The Molokai Dispatch -

Molokai Minute: Kilohana Bazaar, MHS Junior Prom, Kalaupapa Harbor, Kilohana Science Fair & Akaku Celebration

Molokai Dispatch Staff — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:41:16 -0600

Kilohana Bazaar

Brandon Roberts — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:12:03 -0600

Molokai Enterprise Community Plans to Cancel Public Elections

Press Release — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:08:32 -0600

(UPDATED 5/10/2008) KAUNAKAKAI, HAWAI'I: On the eve of its tenth and final year of federal funding, the Moloka'i Enterprise Community (EC), Ke Aupuni Lōkahi, Inc., is taking final steps to exclude the community from its board by planning to cancel regularly held elections.

On April 17, in a meeting that was closed to the public, the board split 5-4 on the question of voting electronically to cancel the already over-due election, according to EC board member Bridget Mowat.

The organization's bylaws require annual elections. This year's election was slated to be held in January or February of 2008, when the terms of office for four of the board members expired. The EC board is required by federal law to have 55% of its members elected to their seats by the general public. Six residents had announced their candidacies for the each of the vacant seats.

Lei Day!

Brandon Roberts — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:34:44 -0600

Kupuna Lei Day

Brandon Roberts — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:16:33 -0600

Read Aloud Correction

Brandon Roberts — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:29:08 -0600

An urgent correction; the Read Aloud series on our calender that was listed at Kaunakakai on May 7, should instead be at its usual location at Kualapu`u at 5:45 p.m. on May 7.

Jet Ski Public Meeting

Press Release — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:34:36 -0600

DLNR TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON JET SKI USE AROUND MOLOKAI

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold an informal public meeting on Molokai on Thursday, May 8 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center conference room to hear from community members regarding the use of jet skis (also known as personal watercraft or PWCs) around Molokai.

Island-Wide Aloha

Brandon Roberts — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:36:29 -0600

Keiki make the 80th year of Lei Day one to remember.

By Brandon Roberts

“All leis are special, and we all have a favorite lei we like to wear close to our hearts,” Kumu Manuwai Peters said. Elaborating further he said that lei is a metaphor for the ones we love and hold dear in our lives. When a lei is created and presented, it is a gift that holds the mana and aloha from the maker, and is proudly displayed with this spirit.

The Molokai High School (MHS) theme for the 2008 Lei Day is; He Lei Pili i ka Pu'uwai (a lei close to one's heart). Each class gave song, hula and ho`okupu to this year’s Queen Pulamalani Hanaoka, and the packed gym. The junior class shared a tearful mahalo for the classmates that passed away this year.

“Gift to Landowners”

Napua Leong — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:23:01 -0600

Controversial Senate Bill 2646 passed the Senate last Thursday in a 14-10 vote. Supporters claim the bill is designed to preserve important agricultural lands and promote agricultural production. But opponents say the bill is a major “Gift to Landowners” that paves the way for development through expedited land reclassification, tax credits, and other incentives.

The bill now awaits the Governor’s approval which would put it into effect in July.

SB 2646 has drawn particular criticism for its reclassification incentive which allows landowners to swap classification of 15% of its acreage from agricultural to urban, rural, or conservation as long as they designate 85% of their acreage to “important-ag.”

A 2008 Senate report states that the bill’s explicit intent is “to create incentives that balance the State's interest and desire for the designation of important-ag with the landowners' need and desire for more development opportunities.”

Molokai Minute - Solatario, Skate Park, and Read Aloud America

Dispatch Staff — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:42:51 -0600