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Environment

News stories regarding Molokai’s outdoor environment

Ag Producer Development Opportunities

Friday, November 29th, 2013

Kuha`o Business Center News Release

The Kuha`o Business Center invites you to come talk story with representatives of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Market Development Branch on Thursday, Dec. 5. The event will take place in the OHA Conference Room from 1 to 4 p.m.

Discuss issues regarding growing and producing on Molokai and why value-added products are something to consider. Learn how to collaborate with others and about opportunities for grants, branding, tradeshows and organic certification reimbursement.

After the event at 4 p.m., meet Jennifer Young, Food Technology Center Director and Kenneth Yamamura, County Office of Economic Development Ag Specialist of the Maui Food Technology Center.…

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Labor of Love

Friday, November 29th, 2013

Labor of Love

Every morning, at six o’clock sharp, Emma Velasco said she hears a rustling outside of her Home Pumehana cottage–“But ah, it’s only Irwin,” she said smiling.

Some call him Irwin, others call him “Urban,” but either way, Irwin Millspaugh, is regarded by residents as one of the most devoted residents in Home Pumehana. Every day he quietly pushes his cart, quickly shuffling along the sidewalk, as he plucks rubbish from the ground and sorts recyclables at Home Pumehana.

“Let me tell you something about that guy,” said resident Gwendolyn Gaspar. “I’ve watched that man every day and he picks up all the garbage in the park, he sorts through all the trash, I hear he even cleans washers downtown—and he always says good morning to everyone he passes.”…

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Stones with Stories

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Stones with Stories

Archeologist tells Molokai’s history through rocks

On the windy, rocky coastline of northwestern Molokai, Dr. Marshall Weisler picked up a stone. But it wasn’t just any rock; this stone, like many in the Molokai Land Trust’s Mokio Preserve, has a story.

Weisler is an archeologist and professor at Australia’s University of Queensland. He’s no stranger to Molokai — he’s been coming here at least once a year for the past 35 years to study the island’s many historic sites and piece together a picture of how ancient Hawaiians lived.

To the untrained eye, the rock Weisler held in his hand looks like any other scattered in this arid landscape.…

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Airport Construction on Hold in Kalaupapa

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Airport Construction on Hold in Kalaupapa

The Kalaupapa airport will soon be receiving a long awaited fire truck garage and services. However, with design discrepancies on where to place the garage and a strict timeline, the project might be delayed further, postponing safety services Kalaupapa residents seek.

A team of designers and engineers as well as representatives from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presented a design scheme to Kalaupapa residents Nov. 12, seeking public input and approval to move forward with the project.

In 2010, the Kalaupapa airport was scheduled to receive a fire truck and a team of Maui County firefighters who would rotate in 42-hour work shifts, according to Department of Health Kalaupapa Administrator Mark Miller.…

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Hot Hawaiian Chile Peppers

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH County Extension Agent

For many local folks, chile pepper water is an indispensable addition to a meal, and can add pizazz to meat, fish, and soup dishes. There are many variations of this condiment combining water, shoyu, different kinds of vinegar, and even garlic with lots of chiles. Columbus misnamed chiles as peppers, mistaking them for black peppers due to their “heat.” The name “peppers” or “chile peppers” stuck with this plant, and is commonly used today.

Capsicum fruitescens is the Latin name for Hawaiian chiles, introduced to Hawaii around 1815. It was called “nioi” by the Hawaiians, a generic name given to all chiles with second names based on its shape such as nioi kamakahala for round or “eye shaped” types.…

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County, Monsanto Sign Pesticide Agreement

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Maui County and Monsanto signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week that requires Monsanto to disclose information about pesticide use on a voluntary basis. Monsanto operates on both Maui and Molokai.

“Responsible use of pesticides is a concern for us all, especially for those of us who grew up on these islands when sugar cane and pineapples were our main exports,” said Mayor Arakawa. “There must be safeguards and a sharing of information, and I believe the AG Oversight Agreement [MOU] is a proactive step we needed to take….”

The MOU comes shortly after bills were passed on both Kauai and Hawaii Island involving restrictions on the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).…

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Airlines Compete to Serve Kalaupapa

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Kalaupapa is regarded as one of the most isolated communities in the country. With 2,000-foot cliffs separating the peninsula from topside Molokai and no outside road access, the only way to and from the settlement is by foot, mule or plane. As Makani Kai Airlines reaches the end of their two-year federal contract to provide Kalaupapa with affordable airfare, they—along with three other airlines—are bidding to offer subsidized service to the settlement’s residents and visitors beginning in January 2014.

The Essential Airline Service (EAS) is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) program that provides small, rural communities access to major national and international airport hubs though a subsidized commuter airline system.…

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Planting Seeds for the Future

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Before Western contact, Native Hawaiians were able to feed a population of one million while following a sustainable way of life, according to the documentary, “Na Kupu Mana`olana — Seeds of Hope.” But in the last 50 years alone, half of Hawaiian farmland has been developed and today, 85 percent of the state’s food is imported.

“We are currently in a crisis,” said Robert Harris, director of Sierra Club Hawaii, in the documentary.

The film, produced by The Hawaii Rural Development Council (HRDC), premiered on Molokai at Kalaniana`ole Hall Saturday night. It highlighted the state’s agricultural evolution and the unsustainable challenges we’re currently facing as a community.…

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Fruit Growers Featured Farmer

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Fruit Growers Featured Farmer

HTFG Molokai Chapter News Release

Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to tropical fruit research, education, marketing and promotion. The new Molokai Chapter is made up of members who are gardeners, farmers and interested community members who meet monthly to share ideas about marketing venues to promote their products. Meetings are held the first Monday evening of every month at Lanikeha Center in Ho`olehua. The next meeting is Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m.

This month’s featured farmer is HTFG’s member Viola Mundrick-Wichman of Ho`olehua. She is a Master Food Preserver who has been trained to process value added (fresh-cut) fruit like dehydrated bananas, papayas and mangos.…

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Agriculture: Career and Technical Education

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

UH Maui College Molokai News Release

The Agriculture and Natural Resource program at University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai provides instruction for those in need of training, retraining, or skills upgrading in the field of agriculture. The credits earned also benefit 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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