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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Local Farmers and Producers, Join our Mobile Market Farmers Market!

Friday, September 29th, 2023

Local Farmers and Producers, Join our Mobile Market Farmers Market!

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release 

Sustʻainable Molokai is thrilled to announce our upcoming in-person farmers market, night market style, set to take place on Friday, Oct. 13. Building on the resounding success of our initial farmers market in March, we are responding to the community’s demand for more in-person gatherings that celebrate and support our local farmers and producers.

While we are still finalizing the event’s details and location, one thing is certain: we are extending an open invitation to all local farmers and producers on Molokai, whether they are Mobile Market producers or not, to join our farmers market. No business license is needed!…

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Big Changes Coming for Mobile Market

Wednesday, September 27th, 2023

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Sustʻainable Molokai is pleased to announce exciting changes to our Mobile Market schedule, aimed at better serving our valued customers across the island. These changes are set to roll out during the first week of October.

We are thrilled to be adding a new pick-up location, making it easier than ever for our Manaʻe community to access fresh, locally-sourced produce. Starting Oct. 1, you can find us at Kilohana Elementary School every Thursday from 2:30-3:30 p.m., to pick up your orders, right after the buses leave. 

For our Kaunakakai and Hoʻolehua customers, we have expanded our pick-up time windows to offer greater flexibility.…

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Can Insurance Providers Help Improve Flight Service?

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Can Insurance Providers Help Improve Flight Service?

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

AlohaCare health insurance services 2,445 Molokai residents. Now, the insurance provider is looking at fixing a critical step in serving Molokai residents: getting to the appointment. 

Lacking most types of medical specialists on-island, Molokai residents often must fly off-island for critical appointments. This past spring was a well-documented nightmare as Molokai patients routinely missed appointments due to unexpected flight delays and cancellations. These concerns led to AlohaCare sitting down with Mokulele Airlines and government legislators to talk about solutions. 

Meetings with State Sen. Lynn Decoite and Rep. Mahina Poepoe resulted in a commitment to collaborate across companies, explained AlohaCare VP of External Affairs Paula Arcena. …

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Grants Available for Forest Projects

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

DLNR News Release 

Molokai organizations are encouraged to apply for grants to protect and enhance our urban and community trees and forests. The funding source is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and grants are made available from the US Forest Service through Kaulunani, the state’s Urban and Community Forestry Program which is part of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Eligible applicants include community groups, schools, and municipal and state government agencies. For-profit organizations and federal entities are not eligible. Examples of eligible projects could include tree planting and tree care projects, developing technological tools for urban and community forestry or supporting professional development, education, and public outreach for urban and community forestry.…

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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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