- Failure notice from provider:
Connection Error:http_request_failed Submission Deadlines
Advertising
Content
To print on:
-
Political
Add your commentThe Russians are Coming!
I still remember a another movie called ‘The Russians are Coming’. It starred Jonathon Winters and was about a boat load of lost Russian fisherman who crashed landed their boat somewhere along the Massachusetts coast. It was during the cold war when Americans were deathly afraid of a Russian invasion. The men of that community gathered arms, and Jonathon Winters put his five-year old son in charge of a family of four girls and his wife, and left to join the fight. Poor Russians were just as scared as the residents.
What makes Peter think the Russians cannot come even if HIS plan succeeds? They could buy lots at La’au or one of 500 rural lots at Kawakiu, or even a hotel site right there. Early on in the Master Land Use Plan meetings when we met at Home Pumehana, I saw that the area between the Kaluakoi Hotel and Kawakiu was a different color from the rest. I asked Peter about this and he said, “We won’t develop it; we’ll probably just sell it.” Well Peter, the Russians are coming, and nobody is going to stop them!
The military purchase was held over our heads throughout the Land Use process as a way of making us say yes. I can still remember in the early 70’s when the military held landing exercises at Papohaku, their landing craft were flipping over in the shore break like toys and a handful of these guys drowned. To even promote the desecration of land in the same breath as preserving is, like, bi-polar.
Peter is angry because Karen and MCSC didn’t come to him to talk about buying the Ranch. But in the next breath he says he wouldn’t sell it anyway. Why talk to the unwilling sergeant when you can talk to the general? The Ranch is just a commodity to the mother company, Guoco, and if you flash them the right amount of dim sums, they will give it to you lock stock and barrel.
Peter was sad that Karen didn’t get involved in the process, yet in his early community consultations with key leaders, he chose not invite Karen. I guess if you don’t invite everyone, the ones you leave out are the ones who may bite you on your okole.
To tell us what is good for us is, well, arrogant and condescending at the least. This is definitely the Great White Father syndrome that you’re reverting back to. I think the first visitors to the islands did the same thing. We definitely speak a different language and this is why when you tell me we’ll keep some lands in agriculture, do you really mean more gentlemens estates or a field of dreams? Also, to compare Kainalu land values with West Molokai is like comparing sand crabs to Alaskan King crab for dinner. This is not pineapples and pineapples. To say we’re getting a good deal because you can sell it for more is questionable if you don’t have water.
I remember a story of one of Kamehameha’s battles on Maui on his way to the unification of the islands. As he made his way from Hana to Wailuku to his big battle at Kapaniwai near Iao with Kalanikupule, the son of Kahekili, he had these lesser battles along the way. In one of these skirmishes, he became overconfident because he believed his war god idol, Kukailimoku told him he was going to be victorious. That day, he barely escaped death.
What Kamehameha learned from that experience is to always have another way out of a predicament. Buying the Ranch is our other way out. Twenty years of fighting is twenty years too many. As we move through this EIS process, it becomes politically corrupt. We cannot depend on a political process that is expected to be pono when it’s not.
The only way we can stop this craziness about anybody else buying the ranch is to buy it ourselves. If the Nature Conservancy can attract all these millionaires looking for a tax break, why can’t we? The bottom line is the Ranch is for sale.
And Peter, regarding an Asian syndicate coming in, they already own the ranch.
Buy The Ranch campaign gives false hope
Via the National Wind Watch Website
Giving the community false hope that MCSC can achieve this objective is grossly misleading for the following reasons:
Molokai Properties Limited or Molokai Ranch is not for sale
The company, its directors and shareholders are committed to the implementation of the Master Plan, its donation of 26,200 acres to the Molokai Land Trust, the re-opening of the Kaluakoi Hotel, the establishment of a Community Development Corporation funded by an initial $10 million from lots sales at La’au Point, placing protective easements on a further 24,000 acres that will prevent development and most importantly, an economic future for the company’s current staff and its ahupua’a community of Kaluakoi and Maunaloa.
