County Gets New Rescue Chopper

Wednesday, May 25th, 2022

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

On May 20, Molokai’s Hanale Lindo, Maui Fire Department Assistant Chief of Operations, conducted the blessing of a new rescue and firefighting Air 1 helicopter on Maui that will also serve Molokai during emergencies. 

The Eurocopter BK117-850G2 aircraft, named “Iolani” (royal hawk in Hawaiian), will begin service on July 1. The pilots and air crews have already begun training on the aircraft. The twin engine helicopter will bring more safety elements for both responders and the public, said Fire Chief Bradford Ventura. The aircraft has increased hoist capability to lift victims and rescuers from the ground into the aircraft, as well as increased personnel carrying capacity, according to a Maui Fire Dept.…

Let’s Make One Thing Clear

Wednesday, May 25th, 2022

Community Contributed

Opinion by Todd Yamashita

There’s no room for violence or racism in this community, or in any other. Racism is corrosive to the soul of our community and a distraction from the hard work others are doing to raise Molokai up.

It’s true, Hawaii and Hawaiians exist in a colonized state. Financial and societal pressures continue exasperating the struggle for survival for a large portion of our population, if not most of us.

For anyone shielded by privilege, it is a vastly unseen force: the ugly and heavy burden of injustice, inequity and oppression that no one here has been asked to shoulder.…