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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Engaging the Community

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

Community Contributed

By Barbara Haliniak

I am not a renewable energy expert.  But I do know that when you want to be successful in executing an island plan, make sure you get the community involved in the planning stages.  Otherwise you will probably run across many challenges that could have been prevented by not being inclusive.  This column is not to debate renewable energy for our island, but to speak loudly on the exclusion of important information regarding projects that will affect all households prior to community meetings or introduction of legislative bills.

This legislative session, House Bill 1942, “Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Princeton Energy Group or Princeton Energy Group’s related entity, Ikehu Molokai LLC, with financing and refinancing costs relating to the planning, design, and construction of a renewable energy project with energy storage technology on the island of Molokai.” …

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Fruit Growers Molokai Mini-Conference  

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

HTFG News Release

The 24th Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference is September 12-14 at the Kahili Golf Course on Maui. Geared to farmers, educators, orchard managers and proponents of sustainable agriculture, the weeklong event is presented by the statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) and open to the public.

The annual gathering continues September 15-19 with abbreviated sessions on Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Hilo and Kona. Molokai’s inaugural mini-conference is Monday, Sept. 15 to accommodate a growing, active chapter on The Friendly Isle.

The Maui conference is titled “It’s All About Production” and offers a variety of breakout sessions, plus visiting researchers and agro experts.…

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New Way to Look at Compost

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

Community Contributed

By Joe Kennedy

There are a few ways of looking at making compost that some of my gardening friends have passed on to me over the years. Here’s just one. When you make compost with kitchen fruit and veggie scraps, you don’t have to do it the usual way the book talk about. There’s another very easy, very plant-enriching way to do it.

Just empty the scraps on the ground next to the fruit tree on any of the large veggie plants like collards, pumpkin or eggplant that you are growing. Then level the pile a little and make it an even thickness.…

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Agriculture: Career & Tech Ed

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

UHMCM News Release

The Agriculture and Natural Resource program at University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai (UHMCM) provides instruction for those in need of training, retraining, or skills upgrading in the field of agriculture, and those wishing to transfer to a four-year college or university.

Diverse learning activities are provided right here on Molokai.  The Molokai farm includes a 5,000 square foot greenhouse, orchards, and vegetable field on 28 acres of land.  Projections point to a continued need for well-trained people in all aspects of the green industry.  Farms and agriculturally related businesses need informed individuals to implement new technologies and sustainable agriculture techniques.…

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Fishing as a Family

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

Fishing as a Family

Two weeks ago, more than half a dozen families gathered at Mo`omomi for four days of camping, pono fishing, generational learning and most of all, inspiring `ohana to malama `aina. Some of them suggested that you can try this out if you want the best equipment for camping.

In its second year, held on Molokai’s north shore coastline, `Ohana Lawai`a camp offered an opportunity for family learning of traditional fishing practices and protocol, along with lessons in history, culture, and biology. Under the guidance of traditional resource manager and educator Mac Poepoe and other kupuna, the experience offered a unique learning experience for young and old.…

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Molokai Resident New Crop Assc. President

Friday, June 27th, 2014

HCIA News Release

Recent Molokai resident Kirby Kester is the new president of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association (HCIA), as well as Dow AgroSciences’ Hawaii R&D Leader.

With nearly 20 years’ experience in the seed industry on Kauai, Kester now resides on Molokai and serves as site Leader for Dow AgroSciences’ R&D Station on Molokai, as well as provides oversight for Kauai’s Seeds and Traits R&D program.

Kirby holds a M.S. of Agriculture degree from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.  He has been a member of HCIA since 1995, and will serve a two-year term as president.…

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Summer School Immerses Students in Language and Culture

Wednesday, June 25th, 2014

Summer School Immerses Students in Language and Culture

If you visited Ali`i Fishpond last week, you would have found a group of students twisting ti leaf lei using their toes as anchors, speaking to each other quietly in `Olelo Hawaii under the branches of a hala tree. Meanwhile, another group of students learned lomi massage techniques, while seated beneath the shade of the hale overlooking the fishpond, giving each other treatments.

This was the third annual Kula Kaiapuni Kauwela summer school, a Hawaiian immersion program for one month in June and July. This year, for the first time, students spent one week at Ali`i Fishpond as part of the program.…

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Makani Kai Re-Selected for Kalaupapa Service

Friday, June 20th, 2014

The Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Makani Kai Air the Essential Air Service (EAS) subsidy to service Molokai’s isolated settlement of Kalaupapa for the next four years.

“Kalaupapa Settlement is thrilled to continue in the Makani Kai ohana and look forward to four more years of excellent on time service as we have enjoyed for the past two years,” said Mark Miller, the Department of Health Kalaupapa administrator.

Makani Kai was originally awarded the Kalaupapa EAS at the end of 2011 for two years, and filed for renewal to continue serving the settlement last year. Mokulele Airlines and two mainland companies also applied.…

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2nd Annual Grassroots Benefit Concert

Friday, June 20th, 2014

2nd Annual Grassroots Benefit Concert

2014 Grassroots Committee News Release

This year’s second annual Grassroots Benefit Concert on Saturday, July 5 at Duke Maliu Park from 6 to 10 p.m. will promote a health environment and lifestyle on Molokai through aloha `aina. Bring a hali`i or lawn chair and enjoy amazing music under the stars all night long!  Featuring Molokai’s own Mel Hanohano and I-land Flavah (Keaka Kaiama, Edwin Mendija, Hi`i Kanuha and Kui Han), Napua Greig and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, Jamaica Osorio, Koa Hewahewa and Kapu System.

Be among the first 20 individuals or families to arrive at the entrance and get a free watermelon donated by the Davis Farm.…

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Black Twig Borers

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR

One of the obvious long-term impacts of drought on plants and trees is stress that can lead to death of branches or even the entire tree. Older trees are especially susceptible since they’re weaker due to age, and they lack vigor or juvenility. Insects will zero in on them and attack stems and eventually heartwood. Older wood is harder and dryer, and are especially attractive to insects, especially beetles. When you see symptoms such as dead branches, the damage had already occurred months earlier. One cue of this problem on Molokai is dying branches of Eucalyptus trees in the mountains.…

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