MPL is committed to the Master Plan and will see it through. It’s the best result for everyone.
No Master Plan
In the event the Master Plan is prevented from being implemented, MCSC like every other potential buyer from around the world, can stand in line and bid for the more than 100-plus TMK’s that comprise the property and will be sold off over time. Have no doubt that this will be the outcome that will regrettably be forced on the company.
After a three year community process in which all the island was invited to participate, MPL shareholders will no longer be interested in any other course of action but selling off the property in pieces; an avenue that creates the greatest return for its shareholders.
In this event, MCSC would have to bid against other interested parties such as:
# The Military who have been interested in buying portions of La’au Point for training exercises involving amphibious and airborne landings.
# Russian millionaires who see the island’s remoteness as a destination for parties and events that they can’t hold in their own countries.
# Wind farm operators who want to build 100 wind turbines on the West End and supply power to Oahu, with little benefit to Molokai itself.
# An Asian syndicate interested in purchasing the Ironwoods golf course for their private and exclusive use.
And don’t think it wouldn’t happen or that anyone could stop it.
No approach from MCSC or Karen Holt why?
MPL has never received any approach or communication from MCSC or Karen Holt expressing an interest in purchasing Molokai Ranch.
If that approach had been made, it would have been rejected for the reasons described below.
Did MCSC and its people know this and, for this reason, not contact me or any other MPL director or senior staff member?
It’s very hard to conduct a campaign to “Buy the Ranch” when you’ve been told the potential vendor won’t sell it to you!!!
Who says $200 million would be an adequate purchase price?
MCSC is proposing a $200 million purchase price for MPL.
In the event that MPL is forced to sell its land piecemeal to the highest bidder, it would expect to receive, over time, far more than $200 million for all its property. The receipts would be more likely to be $300 million or more. It would be negligent to shareholders if anyone planned to sell the property off in pieces for anything less.
In January 2006, a desk-top valuation of MPL property was conducted by Oahu valuer Jim Hallstrom for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This valuation was forced on MPL’s ultimate parent, the Guoco Group, when a related party wanted to purchase additional shares in BIL.
That valuation stated that if MPL sold its property in pieces, over time, it could expect to receive a minimum of $203 million. It placed valuations on individual TMK’s that comprised the property.
But since January 2006, MPL has sold minimal amounts of property in order to fund its losses and stay cash positive at prices far in excess of those values that made up the $203 million!
People should also look to the recent sale of land at the East End to the Maui Coastal Land Trust at $14,000 an acre. Multiply that by 60,000 plus acres and its $840 million!
Why make a buyout attempt for 60,000+ acres when 26,200 acres or 40 percent of the property is being donated to the community under the Master Plan?
This makes no sense from a management or shareholder perspective. The appraised value of the donated lands, the drop in value of the lands earmarked for protective easements, and the funds going to the CDC from the La’au Point development totals $75 million.
# $40 million for the donated 26,200 acres.
# A minimum of a $25 million drop in value on easement lands.
# An initial $10 million from La’au Point lot sales and an income for the CDC in perpetuity from every subsequent sale.
The question must be asked whether MCSC want the lands for itself and doesn’t like the thought that a Molokai Land Trust, which it has advocated for many years, is outside its control.
The sad part is that if Karen Holt had been a willing participant in the Master Land Use Plan process, she could have made a valued and knowledgeable Land Trustee who would have brought much experience to the organization. Who knows, time might change her opposition.
How would MCSC plan to make MPL cash positive?
Even at $200 million, MCSC would need a lot more cash. MCSC says in its statement that MPL “profits” would be reinvested in community programs and all current jobs would be saved.
There are no profits and losses need to be funded. How would MCSC find the $30 million needed to re-open the Kaluakoi Hotel? Maybe they wouldn’t bother. No jobs at the Kaluakoi Hotel then!
