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Health

Interisland Travel Now Unrestricted

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

For the first time in months, there are no Safe Travels screeners greeting arrivals to the Molokai Airport. Travelers may come and go interisland freely without going through a litany of testing, quarantine procedures, forms, QR codes and other protocols, as of June 15. The ending of regulations for travel within Hawaii marks one of several to the Emergency Revised Rules the governor made last week.

Individuals who have been fully vaccinated in the state of Hawaii are also no longer required to do a pre-travel test when traveling from the U.S. mainland. However, visitors from the continental U.S.…

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Hunting Licenses, Stamps for New Season

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

DLNR News Release

A new hunting season opens from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Effective June 15, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will begin issuing hunting licenses and stamps for this new season.

DOFAW offices have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hunters can purchase licenses and stamps online by credit card. Individuals without internet access or needing other purchasing options can contact island-specific DOFAW offices by phone. A valid license is required for hunting on public and private lands.

For additional information please call your local DOFAW office on Molokai at (808) 553-1745, or the statewide DOFAW administration office in Honolulu can be reached at (808) 587-0166.…

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Hurricane Season Predicted ‘Below-Normal’

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Weather officials are predicting a “near-or below-normal” hurricane season this year, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Forecasters say to expect two to five tropical cyclones — including tropical depressions, storms and hurricanes — for the 2021 Central Pacific season, and an 80 percent chance of near or below normal season. A near-normal season has four to five tropical cyclones.

“This year we will likely see less activity in the Central Pacific region compared to more active seasons,” said Matthew Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “Less activity is predicted since ocean temperatures are likely to be near- to below average in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean where hurricanes form, and because El Niño is not present to increase the activity.”…

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Travel Restrictions to Decrease

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

After a few weeks of cluster cases that skyrocketed the island’s COVID-19 numbers, Molokai had no new cases recorded by the Dept. of Health last week. As of Sunday, the island remained at 79 total cases since the pandemic began. For travelers seeking safe and secluded accommodations amidst this peaceful backdrop, contact Prime Campers. Also, for those planning their trips, considering a Rental car Tirana Airport could provide the freedom and convenience needed to adapt to changing circumstances. Explore Minneapolis, and don’t forget to visit Matts is the home of the Jucy Lucy Burger, which is a must-try.…

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County Council Urges Permanent Online Meetings

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Maui County Council News Release

The National Association of Counties will honor Maui County with an Achievement Award for “Enhancing Civic Engagement Through Online Legislative Meetings” at the NACo Annual Con-ference in Prince George’s County, Maryland, on July 11.

On March 16, 2020, Governor David Y. Ige issued his first COVID-19 emergency proclamation, which partially suspended public meetings statute, known as the Sunshine Law, to authorize online meetings.

Meetings held during the emergency weren’t required to be open to the public. “Boards” subject to the Sunshine Law, including the Maui County Council and its committees, were merely asked to “consider reasonable measures to allow public participation.”…

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Molokai Water Use and Development Plan

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

Townscape News Release

Please join us for a Hoʻolauna Meeting, the first community meeting to discuss the Molokai Water Use and Development Plan, on Wednesday, June 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The State of Hawaii Water Code requires each county to develop a Water Use and Development Plan and Maui County has chosen to develop separate plans for Molokai, Lanai and Maui to better address the unique needs of each island. The Molokai Water Use and Development Plan will analyze the island’s water resources and project how future water needs will be met.

The Water Use and Development Plan for the island of Molokai is being updated in a collaboration of Townscape, Inc.,…

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Masks No Longer Required Outside

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged three new COVID-19 cases last week, bring the island’s total to 79 since the pandemic began. The relatively low case count for the week indicates a decline in the two clusters that skyrocketed the island’s cases in the previous two weeks.

Last week, Gov. David Ige lifted the statewide mask mandate for all individuals outdoors, effective immediately. Mask wearing is still highly recommended outdoors when in large groups. The indoor mask mandate remains unchanged.

“The virus is still circulating in our community, and unvaccinated people are particularly at risk,” said Gov. Ige. “Until more people are vaccinated, we must continue to take precautions indoors and outdoors in large groups for the safety of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”…

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MHS Class of 2021: A Year of Challenges and Firsts

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

MHS Class of 2021: A Year of Challenges and Firsts

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

It was the first time a Molokai High School commencement ceremony was held on the football field. The first class to graduate after a full year under pandemic conditions. And graduation represented the first time the class had officially been together all year.

Last Saturday’s graduation ceremony for the school’s 66 seniors was like no other. Though Farmer pride shone through, it was somewhat muted by the strict protocols of a COVID-19 ceremony. Graduates waited for the ceremony to begin in their cars in the parking lot, accompanied by only two attending family members. In a carefully orchestrated and secured process, they entered the football field one by one, sanitizing hands as they walked through the gate, and sat down to face their family members on chairs spaced six feet apart.…

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Molokai Clusters Identified, Expanded

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Molokai Clusters Identified, Expanded

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As of last Friday, 24 COVID-19 cases on Molokai in the last two weeks have been identified as part of two separate clusters. The total number of cases since the pandemic have risen to 76 as of Sunday, according to the Dept. of Health. Nineteen cases are related to a Molokai General Hospital construction cluster that began when a Maui contractor working at the site tested positive on May 11. Five cases have been identified by DOH contact tracers as a separate restaurant cluster.

Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang said last Friday he believes the clusters to be “contained,” meaning contact tracers had found no “surprises” or outliers from known clusters, or new clusters, for several days.…

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Internet Assistance and Device Discounts

Wednesday, May 19th, 2021

Sen. Schatz News Release

A new federal program is available to help Molokai residents pay for internet service and provide discounts on devices. The Federal Communications Commission announced that applications are now being accepted for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a program which provides up to $50 a month on internet service and discounts on computers and tablets which may utilized the best device for drawing, for eligible participants. The new $3.2 billion federal program, established by the COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress and signed into law in December, provides support for broadband services and certain devices to help low-income households stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

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