Political

Money for Molokai

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

Though the annual Maui County budget hearing took almost four hours, council members could still laugh as the community testimony came to a close.

Community asks county to fund important programs.

By Brandon Roberts

The gavel fell, and Maui County council members prepared to hear the Molokai communities’ budgetary wants and needs for the upcoming year.

This year, Molokai is slated to receive over $600,000 in county grants and around four million in capital improvements.

“This is a good budget for Molokai,” said Councilman Danny Mateo. “Molokai gets back a considerable amount in terms of county expenditures,” he said., adding that the friendly isle receives almost five times more funding than taxes paid.

Residents shared their mana`o with the county on invaluable organizations as well as requests for funding on community services at the annual budget hearing March 25 at the Mitchell Pau`ole Center.

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) is one of Molokai’s grant recipients, harvesting much mahalo from many community members and the council. MEO provides the community with bus transportation, children’s Headstart programs, kupuna services and more.

“MEO is the premier, non-profit organization on this island that is truly about helping,” Mateo said. “I cannot picture this island without MEO.”

Exiting Molokai Planning Commissioner DeGray Vanderbilt proposed a five percent raise to MEO employees for all their dedication and community service.

“We still need to find funding for additional programs that are a benefit to the community,” Mateo said.

One such program Mateo is searching for extra funding is Ka Honua Momona (KHM), a loko i`a (fishpond) restoration organization. KHM was supported in the budget hearing by several residents, volunteers, and visiting Boy Scout troop 32 that worked with the organization at the Ali`i loko i`a.

Herbert Ho, a KHM volunteer, said “if we care for the fishponds, than the fishponds will care for us.”

KHM has requested $22,000 that was not included in the original budget. “Now I have to go to bat for these additional services and programs that are important to Molokai,” Mateo said.

The West Molokai Fire Station Community Action Council is dedicated to getting a station on the county capital improvement projects list (CIP). Over 40 members and homeowners attended the hearing to petition the council.

“The intention of the group is to get the West End fire station project on the capital improvement projects list,” said Steve Morgan, the council’s vice president.

West Molokai is the most fire prone area on island and has the most water rescue emergencies performed, which is also a service of the fire department. At one time, there was a station on the West End. Currently the nearest station is Ho`olehua, and the response time is close to half an hour.

“It is about more than just fire,” said Jim Bezill, a retired fireman and West End resident. “Human lives are at stake.”

County grants are allotted to non-profits like MEO and KHM; where as CIPs involve infrastructure and facility upkeep, like the new baseyard for the Public Works Department.

The development of potable water sources on Molokai is the largest CIP. The design, drilling, and construction will take over three years to complete and cost almost $4 million.

Kawela residents will get a new water tank, which the county describes as severely corroded and leaking badly. A larger weight room and new paint is in store for the Kaunakakai Gym, and be prepared for more county road resurfacing.

“Every councilmember understands how crucial community support is. They heard the plea and they can feel the reality, it is not just a story,” Mateo said of the council when faced with the people impacted by these programs. The Maui County budget will be finalized and enacted in late May or early June.

EC Approaching Sunset

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008

By Léo Azambuja

The Molokai Enterprise Community final days are only nine months away. After almost ten years serving Molokai, where it included and supported over 40 projects, the EC will transition to the non-profit Ke Aupuni Lokahi (KAL). However, board members fear the EC will lose federal money allocated for many projects if a transition plan is not ready by the EC’s sunset.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Molokai as an Enterprise Community (EC) in 1998, opening the door to millions of dollars in grants for community-based projects.

Throughout the years, the EC had its ups and downs. The non-profit lost community support after most members backed up Molokai Ranch’s plan to develop La`au Point. In 2007, the USDA scrutinized the EC’s actions, and as a result EC meetings shut down from April until the end of the year. Because of the shutdown and other problems, board elections are past due.

At the last meeting, held March 20 at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) conference room, the EC board voted to schedule a series of meetings to plan for the EC transition. The EC will continue to exist as KAL, but without the federal designation.

Since Abbey Mayer left the EC, the Executive Director position has not been replaced. The EC is also looking for someone to fill the administrator position. Interim Executive Director Stacy Crivello said she thinks the EC will probably find an administrator before finding an Executive Director.