MPL has a cash deficit from operations of approximately $3.5 million per annum.
The reason is that MPL continues to employ 140 staff and operates a cash-negative Lodge and Beach Village, a loss-making golf-course and pays huge Workers’ Compensation premiums and huge property maintenance costs.
So, if MCSC and Karen want to kill the Master Plan and the subsequent economic future for the company, they will need to be either extremely innovative, or ruthless. Or both!
To prevent continually putting in more cash, the new owners will need to either:
# Cut most of the staff costs of $4.5 million a year by firing staff; and/or
# Raise the accommodation rates at the L&BV to $800 per night and increase the golf course fees for everyone, including locals, to $190 per round of golf at both Kaluakoi and Ironwoods. Also they will need to increase water charges to Kualapu’u and Maunaloa residents from $1.90 per thousand gallons to $4 per thousand gallons.
Plan opposition folk have a lot of great ideas about how to make MPL profitable, but I have never found anyone offering to put in cash and joint venture with us on any of those wonderful schemes.
My responsibility to employees, our Molokai Ranch family
MPL employees have asked me, and I have given them a guarantee, that we will not contemplate selling to MCSC. They worry about their futures every day, and while they face turmoil with opposition to the Master Plan, they believe in The Plan and can visualize their futures with confidence.
They have told me on many occasions they would not wish to be employed by any organization or person that lacks strong for-profit business experience, has no deep understanding of finance, banking or structuring, or has a long-standing distrust of the company and its people.
Why doesn’t MSCS concentrate on the ALDC Alternative, a La’au Point Purchase?
The Alternative to La’au Point Development Committee was comprised of many concerned and caring young people on our island who wanted to find an alternative to MPL developing La’au Point, while recognizing MPL needs cash from a development to implement the Master Plan.
We have stated in the draft Environmental Impact Statement that has been filed with the Land Use Commission that we are willing to work with potential buyers of La’au Point as an alternative to its development.
Should MCSC and Karen Holt direct its energies to this and not confuse the community with a proposed buyout of the entire property that is just not going to happen?
Beware of strangers bearing gifts
My advice from the Conservation Fund, the largest protector of land in the U.S., and from discussions with the Maui Coastal Land Trust, is that there a few donors who give money without a “catch” or “hook.”
So, there is often what is called a “quid-pro-quo” in large donations. I believe you could count the people on one hand who will give large sums of money in the millions to the “Buy the Ranch” campaign without wanting something in return.
I would pose the question as to whether one of those is a company called UPC, a wind farm company that developed the wind-farms on Maui. That company itself initiated a proposal to a BIL parent company that offered $80 million to purchase the Ranch to follow a three-year option period of investigating whether wind farms would work on Molokai. UPC never contacted MPL directly.
UPC would build 100 or more wind turbines on the West End of the island and channel the 300MW of power to Oahu by undersea cable. Any land they didn’t need, they say, they would donate to a Land Trust. Only five new jobs would be created.
Their offer was rejected; it didn’t comply with the Master Plan for many reasons.
Imagine looking at Molokai from Oahu and seeing wind turbines swishing around as your dominant view of the island. Most would be sited on the north shore between Mo’omomi and Illio Point, the most pristine and ecologically important piece of coastline on Molokai! This is land being donated to the Land Trust in the coming months whether or not this Master Plan eventuates.
Who would want to see the destruction of pristine habitat and Native Hawaiian cultural legacy lands and the loss of view shed and open space on the entire West End with no economic benefit for Molokai?
By MPL President and CEO, Peter Nicholas
BTR holds largest meeting to date
Informational session brings more support
A week after a public announcement to purchase Molokai Ranch, Buy The Ranch (BTR) organizers held their largest meeting so far. About 200 residents showed up at Kulana `Oiwi on Wednesday, June 11 to learn more about the campaign. Music and grinds were also on the schedule.
