Making It Big

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Molokai’s own goes pro.

Is there anything more pure and fantastic than a boy’s dream? How about when that dream becomes a man’s reality?

For as long as Ekolu Kalama can remember he wanted to be a professional surfer, but for almost just as long, people have told him he couldn’t do it. To those people Kalama says, "if it's your dream, it's your dream-and no one can criticize it."

After several years of hard work and trying dedication, Kalama made his dream a reality last May when he became one of the first Stand Up Paddle (SUP) surfers to receive a sponsorship.

SUPing is a newly popularized sport where surfers use elongated canoe paddles to propel themselves on longboards. The oversized surfboards allow SUPers to keep their balance and remain standing whether they’re on a wave or not.

Starboard, a famous board making company in the windsurfing industry, snatched up the Molokai born paddler and surfer in hopes that he will assist in designing a signature SUP board, and help to further popularize the sport.

To understand how a former Molokai High School graduate ended up on the beaches of Maldives testing boards and taking part in photo shoots the story needs to rewind two years.

Kalama was turning 30 in a few hours, and felt what he describes as a “mid-life crisis of sorts.” Sitting on Makaha beach, waiting for midnight to hit so he could jump in the water, he saw his friend Duane DeSoto playing with his kids.

Something about the image stuck with Kalama and while out in the water catching waves and contemplating his life, he stopped. "I said ‘this is the life I want!’"

"Everybody thought I was crazy," Kalama said, explaining how people reacted when he gave up one of the best jobs on the island, as a firefighter. Friends and family argued that the 10 day per month work requirement left him with more than enough time to surf.

But, Kalama realized he had to make sacrifices if he wanted to go all the way, and it would take nearly two years, and several tries before he would realize he made the right decision.

Broke and worn, “it didn’t seem like the doors were going to open,” Kalama said. The fire department gave him three years to go back, and every month for several months he filled out the paper work to return, but each time "it was like pulling teeth for me to go back."

Now with a sponsorship and a busy summer schedule that includes stops in Bali, England, California, Spain, and France, Kalama knows his sacrifices were worth it. "I feel like I have natural abilities God gave me," and I wasn't able to use them at the fire department.

Kalama credits his cousin Dave Kalama and infamous big-wave rider Laird Hamilton for introducing him to SUPing. "Laird gave me my first board and paddle" nearly two years ago, he said.

"I was surfing before I can even remember," Kalama said. And coming from a well-known family of canoe paddlers, "it was a common sense natural match for me."

"It's been my childhood dream to be a professional surfer," Kalama said, explaining how excited he is to be doing what he loves. His experience has taught him that you can accomplish your dreams, no matter how great, and he hopes to pass on this attitude to his two young sons.

A two-time World Paddling Champion in the Molokai-to-Oahu race, he said now he just needs to earn a surfing world title.

DOA Put on Spot

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Governor’s Advisory Council invites community to voice MIS concerns.

Community members continue to take issue with the management of the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS). Despite several strides made by the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to address recommendations from a state audit report released last February, the broken water system continues to operate with an unknown future.

In the midst of questions and contention the DOA has been able to cross off several items from its extensive to do list including taking an inventory of the MIS, and addressing employee safety issues. By the end of this month policies, procedures, and a state readiness/emergency plan is also scheduled for completion.

“We are pleased with the progress we are making” in terms of communication, said Duane Okamoto, deputy chairperson for the Board of Agriculture, during last Tuesday’s Governor’s Molokai Community Advisory Council (GMCAC) meeting. Okamoto and DOA Asset Manager Randy Teruya were invited to the meeting to give a presentation and answer questions from the council and community members on the DOA’s progress in the past few months.

Finance recommendations listed in the February audit were misleading, according to Okamoto who said some of the tasks such as tracking revenues and providing quarterly reports were already taking place.

Water Cutbacks
As of June 1, the DOA is mandating all non-homestead users to cutback water usage by 20%.

“None of this will affect the homesteaders at this point,” Teruya said, adding that it will prevent current non-homestead users from expanding planting during this summer’s expected drought season. Meters will be read every Monday morning to ensure that non-homestead users adhere to the cutbacks.

Before its most recent acquisition of Molokai Ranch land, Monsanto asked the DOA if it would service an additional 300 acres near Mahana. The DOA denied the request because water restrictions prevented service of the area.

Monsanto has most recently asked the DOA to increase pumping to the reservoir, but no decisions have been made at this time.

