Press Releases

May 12-17 TWIC registration all day in front of Kuha`o Business Center.

May 14, Members Only. Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting 11:30 am at Hotel Molokai.

May 14, OHA meeting open to public at Kulana `Oiwi Halau at 6 pm

Currently the Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC) registration in front of the Kuha`o Business Center on Kamoi St. (across from the Molokai Drive in). Along with a Lockheed-Martin representative, they will be registering individuals and businesses all week, May 12-17. You can call the Chamber at 553-4482 to schedule an appointment, or try for a walk-up. Must have proper identification and payment at time of registration. This is only for registration, the card will be activated at a date to be determined. The TWIC program will be instituted no later than April 15, 2009.

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.

Boston, MA—May 1, 2008—UPC Wind, an independent North American wind power company, today announced that it is changing its name to First Wind.  The name change will not have any impact on the company’s organizational structure or day-to-day operations.  The name change is effective immediately.

“Although our name has changed, our core values remain the same,” said Paul Gaynor, President and CEO of First Wind.  “As First Wind, we remain committed to our community partners, to seeking energy independence, and to finding environmentally sensitive solutions to meet the nation’s growing energy needs.  We look forward to continuing to bring these values to the development, construction, and operation of our wind power projects under the First Wind brand.”

Governor’s Molokai Community Advisory Council to host energy discussion.

The Governor’s Moloka‘i Community Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 3:00 p.m. at the Kūlana ‘Ōiwi, DHHL / OHA Conference Room, 600 Maunaloa Highway, in Kaunakakai.   The public is invited.

Representatives from Maui Electric Company (MECO) will discuss integrated resource planning for Maui County, including Moloka‘i. The presentation comes as the Lingle-Aiona Administration continues to make progress on the Hawaii Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, an unprecedented partnership between the State of Hawai‘i and the Dept. of Energy which aims to have 70 percent of Hawai‘i’s energy come from clean, renewable sources by 2030.  

Governor Linda Lingle created community advisory councils to give the neighbor islands a stronger voice in state government. The Moloka‘i Community Advisory Council holds monthly public meetings to seek community input and advise the Governor of important issues on Moloka‘i.  The council also recommends potential nominees for state boards and commissions.

The members of the Governor’s Moloka‘i Community Advisory Council are Robert Granger, Janice Kalanihuia, Jersula Manaba, Marlene Purdy and Weldon Wichman.

Anyone requiring special assistance or accommodations to participate at this meeting may call (808) 586-0034.  For additional information on Neighbor Island Community Advisory Councils, including meeting minutes and agendas, visit the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov.  

Agriculture is in BIG trouble if certain provisions of SB 2646, HD 1 passes this week  In one of the most brazen moves by the House and Speaker Say in recent memory is the ploy to hold the mandatory solar heating bill (SB 644) hostage to what the House has spun as the Ag "Incentives" bill (SB 2646, CD 1), so the latter can get out of conference committee for a floor vote.  The story is as slimy as it gets - see details below from Sierra Club (esp. section highlighted).

In short, the bill provides landowners a huge potential windfall.  The two most notorious sections would open up current Ag District lands for Urban and/or Rural District uses, either of which could negatively impact ag and lead to the kind of abuses currently illegal in the Ag District, but to which counties have been turning a blind eye.  This bill would legitimize such uses in the future. Some major features:

(1)  Allow landowners to reclassify their 15% of their lands to urban or rural under an expedited Declaratory Ruling Petition if they designate 85% of their lands as "important agricultural lands" (IAL).  The implication of using this procedure is to avoid contested case procedures, which would otherwise apply, in favor of only public hearings. 
 

The Kaunakakai Filipino Association would like to welcome its newest members, Summer and Von Santiago and keiki, Jocelyn Kepa, and Elizabeth and Omer Merkel.

The association's objective is to strengthen family ties between members and families and provide financial aide to families with a passing member to help ease their burden. A special invitation goes out to the next generation of young, community minded citizens.