“We are going to explain what BTR is, and hopefully get input from the people,” Karen Holt said. She is the executive director of Molokai Community Service Center (MCSC) and one of BTR’s main articulators.
Vanda Hanakahi explained the many positive translations of Pono, which include the values of beneficial, successful, and accurate, among others.
“Pono begins with human intent,” Hanakahi said, “and it continues with collective human intent.” BTR members have already decided community support is crucial to the plan’s success.
Hanakahi assured the community will benefit. “When we are talking about buying the Ranch back, what we are really doing is returning it to the people,” she said.
“Land is our ohana,” Kauwila Hanchett said. “We cannot disconnect ourselves from the land.”
The BTR movement may be just emerging, but its main articulators are hoping it will reach large proportions. “From small things, big things can happen,” Glenn Teves said.
“What is going on tonight is bigger than buying the Ranch,” Walter Ritte said. “This is about what Molokai always does – providing leadership for the rest of the State to follow.”
Ritte mentioned that unlike the La`au Point development, which have divided Molokai, BTR will bring the community together.
“We know that $200 million is a large amount of money,” Holt said. “We are hoping that every single family in this island will give at least something.”
According to Ritte, full community support will inspire outsiders to help BTR. “If Molokai gives, everybody is going to give,” he said.
Bridget Mowat, in an emotional statement, said she plans to put money in memory of her late husband. Wiping tears away, she cheered the audience: “Let’s go!”
Kammie Purdy said the community in Pupukea, Oahu, when faced with an imminent development, brought up a similar plan. The area which was targeted for development was bought and later designated a State Park.
Communities in the United States and the rest of the world are trying to do the same thing, according to Moke Kim. “We … feel if this is pono, it can be done,” he said.
BTR ended its biggest meeting so far with local grinds and a special performance from local musician Lono. Meanwhile, several people approached the treasurers and put in their contribution to the campaign.
For more info, visit the MCSC website
Hirono joins Molokai veterans in Memorial Day celebration
.jpg)
The celebration included the release of several red, blue and white pigeons, representing the U.S. colors. The “One Lady Band,” literally a one-lady band, played while the crowd sang along to army, navy, marines, air force and even coast-guard anthems. The celebration finished with the crowd singing “America the Beautiful,” paying respect to deceased veterans.
After the formal celebration was over, most people hung around, ate stew and Portuguese soup, and talked story for a while. Hirono stayed and answered questions from residents and took pictures with fans. With an ever-present smile, she said she felt great to be on Molokai.
Molokai fishermen defiant after deep sea fishing ban announcement
.JPG)
Bottomfish closure to take affect May 15
After federal scientists in Hawaii determined that the current catch rates of bottom fish are too high to be sustainable, WesPac determined that a pre-emptive measure was necessary to keep bottom fish stocks from deteriorating into an “over-fished” situation, which would likely necessitate even more severe measures than the 4 1/2 month ban. The closure will last from May 15 until September 30 of this year.
Though the decision was announced on March 16, there was no way of guaranteeing that Hawaiian fisherman on all the islands would be aware of the ban or what it entails. To ensure clearer public comprehension, WesPac organized 6 public meetings- one on each Hawaiian island, with an extra meeting on Big Island- the last of which was held on Molokai.
Molokai’s fishermen are upset over the short notice - the ban was initially supposed to go into effect on May 1, one week after the meeting on Molokai. Also upsetting was the fact that the ban will not apply to fishermen on the northwest Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Niihau, where a system of no-fish zones instead exists. “I don’t see why they’re allowed to keep fishing,” said one Molokai fisherman at the public meeting. “It’s all one big eco-system; there shouldn’t be any exceptions.”
Others believe the ‘emergency closure’ does not adequately address the economic impact on fishermen who were given very little time to come up with their own respective contingency plans. “The warning you’re giving us isn’t enough,” says Conrad Aquino, “I bought all the gas I would need, and bought new boat engines, all before this announcement.”