“It totally offends homestead farmers,” when they see the big sprinklers Monsanto is using, said Hanohano Naehu, Hawaiian rights advocate.

Two Thirds Representation
Other recommendations for the DOA came from last year’s Road Map to improvement meetings, which were created to address the tense relationship between the DOA, MIS Water User Advisory Board (WUAB), and MIS users.

“It’s been a really contentious year between the users, advisory board, and DOA,” homestead farmer Walter Ritte said during his testimony to the GMCAC. He came to the meeting with several requests for the council to pass on to the governor.

The most frequently mentioned problem falls on the lack of adherence to the homesteaders’ 2/3 right to water. The DOA says it recognizes the homesteaders’ 2/3 right to the water; however, “that water is never set aside for the Hawaiians,” Ritte said. According to the audit report nearly 80% of the MIS water consumed goes to non-homestead users.

Naehu and Ritte agreed that adding 2/3 homesteader representation on the WUAB would greatly improve the homesteader, DOA, and user relationship. Ritte also asked that the homesteader representatives have no ties to seed companies, that the WUAB continue meeting every month – instead of the proposed change to every other month, and to have DHHL take over the MIS, after it is repaired. “That would solve a lot of problems.”

The department is looking to the community and MIS WUAB for further input on how to address the audit report’s and homesteaders’ recommendation to add additional homesteader seats on the board, and on whether or not to adopt a more aggressive collections policy.

Unpaid Bills
Okamoto said unpaid water bills were reduced by about $100,000, but that around $200,000 remains outstanding. The DOA has written guidelines with a strict collections policy; however, Teruya said the department is asking for assistance to decide on how aggressive of a collections policy to take with delinquent account holders. Nearly 85% of the outstanding balance is owed by 12 of the 240 account holders.

If the outstanding debt was cleared it would help the DOA to purchase much needed items, such as a new backhoe, Okamoto said.

The audit report asked the department to create a “wish list” for the system. According to Okamoto last year’s wish list was essentially fulfilled, the list consisted primarily of operational materials and supplies such as welding masks and sockets.

GMCAC chairperson Janice Kalanihuia asked if the wish list shouldn’t contain bigger items such as a backhoe, or the new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system that would increase employee safety by allowing control of the water system from remote locations.

The SCADA system was among the items listed in the DOA’s proposed Capital Improvements Project (CIP). Unfortunately due to budget limitations, the replacement of the electrical cable and air relief and blow out valves received priority. Teruya said the DOA will have to wait a couple of years for the SCADA system to be financed.

West End Utilities Update
GMCAC member and homesteader Kammy Purdy asked Okamoto for an update on Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) and the MIS, the former largest employer on the island announced last month that the company would abandon all water services on Molokai.

“We haven’t had any communication with them,” but they continue to pay their monthly bill, Okamoto said.

The next MIS meeting will be July 15 in the MIS office in Ho`olehua.

Kalaupapa Regulations Enforced

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

Peninsula exposure gives public misinformation.

By Jennifer Smith

An overabundance of recent media exposure for Kalaupapa has left the public with a misconception about the accessibility of the peninsula. Residents, administrators, and National Parks Service (NPS) personnel clarified during last Tuesday’s monthly meeting that Kalaupapa is not open to the public, except through permit or by taking part in Damien Tours.

The meeting also provided updates on preparations for upcoming developments and facility transitions that will occur in the next few months, including a visit from Senator J. Kalani English.

State lawmakers recently approved a resolution, SCR 208, that offers an apology to the people who were quarantined in Kalaupapa after being diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease. The resolution acknowledges the hardships and isolation endured by the residents of Kalaupapa, who were forcibly quarantined between 1866 and 1969.

Sen. English helped to introduce the bill and asked to attend August’s monthly meeting to read it to the residents.

Monk Seal Births
Kalaupapa continues to be a prime birthing place for monk seals, according to Eric Brown, marine biologist for Parks Services.

Five pups were born this year, which accounted for over half of the total monk seals born in the entire state. Brown said the mothers typically dwell in the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), and when they become pregnant they head to Kalaupapa to give birth.

Since 1997, 38 monk seal births have taken place near the peninsula, which Brown attributes largely to healthy fish communities and the remote location. “You don’t see fish communities like this in Main Hawaiian Islands,” he said.

