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Political

Molokai and Hawaii – Island Politics

Progress on Water Policy in Maui County

Wednesday, July 27th, 2022

Community Contributed

Opinion by Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Shortly after joining the council, I noticed unfairness in the structure of our county’s potable water rates.

A hotel or resort using over 35,000 gallons of water was charged a lower rate than a single-family dwelling using the same amount. This disparity was based on a technical defect in the rate structure: single-family dwellings had four tiers while the other category of all other general users each had only three. 

Hotels and resorts are used by visitors for the profit of offshore investors. Single-family dwellings are where our local residents raise their families. 

I have presented twice to the Board of Water Supply, with the intention of working with them and the Department of Water Supply to balance important policy goals—conservation and revenue generation—in addition to equity in rates. …

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Candidate’s Long Support of Molokai Athletics

Wednesday, July 27th, 2022

I am not one to get political, but in the race for Lt. Governor for Hawaii, most of you probably don’t know much about any of the candidates. But if any of you have a chance to vote for the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor for the State of Hawaii, please consider Keith Amemiya as your candidate of choice. 

I don’t know much about the other three candidates or if any of them may have had any impact on our Molokai community, but I want to share with you a few things that Keith has done for Molokai High School that maybe not too many of you know about or may have forgotten about.…

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Elect Mahina Poepoe for State Rep

Wednesday, July 13th, 2022

If I was asked to identify one reason to elect Mahina Poepoe as our State House District 13 representative, I would be hard pressed to choose between “Dedicated hands-on community worker,” “Tireless citizen activist,” “Unassuming leadership qualities,”  and “She gets the work done.”

Whether it be pursuing climate resiliency, providing access to healthcare, establishing a zero cap on short term vacation rentals, eliminating the influence of money in politics, fighting for a living wage, stewarding fishponds, implementing invasive species outreach, coordinating the Halawa Hawksbill Turtle Project, being a water protector, working as a Legislative Analyst for the Maui County Council, living for Native Hawaiian rights, her work is always in service to improving our quality of life and the health of the environment.…

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Mahina Poepoe Running for State House D-13

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Mahina Poepoe Running for State House D-13

Mahina Poepoe Candidate News Release 

Aloha e Molokai! For those who may not know me, my name is Mahina Poepoe. I am the only Molokai candidate in the race for the State House of Representatives, District 13. I was born, raised, and lived my entire life on Molokai. I am a descendant of Native Hawaiian family ancestry from Puko’o, Mana’e. 

My mom is Puanani Goodhue from Puko’o, Molokai. My dad is Doug Lopes from Waianae, Oahu. 

On my mom’s side, my grandma is Anna Duvauchelle from Puko’o, and my grandpa is John Goodhue from Mapulehu, Molokai. 

My husband is La’a Poepoe, son of Kamalu and Mac Poepoe. …

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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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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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Civic Leadership Program Launches

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022

Pacific Resource Partnership News Release

The Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) launched “Partners for Democracy,” a 15-week non-partisan civic leadership program for emerging leaders who want to harness their passion for political advocacy to bring about change in Hawaii. The inaugural cohort consists of 30 civic-minded local leaders who are interested in running for elected office or becoming advocates for economic, community and social issues, including one from Molokai. On a live Zoom presentation Jan. 27, the program officially kicked off with a keynote by nationally acclaimed author and political strategist Christine Pelosi. 

The program’s curriculum is intended to empower leaders with training tools, resources, and support to help them build a solid foundation that will enable them to address the key issues facing Hawaii.…

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Open Letter to Congressman Kahele

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

As one of many Molokai residents who voted for you to represent us in Congress, I’m sad to hear that you not only voted for the nearly three quarters of a trillion-dollar FY 2022 U.S. military budget but also to increase it by an additional $24 billion. With so many issues facing Molokai and every island, I’m sure your voters could think of far better ways to use those funds. Don’t let the good work you’re doing for Hawaii be overshadowed by indebtedness to weapons manufacturers. You can win elections without them. Please learn from Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., a lesson we should have learned from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: no amount of money spent on instruments of death can translate into victory of any sort beyond Wall Street.…

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Blood Quantum Change ‘Nail in the Coffin’

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

In response to your excellent reporting “Congressman Kahele Visits Molokai” in the Aug. 25 issue. 

The need for changes of our Abbott and Costello government begins with a restitution that releases the “native Hawaiians” from our longtime policy as wards of this crooked state!

There is no such law, at both levels, which promotes the “rehabilitation” nor advocates “the betterment of the conditions” on behalf of the 1/32 blood quantum Hawaiian.

The introduction in the changing of the blood quantum requirement in order to inherit Hawaiian Homes Land falls in line with Hawaii’s latest scam, Act 80, which reduces the successorship qualification of a lease’s spouse, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, etc.,…

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Election Brings Record Voter Turnouts

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week’s General Election brought record voter turnouts across the state as well as on Molokai. Despite the fact that Hawaii promoted 100 percent mail-in ballots this year, many voters still chose to vote in person at Voter Service Centers, and long lines as the 7 pm deadline on Nov. 3 approached at many locations, caused delays in results being reported.

On Molokai, 2,824 residents cast their votes by mail, while 538 visited the Voter Service Center at the Mitchell Pauole Center to vote in person.

In the 2016 General Election, Molokai voter turnout in all precincts hovered just under 30 percent, while in 2018, it averaged in the low 20 percent range.…

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