IAM Expanding Efforts and Membership

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

IAM Expanding Efforts and Membership

IAM News Release

I Aloha Molokai (IAM) is delighted to announce the formation of IAM West, which includes members from the Maunaloa community and the 800-member West Molokai Association. West Molokai is the planned site for a proposed 90 turbine industrial wind power plant. Members of all three groups unanimously agreed to oppose this project, no matter what so-called “benefits” may be offered. This is a big step toward our goal of uniting the entire island of Molokai in opposition.

IAM is already a partner with Friends of Lanai and Kupa`a no Lanai. Because it appears that Hana on Maui may be the next scenic, rural community threatened by large scale, profit-driven development, we are currently working with people in Hana to create an IAM Hana.…

Going for Gold

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Going for Gold

Molokai paddlers place first at this year’s Great Kahakuloa Race

The men’s team from Molokai’s Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club returned as champions of this year’s Great Kahakuloa Race, held on Maui Sunday morning. The race, sponsored by Na Kai Ewalu, spanned 26 miles from Maliko Gulch to Canoe Beach in Lahaina. The team finished in 3 hours and 25 minutes, followed closely by Wailea Canoe Club and then Hawaiian Canoe Club, both from Maui.

Last year, the crew placed third in this race. This is the first time since the 1980s they have beaten Hawaiian Canoe Club, one of the top crews in Maui, according to paddler Clint Labrador.…

Leading By Example

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Leading By Example

MHS student represents Molokai on teen council against meth use

It’s no secret that methamphetamines –commonly known as “ice” –has been a prevalent problem on Molokai. Meth is currently the top drug of choice and the number one drug problem in Hawaii, according to the latest assessment done by The National Drug Intelligence center.

But one student from Molokai High School (MHS) is taking action in the fight against meth use. MHS Junior Hope Will has become the first student from Molokai to serve on the Teen Advisory Council for the Hawaii Meth Project, a statewide campaign started in 2009 to prevent and reduce meth use across the islands, especially amongst teens and young adults.…

Keeping Kalaupapa Beautiful

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Keeping Kalaupapa Beautiful

Waste at the settlement up 50 percent from previous years

The amount of solid waste exported out of the Kalaupapa settlement is estimated to near 41,000 pounds by the end of September, increasing almost 50 percent from last year’s 27,000 pounds of trash.

Park officials suspect the reason for this upsurge is the increase of guests and visitors, according to Arthur Ainoa, the National Park Service’s (NPS) Grounds and Recycling Supervisor. At the monthly community meeting last week, he said many guests to Kalaupapa are unaware of the recycling and composting program, dumping all their waste into one trash pile instead of sorting it per the program’s policy.…

Fortifying the Pier

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Fortifying the Pier

Kalaupapa’s historic landmark currently under repair

It’s been a noisy week for the Kalaupapa settlement. Helicopters have been transporting mixed concrete from topside Molokai to the settlement for repairs to the historic pier since last Monday. The $5 million repairs should fortify the pier for the next 50 to 75 years, according to Steve Prokop, superintendent of the Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

The pier, which is over 75 years old, requires repairs on a regular basis after being pounded by winter surf on the north shore of Molokai, said Prokop. The pilings, or large posts that support the pier, are worn and the bulkhead wall below the warehouse building has deteriorated over the years.…

Na Pu`uwai Receives $1.6 M to Continue Programs

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Molokai’s Native Hawaiian health care provider, Na Pu`uwai, recently received $1,696,281 in federal funding. The funding, part of an ongoing grant, enables the organization to continue current programs, according to Executive Director William Akutagawa.

The funding was part of $10,673,171 allocated to healthcare, education and wellness programs designed to address the needs of Native Hawaiians across the state. The money comes through a series of five grants administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding was announced last week by Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Representative Mazie K. Hirono, and U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa.…

Taking Steps for Charity

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Taking Steps for Charity

The 34th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walks held in May this year raised a record breaking $613,025 across Maui County. On Molokai, 130 walkers from eight local charities participated, raising $12,700.

Of nonprofit agencies, Molokai Farmers Alliance raised the most money with $5,135, followed by Molokai Cancer Fund with $1,156, and Hospice Hawaii for Molokai with $1,130. Monsanto was the business that raised the most money with $2,500. All of the monies raised by these organizations are redistributed to local charities throughout the county. This year, an extra $10,000 from funds raised on Maui was added to increase Molokai’s distribution, resulting in $22,7000 allocated to a variety of nonprofit organizations on the island, according to Carol Reimann, Executive Director for the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, who organizes the event each year.…

Long Legacy of Service

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Long Legacy of Service

Mr. Nip moving from Molokai

Over 50 years ago, Kenneth Nip, known to many as Mr. Nip, came to Molokai to teach at the Mission School, which used to be held outside Kaunakakai. Since then, he has become not only an integral part of the community, but an example of service and volunteerism. This month, Mr. Nip is moving to Oahu to be closer to his family and medical services.

Mr. Nip grew up in Honolulu, where the site of his childhood home is now a freeway, he said. As a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Mr. Nip started teaching at mission schools on Maui and Kauai after he graduated from La Sierra University in California.…

Oceanic to Upgrade Molokai Broadband

Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

For years, Molokai has experienced some of the slowest broadband Internet service in the state, provided by Oceanic Time Warner Cable. For customers who struggle to stream Netflix movies or wrestle with buffering YouTube videos, good news may be on the way. With improved internet access, residents will soon be able to enjoy streaming services like tivimate without interruptions.

Oceanic’s cable television and broadband signals are currently sent to Molokai via microwave technology. Because Oceanic uses microwave to carry both TV and Internet signals, there is a lot of competition for bandwidth, causing slower speeds. But Oceanic President Bob Barlow said that will be changing soon.…

Moving Mountains of Metal

Sunday, August 12th, 2012

Moving Mountains of Metal

Molokai metals recycling event is now open.

If you’ve been collecting junk cars, appliances or scrap metal in your yard, now is the time to say goodbye to such lawn ornaments. A metals recycling collection event on Molokai, put on by the County of Maui, is going on right now until Sept. 8. The event allows residents to safely trash their scrap metal free of charge.

The current metals recycling program, which started three years ago, opens up once to three times per year. Located at the Molokai-Naiwa Landfill on Maunaloa Highway, the event is operated by Maui-based company Kitagawa’s Towing & Metals Recycling, which is contracted by the county to process the metals.…