Aquino was one of several fishermen who were concerned over how the ban might affect Native Hawaiian fishing rights. “Right now I think the future of the Hawaiian fisherman is bleak,” laments the soft-spoken Aquino, who says he is normally reticent to speak in public but felt the issue deserved some of his mana`o. “Mostly, I worry about the kids. Whenever I take kids out on my boat- we’ll sometimes fish for 14 hours straight and only make $150 or so, but the kids still love fishing. I hope they’ll be able to do what they love. I hope we (Hawaiians) haven’t lost our rights.”
Keli`i Mawae, Molokai’s unofficial mayor, was moved by the Hawaiian fishermen’s frustration on display at the meeting. “I think you folks (WesPac officials) do Molokai wrong, and I think you do Hawaii wrong.”
WesPac has come under fire often of late for appearing to be aligned with commercial interests, something which appears to have bred mistrust in the Molokai community. The regulatory body has also been heavily scrutinized by the Hawaiian and pacific mainland press for its alleged lobbying at the Hawaiian state legislature, and because Executive Director Rose B. “Kitty” Simonds is, for reasons unbeknownst to the journalistic community, the fifth highest-paid official in the entire United States government- trailing only George Bush, Dick Cheney, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In addition to the closure, WesPac will be implementing a TAC (Total Allowable Catch, amount of which has yet to be determined) aggregate ceiling for Hawaiian commercial fishermen starting in October, and all fishermen will also be required to possess a state or federal permit if even possessing bottom fish .
The impending 4½ month ban on bottom fish covers 7 species of snappers and groupers- onaga, ehu, gindai, kalekale, opakapaka, lehi, and hapu`upu`u, collectively known as the ‘deep 7’- caught within 200 miles of the Hawaiian shoreline. There will likely be a similar 4 month ban in effect in 2008; one that will be lifted on September 1 rather than at the end of September.
EC Board Suspended
.jpg)
Molokai Enterprise Community board action put on hold by recommendation from Washington
There is no word on how long the USDA will be proceeding; Mayer said he was given no time frame for an official response. As of now, the next Molokai EC meeting on May 17 is still scheduled to take place at the usual time and place, and all other EC projects on Molokai will continue as planned action is handed down from the USDA in Washington.
Farmers Ask MIS Chairman Helm to step down
.JPG)
Ho`olehua residents upset over advisory Irrigation board’s handling of Bills
The next day, the House Representatives did, in fact, pass legislation on the MIS in the form of bill SCR176; both the House agricultural and land management boards recommended the adoption of the bill which would order an audit of the MIS system. Ho`olehua farmers believe this audit will eventually result in MIS generated revenues remaining on-island, allowing much-needed repairs and improvements to Molokai’s neglected irrigation infrastructure.
As for SB1705, essentially quadrupling Homesteader representation and making the MIS a governing body, the bill has been passed by the Senate, and is awaiting a House decision. 1705 could be a big step toward self determination for Ho`olehua farmers, but weather lawmakers agree with its effectiveness remains to be seen.Dispatch Editor Reveals Letter to Senator Inouye
With tensions rising between developers and the Molokai community, Dispatch owner and editor in chief, Todd Yamashita, wrote Senator Daniel Inouye in November 2006 asking the leader to aid in the search for development alternatives.
Senator Inouye replied to the editor’s letter in February largely arguing support for the Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) 200 lot millionaires’ estates at La`au Point in West Molokai. The letter has remained a private issue until recently when Molokai Island Times editor, Brennan Purtzer, reported that copies of the correspondence were “circulating around town.”
The following is a revealing questions-and-answer session with Yamashita regarding the letters as well as his personal views on the La`au Point controversy.
All contents copyright © 2003-2025. Molokai Dispatch, Inc. All rights reserved. 
