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Government

GMO Labeling Campaign

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Community Contributed

Opinion by Walter Ritte

Let me explain why an old guy from Molokai is flying to Oahu and helping to lead a charge for labeling. Molokai is paying the true cost for this “cheap” genetically modified organism – or GMO – food. Our best farm lands are being turned into dust bowls. Soil is not only blowing out into the sea but is being washed by rain down onto our reefs. In the dust are powerful chemicals which are blowing into our cars, schools, kupuna housing, daycare center, County Baseball Park, Molokai Community College, and hundreds of homes. If this is happening to our island, it must be happening on other islands, we all have na`au to aloha aina, and kuleana, to malama aina.…

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Invasive Species Committee Honored

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Invasive Species Committee Honored

Hawaii State Senate News Release

The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), as well as its state-wide counterparts including the Molokai ISC, were recognized for their biological control program by the Hawaii State Senate. Molokai resident and MISC member Lori Buchan and other representatives received the award last week.

MISC was the first Invasive Species Committee to form in 1999. The group works to protect the Valley Isle from non-native and harmful species like coqui frogs, pampas grass, veiled chameleons, and miconia. The partnership brings together scientists, resource managers, foresters, botanists, wildlife biologists, and representatives from county, state, and federal agencies to contribute their time and expertise.…

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Bargaining for Bucks

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

Bargaining for Bucks

With projected Maui County funds even lower than last year, Molokai residents, from middle schoolers to kupuna, made their voices heard in asking for their share. They provided testimony before Maui County’s Budget and Finance Committee members last week in support of local organizations and programs such as Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), the Molokai Humane Society (MoHS), the Molokai Community Service Council (MCSC) and Kuha`o Business Center.

The Committee is holding district meetings throughout the county to receive testimony on the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget that Mayor Alan Arakawa submitted to the Council at the end of March. They have until June 10 to pass revisions, and the final budget will take effect on July 1, according to Vice-Chair Joseph Pontanilla.…

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Letter: Good News on the Wind Front

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Good news for Molokai Ranch may be good news for us all!

Many of you remember early last year when Molokai Ranch CEO Peter Nicholas held a series of informational meetings, where he explained that Governor Abercrombie’s threat of eminent domain — condemning private land for public use — had forced the Ranch to lease 11,000 acres to Pattern Energy for the construction of 90 giant wind turbines.

Two weeks ago, members of I Aloha Molokai (IAM) were invited to meet with former Castle & Cook Resorts Lanai land development director Mr. Clay Rumboa, who is now the new Ranch general manager.…

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Proposed Marine Corps Training on Molokai

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

The U.S. Marine Corps is looking to expand their presence in Hawaii, and some of their proposed operations may take place on Molokai. New aircraft would be based at Kaneohe on Oahu, but the Marine Corp’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) calls for increased activity at the Kalaupapa airport, and use of the Ho`olehua Airport for training.

“With new squadrons [coming], it’s important to take a look at all potentially available facilities,” said Maj. Alan Crouch.

The proposed activity was met with unanimous objection from Molokai residents who attended a Marine Corps consultation meeting last week. A public scoping meeting for the project was held on Molokai back in 2010, with a public comment period open last fall.…

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Bills Supporting Irrigation System Move Forward

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Bills Supporting Irrigation System Move Forward

Rep. Mele Carroll News Release 

The Molokai Irrigation System (MIS), currently facing drought conditions, has help on the way from Representative Mele Carroll. Last Friday at the Hawaii State Capitol, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on two measures that would address the short-term and long-term concerns regarding the MIS.

Both House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR) 207 and 208, introduced by Rep. Carroll who currently represents the island of Molokai, were unanimously passed unamended in the House Committee of Agriculture.

The first House Concurrent Resolution 207 requests that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture convene a task force to develop long range goals and plans for the MIS.…

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Molokai Planning Commission Needs New Commissioners

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

The Molokai Planning Commission, a decision-making body comprised of volunteer residents, is left on shaky ground after two commissioners leave the group this month. The five-year terms of Chairperson Miki`ala Pescaia and commissioner Debra Kelly have expired. That leaves the commission with barely enough members to make quorum, and with no candidates under serious consideration, the commission is seeking community volunteers.

“Right now, the authority rests with county council,” said Mike Molina, executive assistant to Mayor Alan Arakawa. The mayor’s office received a letter on March 6 informing them that the two applicants they had recommended, Karen Ashley and Amy Maeda, had been rejected by the council, most likely due to their lack of experience and long-term residency, according to Molina.…

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Hanging Up the Badge

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

Hanging Up the Badge

Detective Eugene Santiago retires after 30 years of service

 

After 30 years of service with the Maui Police Department — 28 of which were served here in Molokai –Sergeant Detective Eugene Santiago is retiring. Since his promotion to Sergeant in February of 1998, one of Santiago’s highest priorities has been his commitment to the community.

“Detective Santiago is one of the most genuinely nice people I know,” said Lieutenant Clyde Holokai.  “He is one guy I’ve never seen let the job get to him in a negative way.”

Not only did Santiago win the respect of his peers in the department, but also earned recognition for his service on a broader level.…

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Veterans Corner

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Community Contributed

Column by Jesse Church

Aloha my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events.

Sitting down to share a meal with Afghans, you may find yourself dining on a sheep’s fatty rump. Here’s why the meat of “fat-tailed sheep,” as they are aptly named, is considered a delicacy in the country. The sheep got their name because they can store a great amount of fat in their rears. It’s a necessary trait for the sheep, which are found in arid regions throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia, according to the website sheep101.info.…

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Aha Kiole Drafts Protocol for Passenger Boat Industries

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

As the Molokai community continues to determine its future and where tourism fits into the economical equation, the Aha Kiole, a resource management group, has compiled the results from a series of community meetings and surveys. The document outlines guidelines for tour companies arriving to the island by boat, including American Safari Cruises (ASC), which has been making controversial stops to Molokai since October 2011.

Results of feedback gathered by the Aha Kiole over the past several months showed different levels of agreement with ASC’s visits through surveys and moku meetings. In the surveys, 85 percent of the 395 residents surveyed voted “no,” 11 percent voted “yes,” and 4 percent said “yes” but with controls.…

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