Department of Land and Natural Resources News Release
In regard to hunting rules for game birds and mammals, DLNR will hold statewide public hearings, starting November 8, on amendments to update hunting rules for game birds and game mammals.
A public information meeting will be held at the Mitchell Pauole Center on Monday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m., followed by public hearing at 7 p.m.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
As ordinary community members become planners and leaders, the Molokai Community Plan moves forward.
“What’s clear is this community is passionate about certain issues,” said senior planner David Yamashita.
Two weeks ago, the Maui County Planning Department hosted a workshop to begin brainstorming ways to improve the 2001 Molokai Community Plan. Last Saturday, another workshop was held to work out strategies.
Some strategies were broad, such as a wastewater and drainage plan, and some were specific, such as to revive Malama Cultural Park. Over 70 participants discussed what organizations and agencies would need to take part, but the conversations became heated when it came to identifying conflicts.
In one group that discussed ‘heritage resources’ – historical, cultural, and environmental resources – went back and forth over tourism. Participant Kelly Ka`awa Richardson said tourism “by nature is against culture.” But in a time of high unemployment, no idea can be overlooked. Group member Todd Yamashita suggested that pairing tourism with education better attracts visitors who complement Molokai’s culture.
“It’s not important that we disagree, but how we resolve our differences,” said Steve Chaikin, current chairperson of the Molokai Planning Commission. “We’re all in this together.”
Youth Involvement
The planning department is also working with Molokai schools to get the future generations involved. Stan Ha`o, new principal of Molokai High School attended, as did Vicki Newberry, head of Aka`ula School. Aka`ula recently participated in a youth summit with three other schools for create their own vision plan for Molokai.
“There were many similarities to what our students came up with” with what the workshop discussed, Newberry said. “We need to tie these two together.
“It doesn’t mean they know all the answers or even all the questions,” she added. But…“We need to listen to [the younger generation].”
A Sense of Urgency
Although the process will take a few years, at the end of Saturday’s workshop many members expressed the need for continued motivation.
“There is a sense of urgency, we have a limited time to make choices,” Chaikin said.
David Yamashita said the planning department will now sort through all the comments and suggestions from the last two workshops, and will present the findings at an open house tentatively planned for early spring. Input is still solicited and welcomed until the next meeting.
“You guys are stakeholders, and it’s important for us to listen to the stakeholders,” said Molokai Councilmember Danny Mateo. “It’s all viable, all important. It’s a good start.”
.jpg)
.jpg)
The Obama administration and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) joined around 600 Native Hawaiian advocates at the largest annual gathering of Native Hawaiian organizations – the Native Hawaiian Convention.
This year’s topic was sovereignty in action, according to participant and Kalama`ula Mauka Homestead secretary Candice Davis-Bicoy. After attending the last Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homesteads assembly, where she learned more about the Akaka bill, she said she attended the convention to learn more about politics.
Davis said she attended the debate between Democratic candidate Neil Abercrombie and Republican Duke Aiona, to learn “which governor is going to address Native Hawaiian issues, and homesteaders’ issues.”
“I’m still an opio [youth], most issues were discussed on a higher level with kupuna,” she said. “As an opio I appreciated being at that conference, to take in all that knowledge – what is pono, what is the right way to go.”
.jpg)
As part of maintenance and repair procedures, the Civil Defense emergency warning siren #504 at Kamalo, Molokai will sound
this Thursday, October 14, 2010. The siren at Kamalo is part of the state Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Testing is expected to take place between 9 a.m. and noon.
For more information on emergency preparedness, go to mauicounty.gov/CivilDefense
.JPG)
The need to maintain the island’s unique cultural identity is as strong as the need for more jobs and a more diverse, stable economy in the eyes of Molokai residents.
“The time for change is now. One size does not fit all,” said Molokai’s county council representative, Danny Mateo.
Last Saturday, more than 40 people put their heads together to tackle the island’s current issues as well as its goals. The workshop was held by the county to update the 2001 Molokai Community Plan.
Water and water use was one of the main topics of heated discussion. Many residents said how frustrated they were at the different agencies and organizations controlling the water – state, county, private companies – but not talking to each other.
.JPG)
While Maui County officials sought requests from Molokai for next year’s budget, a group of Molokai residents and workers first testified for more immediately-available funds last week.
The county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program received $2 million in federal funds, which will be available for projects across the county in 2011.
Much of the crowd pegged the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) as a prime candidate to receive a portion of the funds.
“[MCHC] is an integrated model of health care,” said Desiree Puhi, the center’s executive director. “We have a patient base of about 2,900 and we need the county and community to continue to support us.”
With the passing of September’s deadline, the Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans have entered into federal litigation against Maui County and Mayor Charmaine Tavares. The Molokai Veterans filed a 41-page law suit in the Hawaii District Court on Sept. 17 over a delayed building permit for their new center.
The lawsuit lays out the nearly five-year history of obtaining their building permit, and claims first amendment and due process violations, among others. James Fosbinder, the Veterans Maui-based lawyer, said they are asking for a jury trial, but also for an injunctive release – to allow construction to begin as soon as possible.
For residents wondering what developments may be in the works on Molokai, the county’s Planning Department launched new website this summer designed to give the public easier access to projects currently under the department’s review and open for comment.
“It was intended to provide more transparency for the public and get comment from them,” said Molokai Planner Mikal Torgerson.
Projects are listed by title, type (description of the project), compliance (permit the applicant is seeking) and application number. Full applications submitted to the planning department are also posted, and residents can write comments on projects through the site’s comment box.
A Second Circuit Court judge threw out the challenge to Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo’s candidacy last week, saying he didn’t have authority to rule on the case.
At a hearing Sept. 16, Judge Joel August said the case was in the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Attorney Lance Collins said in an interview he plans to file a new challenge with the Supreme Court this week.
His client, Nellie Laird-Woods of Lahaina, had filed the petition seeking to disqualify Mateo, who represents Molokai on the county council, from November’s ballot, arguing another full term and he would exceed the five-term limit.
1 Comments