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Sustainability

Once-a-Week Barge Approved for 30 Days

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved Young Brothers’ request to reduce Molokai’s barge from twice to once weekly for 30 days, until May 31.

In its April 24 filing with the PUC, the interisland freight company claimed financial hardship from “a drastic drop in cargo volumes and revenues” due to COVID-19 in requesting a reduced sailing schedule for Maui and Hawaii counties. The same amount of goods is arriving, but instead of two sailings to Kaunakakai per week, departing from Honolulu on Sundays and Tuesdays, YB has discontinued the Sunday sailing and moved the Tuesday sailing to Saturday.…

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Local Food for Local Needs

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As the effects of COVID-19 continue and many families face financial hardship, the Molokai community is coming together to make sure everyone stays fed. Last week, an effort spear-headed by nonprofit Sust’aina ble Molokai, through the Maui Food Bank’s Molokai food pantry organizations and many volunteers, brought 400 pounds of Molokai-grown kalo, 340 pounds of locally caught fish, 400 pounds of Molokai-raised shrimp, and 50 pounds of Molokai-grown egg-plant, beans and papayas to those in need.

“On the one hand, it’s sad to see people out of work and more people in need, but it’s exciting to see the community coming together, to see all the resources we have on island being put to use,” said Harmonee Williams, Sust’aina ble Molokai executive director.…

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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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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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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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Survival on Molokai

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

I share the vision and belief for survival of our life on Molokai. Farm, plant coconut, ulu, kalo, banana from our Polynesian heritage. King Kamehameha V’s vision and message to all of us was to farm, plant coconut trees, the tree of life and survival.

Look around – what is happening to life in the world?

Farm, plant our Polynesian heritage food. Create art: beautiful edible landscaping, happy fun financial hobbies. All lands are sacred, same time our survival depends on using them. That’s what the earth is all about for mankind. With care and respect, Molokai, recognize what you have.…

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GET Local Youth Cooking Contest

Sunday, September 9th, 2018

UHCES News Release

The University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service (UHCES) is launching a campaign to promote local growers in the community and encourage healthy eating by holding a GET Local Video Cooking Competition. GET local stands for Grow, Eat, Think Local. All students who are 12 to 18 years old are invited to submit a cooking video that highlights their cooking abilities, uses a local ingredient for their recipe, and includes information on the local farmer.

Prizes for winners include the chance for one recipe to be added to the menu of a top restaurant on Maui, an opportunity to film a live cooking show with a celebrity chef for a local television station, and $100 gift cards for video recording equipment.…

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