Board members will discuss elections in the Board Development meeting, April 23. But member Cheryl Corbiell said she thinks the EC needs to put its actions toward a transition plan, versus bringing new members, noting that in its few months left the EC needs “every piece of knowledge” to help into sunset.

Corbiell said board members have a fiduciary responsibility with the projects. As time moves on, she said, the board will need to figure out how to continue with the projects.

Member Sybil Lopez was “dumbfounded” that a transition plan was not already in the works. She said elections and nominations are also part of fiduciary responsibilities, and should not be left out in favor of a transition agenda.

“I’m not saying ‘don’t have election,’ I’m saying before we talk about it, there should be some board time put on the transition,” Corbiell said, adding that the thinks it’s “totally irresponsible” to put new people on the board when the EC should be working on bringing projects to a closure.

However, member Bridget Mowat disagreed, saying that fresh board members may take on some projects, and end up making the transition process easier.

Board member Russell Kallstrom proposed that private meetings be held, if necessary to speed up the process, since public notice must be given two weeks before public meetings.

The EC Board of Directors also discussed during last week’s meeting the restoration of Kalanianaole Hall and a tractor rental to taro farmers.

The EC acquired a tractor about a year ago, but it was non-productive because it had no insurance and no operator’s coverage. The tractor is finally in operation. The Ho`olehua Homestead Association is the custodian of the tractor, which can be rented by homesteaders and non-homesteaders.

The tractor rents out for $40 per hour, which board member Richard Cooke called a “great deal,” since it covers the operator and the five to six gallons per hour consumed. Mowat said the low price is supposed to make the tractor rent affordable to farmers.

However, Crivello said the EC may revisit costs because of fuel price increase.

Castle Adolpho and David Bush operate the tractor. Adolpho does maintenance work on it.

Kalanianaole Hall seems to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The building is owned by the Kaulana Na Pua group, which recently expired its lease to the land. Crivello said DHHL gave KAL a five-year lease of the land where the building is. “That will give us that much time at least to get (the building) restored,” Crivello said.

Crivello said the EC was allotted $55,000, and got $50,000 from OHA to initiate restorations of the building registered in the State Historic Sites. “We bought materials for the roof and were able to stabilize it,” she said. The money was also used to purchase a storage container, construction materials, and to hire an architect to look over the project.

Crivello said the architect and other experts concluded the building is in good shape, except for the back part, which is “sort of lop-sided.”

OHA also gave EC $500,000 to proceed with restorations. But Crivello said the actual costs may go up as high as $1 million.

Billy Akutagawa, from Friends of Kalanianaole Hall, is overseeing the project. Crivello said she got a report from Akutagawa, saying that a Maui contractor with expertise in restorations, Sandy Stein, is “quite impressed” with the building’s design. Crivello said Stein is willing to see how the project can stay within its budget.

Utilizing National Guard specialized work, such as plumbers and electricians, is a viable option to keep costs down, Crivello said.

Penny Martin wanted the Kalamaula Homestead Association to be in the lease together with the EC, Crivello said. But unfortunately the DHHL wants a single signatory. However, the homestead association will be in partnership with the EC in the restoration project.

Taro-Ized

Monday, March 24th, 2008

House committee hears hundreds and does nothing.

Photo and Story By Brandon Roberts

The future of taro has been deferred indefinitely. The Hawaiian House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture deferred a bill that would put a 10-year freeze on the genetic modification (GMO) of taro.

One of the bill’s introducers, Sen. J. Kalani English, was disappointed with the committee’s action. He said that bills are usually deferred with a date and time for the next hearing.

“This doesn’t bode well,” he said. “Theoretically, they could never come back to it.” The senator added that he will continue to put pressure on the House to approve SB 958.

“It is disturbing that the biotech industry won’t give,” he said. “Why should the Hawaiian’s give then?”

The March 19 deferment came after a seven-hour hearing that included testimony from roughly 130 attendees.

Hector Valenzuela is a professor at the University of Hawaii, but he represented himself to address the committee. Valenzuela testified that there is no research to back up bill opponent’s claim that GMO is safe for human consumption, or that GMO taro is the best management practice.

“Not that they care about taro, just the legislation,” Valenzuela said of the biotech industry. “They don’t want to make noise or gain attention.”

