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Government

Ho’ahu Energy Coop Gets Federal Support

Thursday, March 31st, 2022

Sen. Schatz News Release

Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a local group developing Molokai’s first community-owned renewable energy resource project, will receive federal support, including technical assistance, from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

“This kind of hands-on federal support will help us expand clean energy production on Molokai as the community moves to take its energy future into its own hands. That means more jobs, more reliable energy, and cheaper electric bills for Molokai residents,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai will receive tailored expert support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a DOE National Lab, to address the island’s unique energy challenges. During this first phase of the initiative, Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai will receive one-on-one assistance from PNNL, including training, energy and economic analysis, workforce and equity assessments, and grant application assistance.…

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‘Boots on the Ground’ with Congressman Kahele

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022

‘Boots on the Ground’ with Congressman Kahele

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

On a three-day visit to Molokai last week, Congressman Kai Kahele worked with Molokai veterans to solve healthcare challenges, discussed renewable energy projects and East End road infrastructure needs, discussed college campus expansion plans, tourism management, women’s resource programs and more. It was Kahele’s second island visit since being elected to represent Molokai and other areas of Hawaii’s second Congressional District in 2020. 

“One of the biggest things that we jumped right into and was very beneficial that we came was this transition for our veterans from Molokai General Hospital to something else that is still undetermined but we think is a new partnership between the Veterans Affairs and Na Pu’uwai,” said Kahele during a Dispatch interview last Wednesday.…

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Molokai Endangered Species Get Federal Funds

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Sen. Schatz News Release

The Molokai Land Trust will be receiving $350,000 in congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, in this year’s appropriations bill, secured by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. The new earmark funding will be used to support construction of predator-proof fencing to protect threatened and endangered species within the Mokio Preserve.

“This new earmark will protect dozens of threatened and endangered species on Molokai,” said Sen. Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “By supporting the Molokai Land Trust, we’re helping to care for native wildlife, strengthen local ecosystems, and preserve the island’s environment for years to come.”…

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Molokai Program Among $6.6M for Local Projects

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Congressman Kahele News Release

Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele announced $6,686,000 in Community Funded Projects for Hawaii’s second congressional district. The funding, which was included in the federal government funding package that passed through the U.S. House of Representatives last week, is expected to be signed into law by the President this week.

Among nine projects, one is specific to Molokai. Maui Economic Opportunity will receive $100,000 for the Kaohi Program, which offers in- and out-of-school activities and will target 100 Molokai youth ages 11 to 18 years old to reduce alcohol, tobacco and drug use. 

“These Community Funded Projects, secured by my office and granted to deserving non-profit organizations, state and county agencies, will support locally led priorities such as protecting our environment, educational opportunities for our keiki and addressing healthcare disparities in our rural communities.…

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Safe Travels to End, Indoor Masks Stay

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The State of Hawaii took some big steps to continue ending COVID mandates last week. Gov. Ige announced the Safe Travels program, which requires vaccination proof, negative COVID test results or quarantine options upon entering the state, will end on March 25. Additionally, state and county employees will no longer be required to show vaccination status or negative test results. However, masks will continue to be required indoors, Ige said. 

The state’s current emergency period is set to end on March 25, sunsetting many of the remaining COVID requirements. Beginning at 12:01 am, Mar. 26, passengers arriving from domestic points of origin will not have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-travel negative test result.…

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Strategy for Economic Prosperity

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

Community Contributed

By Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Maui County Council, Molokai

The county is in the midst of updating its fourth Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), “an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen regional economies,” for publication later this year.  

This update occurs every five years, as a result of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Reauthorization Act of 2004. Maui County has completed three CEDS, in 2004, 2010 and 2016. 

The CEDS is intended to create a local-based strategy for economic development and an environment for economic prosperity and resilience. 

Maui County has historically contracted the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) who achieved the objective of completing the required analysis and report by working with a network of connected businesses, suppliers and associates in specific fields that are all located in the same geographical area.…

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Discuss Molokai Water Use and Demand

Thursday, February 24th, 2022

Townscape News Release

Learn about Preliminary Water Use and Demand for Molokai’s water systems. At two meetings open to Molokai residents, we will be presenting water use information for public and private water systems on the island, our methodology for projecting future water demand, and sharing our preliminary water demand projections. The Molokai Water Use and Development Plan is being updated by a collaboration between Townscape, Inc., an environmental and community planning company, and the County of Maui Department of Water Supply, Water Resources and Planning Division.

We will offer this presentation at two different meeting times. Our presentation will be the same at each meeting, and open discussion time will follow the presentation.…

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Molokai Monk Seal Shot Dead

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

A young female seal known as “L11” found dead on Molokai on Sept. 19 is confirmed to have died from a gunshot wound to the head. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the results of its postmortem analyses Tuesday.

“Specifically, we found a bullet fragment in association with evidence of severe, lethal trauma,” NOAA stated. “We are waiting on test results to see if L11 had any diseases, but we do not expect the results to change these conclusions.”

The seal’s death marks the third confirmed intentional killing of a monk seal on Molokai in 2021, with several other seal deaths investigated on the island this year. …

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‘Aina Kupuna Bill

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino has signed Bill 118 — the ʻAina Kapuna bill — that establishes a mechanism to provide long-time Maui families with tax relief for inherited real property in a Special Management Area. Introduced by Maui County Council Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez of Molokai, the bill intends to protect kamaʻaina from being taxed out of family land due to real estate speculation by outside investors.

“I am in strong support of tax protection for our long-time Maui families,” said Mayor Victorino. “At the same time, I am recommending further review of the Maui County Code to determine if there are unintended consequences that may threaten the viability of this tax relief program.…

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Emergency Proclamation to Help with Drought Funding

Wednesday, November 17th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In the second year of a severe drought that has dealt a blow to local farmers and ranchers, many on Molokai can attest to the damage that hungry deer have wrecked on their gardens, homesteads, pastures and crops. The governor just signed a second emergency proclamation that will help with funding to cover damages, said Sen. Lynn DeCoite of Molokai, who pushed for a renewal of a drought proclamation issued in January of this year, which expired after 60 days. 

“This proclamation helps open pathways for a swift response by all levels of government — County, State and Federal — along with private land owners to address the dire deer situation that has continued to be a public health and safety concern across Maui County,” wrote Sen.…

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