HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today announced that Moloka‘i Properties Limited has confirmed it will continue to provide water service beyond August 31.   

In a letter to Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Chairman Carl Caliboso, Moloka‘i Properties Limited Director Peter Nicholas said the recent approval by the PUC to temporarily increase water rates for West Moloka‘i will enable the company to continue to provide service.  The company previously said it lacked the financial resources to continue to operate beyond August 31.

“Now this issue appears to have been temporarily resolved, I confirm the utilities will continue to operate and provide services to their customers past August 31,” Nicholas stated in the letter.   “How long the temporary rate increase will be sufficient for the utilities to be able to continue to operate depends on future fuel, power and labor cost increases,” Nicholas continued.

Community meeting takes the first step for eminent domain.

Residents showed overwhelming support for exercising eminent domain against Molokai Ranch, the island’s largest landowner for more than a century.

By Zalina Alvi

The time may have arrived for the people of Molokai to take back the `aina that Molokai Ranch has controlled for more than a century.

Community leaders and activists gathered about 300 people in the Mitchell Pauole Center last Wednesday to gather support for what could be the first step in the long process of acquiring the 40 percent of the island currently owned by the Ranch.

Partygoers enjoy music, dance, and good company until the wee hours.

Maui band Off Tomorrow plays at Paddler’s Inn Birthday Bash

By Catherine Cluett

Paddler’s Inn hosted a birthday bash celebration Saturday night, attracting a throng of young and old. The Maui band Off Tomorrow provided music entertainment, pulling people to the dance floor amid the glow of colorful disco lights. The band consists of members John Akapo, Daniel Hunkin, Tavita Suani, Fa'amau Liu,  Luteru Te'o, and Duke Elisaia, all originally from American Samoa. A raffle fundraiser for the halau hula Ka Pa Hula ‘O Hina ‘O Ka Po La`ila`i kept people on their toes as they waited to hear their names drawn for prizes.

Dr. Tina Gaines provides care for the island’s animals. 

Dr. Tina Gaines, visiting veterinarian at the Molokai Humane Society until Sept. 12 

By Catherine Cluett

Dr. Tina Gaines is a visiting veterinarian on Molokai until Sept. 12. Gaines says she has been performing mostly spaying and neutering operations on cats and dogs on Molokai, but is ready to perform any services necessary.

Gaines graduated from Ross University in St. Kitts in the Caribbean. She has worked previously on two other Hawaiian islands, completing her residency training there. When she’s not working as a visiting vet, Gaines specializes in ultra sound, and is currently based in New York. She says her previous experience working on islands has prepared her well for working on Molokai.

Group will represent Molokai in 2009 in Kona.

Molokai’s own award-winning Na Kupuna O Moana Hula Halau is postponing its entry into the 2008 Hawaii Kupuna Hula Festival due to changes required in festival programming. The Halau’s recent successful fundraising campaign will be used to support the halau’s entry into the 2009 Festival held each year in late September in Kona.

Na Kupuna O Moana Hula Halau has been awarded major recognition at past festival events and looks forward to representing Molokai in 2009. The halau is indebted to the many individual supporters and business donors in the community who have given their aloha and generously contributed to the halau’s fundraising efforts.

Kumu Moana Dudoit said, “We cherish the aloha that the community gives to us and next year, in 2009, we’ll come back bigger winners than ever.”

Groundbreaking legislation passed to boost environmental protection efforts.

The Maui County Council voted unanimously last week to pass critical legislation in the second and final reading of the "Plastic Bag Reduction Bill," which prohibits the distribution of non-biodegradable plastic bags at the point of sale beginning January 11, 2011.

For Council Member Michael Molina, who introduced the measure in July 2007, the passage of this bill means better days ahead for the environment, wildlife, and public health and safety.

"Cities and countries throughout the world are experiencing the destructive impacts plastic bags are having on their environment," said Molina. "It's time that we in Maui County and the State of Hawaii join the worldwide effort to eliminate the distribution of plastic bags."

Education grants support science, technology, engineering, and math skills in Molokai schools.

Lynn DeCoite, Senator Daniel Inouye, Irene Inouye and Barbara Haliniak at the MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund event on Aug. 21 at the Wailea Marriot on Maui. DeCoite and Halianiak are on the Molokai Chamber Foundation board with MEDB as partners.

Meeting our workforce needs – particularly in technology-related fields – will determine the success of our economic goals. The Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) has worked vigorously throughout its history to enhance education and training in Maui County communities.

To support the growing need for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills in the future, our board of directors created the MEDB Ke Alahele Fund in 2006 as a grant-making vehicle. The fund invests in broadening career pathways for Maui County residents.

This year, MEDB Ke Alahele Fund has awarded grants to Kaunakakai School for $9,996.02, Molokai Middle School for $5,578.80, and Kilohana School for $1,462.26. The grants are year-round and interested parties can get additional information by visiting www.medb.org.

Annual Taro Variety Field Day will display taro varieties.

Mana Ulu, a variety that produces branching corms, makua, and makes yellow-colored poi.

By Alton S. Arakaki

Today rice is our primary source of carbohydrate for the energy our body requires to conduct our everyday activities. Hawaii doesn’t produce any rice or other carbohydrate grains.

Most of the grains we consume are naturally adapted and produced in the temperate regions of the world. People that live within tropical latitudes primarily depend on root crops that are more naturally adapted to the climatic conditions for their carbohydrate needs. Root crops such as true yams, sweet potato, cassava and taro are heavily depended on to provide daily rations of carbohydrate. Breadfruit is also a carbohydrate source.

Commentary by DeGray Vanderbilt

There was overwhelming support from over 300 residents who attended last week’s Molokai community meeting on Aug. 20, for the Maui County Council to authorize the Mayor to utilize the county’s power of “eminent domain” to acquire the developed and undeveloped lands held by Molokai Properties Limited (Molokai Ranch).

The county’s use of its power of eminent domain is supported by a recent precedent.

A few weeks ago on June 4, 2008, Governor Linda Lingle signed into law Act 140. This law was enacted by the state legislature to give the governor the right to use eminent domain (condemnation) for the public good as a means of acquiring lands privately owned by a real estate development company.

A look back at the village of Pelekunu.

If you look down while flying over Molokai’s North Shore, keep an eye out for a village that once flourished in Pelekunu.

By Marie Yamashita

PELEKUNU! It was high adventure for my husband, Henry, when he went on a camping trip with some Lions to Pelekunu in mid 1940’s. An avid outdoorsman, he had hunted and fished in many places on Molokai, but never in Pelekunu and probably for the others too, this was their first time to the remote and isolated valley on the windward coast of Molokai. He was excited about the trip and some of his excitement passed on to me. With great expectations he started out with the others early one summer morning.