With the Dept. of Tropical Plants and Soil Sciences, Valenzuela said UH is the main research agency in Hawaii and they have not seriously looked at alternatives to GMO taro.

“When we rely on only one medicine, problems arise,” Valenzuela said. “It must be an integrated approach to sustainability.”

Valenzuela questioned whether the millions of dollars that have been spent on GMO research at UH could have been spent on more applied research to help farmers deal with many of their day-to-day problems.

The Taro Growers Association pushed to kill the bill, and companies like Monsanto say they have no intention of manipulating the DNA of taro.

“Why not support the moratorium then?” said GMO opponent, Walter Ritte. “Their decisions are based on the ability to make a profit, and little to do with serving the public good.”

Sen. English said the bill had not received support from the biotech industry because they fear it could set a legal precedent.

“I am disappointed the government is paying attention to big companies and not the public,” Valenzuela said of the committee’s decision.

Meetings Spill Over

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Water Group needs more time to complete interim report.

Photo and Story By Brandon Roberts

Seven meetings were not enough for the Molokai Water Working Group (MWWG) to finalize their recommendations to state and county agencies. MWWG said Molokai Properties Limited’s (MPL) participation and early withdrawal from the group necessitated several more meetings.

By letter dated Jan. 28, 2008, MPL withdrew its participation in the MWWG just before the company was scheduled to make a presentation on its water issues to the group. The letter stated, “We believe continued activity in the MWWG will not have any meaningful or useful results.”

Earlier, MPL released their second Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which included its assessment of the MWWG.

“As of Dec. 2007, it was unclear as to the likely outcome of the WWG’s deliberations because of the political agenda of many of the members and polarization of the participants on many issues.”

MWWG said recruitment was highly contentious due to Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) La`au Point proposal and their Master Land Use Plan. Consequently, the membership discussion consumed almost three meetings.

State and federal agencies gave presentations for another two and a half meetings. This left two meetings to compile the advisory report to the State Commission on Water Resource Management (Water Commission).

“Our last several meetings were very productive and everyone wants to continue on and finish the job we set out to do.,” said MWWG member DeGray Vanderbilt. “We had some early disturbances, but worked through them and now we have momentum and everyone seems anxious to work constructively toward a final report to the Water Commission”.

The March 19 meeting at Kulana `Oiwi was scheduled to be the final meeting of the MWWG. Review of the interim report was completed, however the final report has not been submitted to the Water Commission. Members approved additional meetings to complete the 2007 report.

The approved interim report states MWWG’s primary purposes are to update recommendations from the 1996 report, and to create standards and principles on the availability of water. The report is to be updated every two years, however no action has been taken for 11 years.

“Let us be proactive and less reactive,” said Malia Akutagawa, MWWG member. She recommends quantifying the amount of water necessary to protect native Hawaiian practices, and commit to finding baseline data, or averages for sustainable usage.

The MWWG plans a work-shop with County Water Department officials on their concerns and recommendations for the future of Molokai water. The Group also intends to secure accurate water source data, as well as existing and future water use projections from all the major water providers on Molokai.

And the Nominees Are

Sunday, March 9th, 2008

Mayor appoints two new Planning Commissioners.

By Brandon Roberts

Mayor Charmaine Tavares has appointed two commissioners, Don Williams and Lori Buchanan, to the Molokai Planning Commission.

This nomination is not guaranteed, as the potential commissioners must go before the Maui County Commission for approval.

MoPC Chairman DeGray Vanderbilt and Commissioner Lance Dunbar’s five-year terms end March 31.

Buchanan served one term as commissioner previously, but had to wait two years to reapply.

Williams is a contractor on Molokai, and is well known for his work on the McAfee house.

Community Questions Governor Appointee

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

Senators hear what community has to say about newly appointed Director of Planning.

By Jennifer Smith

The credentials of the newly appointed Director of the Office of Planning (OP) came under heavy scrutiny during a Senate confirmation hearing last week Wednesday on Molokai. Senators Clayton Hee and Kalani English traveled to the Friendly Isle to hear testimony from community members who were unable to attend the Senate confirmation hearing held the previous week in Honolulu. Nearly 100 people attended the event at Kulana `Oiwi Halau.

Mayer moved to Molokai from the East Coast in 2004. “If anyone would know him it would be the people on this island," said Hee. The senator explained that multiple hearings on the appointee’s credentials would not have been necessary if Mayer was highly qualified.

