grown foods to our island’s kupuna!

We’re thrilled to announce the ongoing pursuit of our Kupuna ‘Ai program, which allows community members to purchase fresh, locally grown food boxes and donate them for delivery to local kupuna in need. We’re collaborating with organizations such as the Molokai Rural Health Community Association, which has active kupuna programs, to deliver weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) boxes containing locally grown foods like kalo pa’a, bananas, papaya, and eggs via the Sustʻainable Molokai Mobile Market completely free of charge to our island’s kupuna. 

The Kupuna ‘Ai program was launched in March and is a way for us to give back to the community and support our kupuna, who have played such a vital role in shaping our island’s culture and history.…

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Subsistence Survey Update

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Get a coupon for free poi or kalo pa’a when you complete the 2023 Molokai subsistence study update survey. Only available to the next 100 people who complete the survey as a coupon for Sustʻainable Molokaiʻs Mobile Market. All English-speaking Molokai residents aged 18 or older can take the survey one time. 

Why participate? It has been 30 years since we have had updated, island-wide information on subsistence practices like hunting, fishing, gathering, and farming on Molokai. The 2023 Molokai Subsistence Study Update is our chance to update our Molokai-specific data on subsistence practices and food security.…

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