Unfortunately, despite promising numbers in Kalaupapa, such as the recent delivery of a pup by the youngest known monk seal mother, at four years old, the monk seal population in the MHI continues to be “pretty abysmal,” Brown said.

NPS workers reminded residents and visitors to remain aware of the monk seals presence and keep a distance, to keep the animals wild.

Closing Landfill
A state mandate has ordered the nearly full Kalaupapa landfill to close by the end of this year. With no plans to open a new landfill, NPS Facility Manager Steve Luppert has taken on the hefty task of figuring out how to manage the peninsula’s waste.

“It can all be done,” Luppert said, but added that “we are going to have some growing pains.”

The main focus is on recycling and composting as much of the area’s waste as possible. While recycling is now voluntary, come January 1, Luppert said everybody will be doing it.

Luppert and Student Conservation Association intern Brooke Jarvis are currently working on preparations for a new recycling and composting facility. Materials for the facility are expected to arrive on the July 19 barge. Three permanent positions will be added to assist with the new waste management program.

Other Updates
Brown has also been working with three other NPS workers to look into the archeological significance of areas near the Kalaupapa harbor.

“No decisions have been made” concerning dredging near the pier and harbor, according to Stephen Prokop, NPS Superintendent. However, Congress has appropriated up to $12 million for long term repairs, but what that will entail is yet to be determined.

Several residents have noticed people fishing and diving at night. NPS workers said they will enforce the law if individuals are found taking resources out of season.

NPS is also continuing to regulate hunting on the peninsula. New flags have been purchased to designate when and where hunting takes place, and to ensure that archaeological sites are not disturbed.

Prokop recently met with congressional staffers in Honolulu. “They continue to be very interested in Kalaupapa and supporting it in every way,” he said. The elected officials encouraged residents to write letters about issues they are encountering, such as flight difficulties with Pacific Wings.

The U.S. Coast Guard scheduled a “Safety Stand Down Day” last Wednesday. The day provided emergency situation practice for the coast guard staff and included the landing of a helicopter on the peninsula. Prokop described the day as a “show and tell of the coast guard’s capabilities.”

A trail crew from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will make two visits to Molokai this summer to work on the Pali trail switch backs and to assist with vegetation clearing.

The next Kalaupapa monthly meeting will be held on July 8 at 11:30 a.m. in McVeigh Hall.

What’s Blooming

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

Artist returns to Halawa to beautify family land.

By Jennifer Smith

Tucked beneath the lush green vines and trees of Halawa Valley, lies a humble, but growing flower farm. The Halawa Heliconia Farm is the proud product of the hard work of an artist and a stock broker.

After meeting on Oahu over 15 years ago, little did Kalani Pruet and Arturo Montoya know that they would meet again on the shores of Molokai.

Staying next to Pruet’s family land in Halawa Valley, Montoya was reunited with the young artist when he came to Molokai in 1995.

Pruet was born and raised on Oahu, but inherited Halawa land from his great-grandmother. He moved to Molokai to set up a homestead and create a retreat. The trained artist thought the scenery would make an excellent inspiration for his landscape paintings.

However, with the help of his neighbor and friend Montoya, Pruet’s hobby for planting tropical flowers on the land quickly became a more industrious enterprise. 

“This was an opportunity to do something with the land,” that my family would welcome, Pruet said of his decision to begin the flower farm. While the land is “still a work in progress,” he said the change in the landscape is amazing.

“If it wasn’t for Art’s influence” it wouldn’t look as luxurious as it does, Pruet said, crediting Montoya’s support and expertise for much of the farms aesthetic growth.

After four years of back breaking work the grounds today boast well over 100 different plant varieties, with most in the heliconia or ginger family.

The green thumbed partners have big plans for the future of the farm, including increasing the use of more diversified plantings such as taro, pineapples, bananas, pumpkins, squash, and papayas.

As much as I can, I want to get the flowers out there for “public education,” Pruet said. “I encourage people to come down,” anytime between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
 
Pruet is really generous with those who have local roots; he provides flowers for local events such as May Day. “My way of donating to that festive occasion” is to provide the bright colors.

The flower entrepreneur is also working on building up his commercial business with the farm. He ships his flowers anywhere in the U.S. and Canada and can ship internationally.

Pruet encourages interested spectators to come out and visit his farm, “I would like to see visitors really appreciate this place.”

For more information on the Halawa Heliconia farm visit Molokaiflowers.com.