“When I look at his qualifications I think there is reason to be concerned,” Molokai Community Service Council Director Karen Holt said.

Over two-thirds of the testimony opposed the appointment.

“As a ship carpenter and a foreman of a boat yard, does this qualify him to carry out the responsibilities of Coastal and Ocean policy management for State of Hawaii?” Molokai resident Julie Lopez asked in written testimony.

Other testimonies citing a lack of experience on Mayer’s resume said an art degree from Yale, two years writing an unpublished novel, and no more than a couple of years in any given position were not enough to justify his appointment to the OP.

Supporters of Mayer referenced his accomplishments on the Molokai Livestock Cooperative and Enterprise Community (EC).

“Mr. Mayer has operated with dedicated professionalism,” EC board president Stacy Crivello said.

Former work associate of Mayer at the EC, Zhantell Dudoit, said she fully supports him and is confident in his abilities.

Additional Mayer supporters included his Aikido student Dick Wheeler, Na Pu`uwai Executive Director Billy Akutagawa, Monsanto General Manager Ray Foster, and his wife Rose Mayer.

Mrs. Mayer said her husband was qualified for the job and committed to the people of Hawaii. He has “worked tirelessly in the midst of controversy.”

The EC, a federally funded non-profit which Mayer directed for the past two years, has attracted considerable criticism from the Molokai community for supporting the proposed La`au Point Development.
 
“Governor Lingle pretty much presents Abbey with the key to La`au Point,” Enterprise Community (EC) board member Bridget Mowat said.

Governor Lingle and Mayer claim to stand against further reliance on a land-development based economy. “I think crucial to rural places is the preservation of agricultural lands,” Mayer said. However, both have publicly endorsed the reclassification and development of 613 acres of agricultural land in the conservation district of La`au Point on Molokai.

“I cannot figure out what is going on,” cultural rights advocate Walter Ritte said, explaining that the appointment “is not about what you know, it is about who you know.”

“This is how the government fills their closets with political puppets,” Homesteader Martin Kahae said, claiming that political agendas were at play with Mayer’s appointment.

Holt said Mayer’s support of the proposed La`au Point development would violate “almost every point of good planning principles.”

Urban sprawl, lack of water, energy consumption, and the protection of wildlife habitats were among the many unresolved issues Holt found with the proposed development.  “I want the top planner for the state of Hawaii to care about that,” Holt said.

After nearly four hours of public testimony, the senators took turns questioning Mayer’s vision, priorities, and views of sustainability and affordable housing. 

To remedy the effect of real state speculation on affordable housing, Mayer said proposed developments should contain a mandatory construction of 30-50 percent of affordable housing. For the 200 proposed La`au Point lots, Mayer agreed that 60-100 affordable homes ($200,000-$300,000 by his standard) should be built.

Sen. English was critical of Mayer’s inability to provide innovative ideas for issues facing the OP.

“People are no longer satisfied with development,” and they are no longer willing to fund tourism, said Sen. English. A Director of Planning must consider the effect developments have on community members’ quality of life, he added. 

The senator said on islands like Molokai, productivity and happiness levels should be considered in planning models.

“I regret that I don’t have all of the answers statewide going in,” Mayer said in a response about the status of Big Island planning. “My best answer is that I learn quickly,” he said, adding that he has an extremely experienced staff to support him.

Mayer said he is confident he meets the qualifications for the position. “The Lingle administration was particularly impressed with my ability to form partnerships during my work with the EC… I think I am an accomplished administrator.”

Mayer refuted allegations that his official support of the La`au Point development would present a conflict of interest, adding that he has initiated discussions with both the Attorney General’s office and ethics committee to verify this.

Despite his enthusiasm for the appointment, Mayer’s inability to answer job-specific questions left the senators uneasy with the appointment. 

“I haven’t been able to see you think as a director,” Sen. English said, adding that he wanted to know more about Mayer’s vision and plans for the Department of Planning.

"I think he really wants the job," Sen. Hee said. However, he explained that desire was not enough and that the position requires more than “on the job training.”

When asked where 282,000 people should live, the Director of Planning should have the answer, even if people disagree with it, Sen. Hee said.

Sen. Hee expected a vote to take place within a month, and said there is a 50 percent chance of an additional hearing.