The next meeting is July 17 at 6:30 pm at the Mitchell Pau`ole Center conference room. For more information contact Wanda Diorec at 553-5642.

tGovernor Linda Lingle has released $1,025,000 for the construction of pier and harbor improvements at the Kalaupapa Harbor facility on Moloka‘i.

This project includes structural repairs to the concrete pier, the replacement of bollards, which are the heavy posts used to secure lines, and the installation of a new mooring winch with a protective shelter. The Kalaupapa Harbor was built in 1967 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and last underwent major repairs in 1991.

Kalaupapa Harbor is the only receiving point for twice-annual shipments to Kalaupapa of supplies such as gasoline, heavy equipment, motor vehicles and general merchandise. The Kalaupapa community includes 46 employees from the state Department of Health, 27 residents, 40 National Park Service employees and one employee from the Department of Transportation.

“Kalaupapa relies on its harbor for large deliveries and other necessities,” said Governor Lingle. “This project will ensure the safety of barge operators and maintain a critical supply line for residents and visitors to this important cultural and historic landmark.”

The total project cost is estimated to be $1,112,240, which includes $87,240 in unused funds from a previous project.

Bidding for this project is scheduled to begin in June 2008. On-site construction is estimated to begin in spring 2009 – following the rough ocean months of October through March – and be completed in September 2009.

In June 2007, Governor Lingle released $595,000 for emergency repairs to the harbor’s bulkhead wall, which had deteriorated due to lengthy exposure to winter waves. That project was successfully completed in September 2007.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS TO ADDRESS GOVERNOR’S
MOLOKAI COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Governor’s Molokai Community Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 3:00 p.m. at the Kūlana ‘Ōiwi, DHHL / OHA Conference Room, 600 Maunaloa Highway, in Kaunakakai.   The public is invited.

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) representatives will discuss current and future efforts to assist those affected by the recent shutdown of Molokai Ranch’s operations.  Last month, a multi-agency Rapid Response Team led by DLIR met with the affected employees to provide information on unemployment insurance, job training and placement and medical benefits.

The state’s Rapid Response Team is surveying workers to evaluate their job skills and determine how many people need training and what type of job placement assistance is required.  Officials are also reaching out to businesses to identify potential job opportunities.  The team is also working with the Department of Human Services First-to-Work office on Molokai to provide direct employment assistance and the support services necessary to find employment.

Governor Linda Lingle created community advisory councils to give the neighbor islands a stronger voice in state government. The Molokai Community Advisory Council holds monthly public meetings to seek community input and advise the Governor of important issues on Molokai.  The council also recommends potential nominees for state boards and commissions.

The members of the Governor’s Molokai Community Advisory Council are Robert Granger, Janice Kalanihuia, Jersula Manaba, Marlene Purdy and Weldon Wichman.

Anyone requiring special assistance or accommodations to participate at this meeting may call (808) 586-0034.  For additional information on Neighbor Island Community Advisory Councils, including meeting minutes and agendas, visit the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov.  

A 38-year-old Molokai man died last Thursday in Mo`omomi, on Molokai’s north shore.

Christopher Ka`awa of Mo`omomi, was in the company of others, picking opihi at Anahaki Cliffs, east of Mo`omomi. Ka`awa was struck by a large wave and swept out into the open sea at 10:20 a.m. About an hour later, a Molokai fire search-and-rescue crew located the man’s body floating face down about 30 yards offshore, police said.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares and Molokai Council Member Danny A. Mateo comments on today’s announcement by Molokai Properties that the company will be shutting down a majority of its operations effective April 5, 2008.

Mayor Tavares:

“The impact on the community will be quite serious. I’m concerned for the employees and families that are affected. This is devastating news and they will be the ones who will feel it the most.

While I have great faith in the tenacity and resiliency of the people of Molokai, I am concerned about their economic future.

For an island that has the state’s highest unemployment rate, this adds to an already stressful employment situation. We’ll be looking for ways that the county, state and non-profit community can provide support to the workers and their families. My staff has been informed that the state’s Workforce Development Division and the state Unemployment Insurance Office are expected to send a rapid response team to Molokai in the next few days to meet with the affected employees.