August 31st, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
UPDATED @ 4:00 P.M. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009
More than 70 state and county firefighters are on the scene of a three day old fire on Molokai that has now burned an estimated 7,800 acres. Crews are being assisted by 5 helicopters, 7 bulldozers, and 5 water tankers.
Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
Bulldozer activity remains heavy as equipment operators place fire break lines to help prevent the fire from advancing. Firefighters are dealing with flare-ups throughout the burn areas.
“Our crews are doing an outstanding job and we truly appreciate the great support from the people and businesses of Molokai,” said Fire Chief Jeff Murray. “So many have come forward to offer whatever help they can provide including dropping off food for our firefighters and support personnel. We want them to know that we’re grateful for their generosity and can’t thank them enough,” said Murray.
The Department of Education announced this morning the closure of four schools on Molokai. Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai Middle School, Molokai High and Kualapuu School were closed because of access conditions. According to DOE Maui Complex Superintendent Lindsay Ball, the fire has no direct threat to the school campuses, but the conditions and hazards caused by the fire in nearby areas created a situation where faculty and parents were not able to access roadways leading to the school campus. To check for Tuesday’s school closure information parents can call DOE’s Maui District office at 984-8001 or the Molokai Complex office at 553-1723.
The County’s Cooke Memorial Swimming Pool will remain closed while it is being used as a water source for helicopters conducting aerial water drops. Helicopter assistance will cease at nightfall as a safety precaution and is expected to resume tomorrow at daylight.
At 1:00 p.m. today the Red Cross closed an emergency shelter it opened yesterday at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center. Aside from one firefighter who was treated for smoke inhalation on Saturday, no injuries are reported.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui. Photos courtesy Jeff Zuckernick)
Tags: Communications Director, County of Maui, evacuations, helicopters, Hoolehua, Kalamaula, Kalamaula Mauka, Kaunakakai, kaunakakai brush fire, Kaunakakai fire, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Mahina Martin, Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Maui Fire Department, maui firefighters, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, Mauii today, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, MFD, molokai brush fire, Molokai fire, Napili, Native 92.5, Pacific Radio Group, Pukoo, Wailuku, water drop, water tanker, Wendy Osher
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August 31st, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
UPDATED @ 12:30 P.M. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009
County and state fire crews continue their third day of battling a brush fire on Molokai that has increased in size to 7,200 acres since it was first reported Saturday afternoon.
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
On the ground, 40-plus County firefighters are joined by 28 wildland firefighters from the State’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Four helicopters returned this morning to assist firefighters with aerial water drops.
The fire is burning in a westerly direction and fire crews are dealing with gulches throughout the terrain. Bulldozer activity remains heavy as equipment operators place fire break lines to help prevent the fire from advancing.
Last night, an abandoned structure near Kalamaula was completely burned as firefighters fought to save the home adjacent to the abandoned building. The home was not damaged. A pig farm near Kalamaula was also threatened by the fire but did not sustain damage and the livestock were unharmed.
The County’s Cooke Memorial Swimming Pool remains closed today while it is being used as a water source for the helicopters.
A portion of the Maunaloa Highway was closed last night as fire crews and equipment traveled through the area to keep the fire from advancing.
Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center yesterday to accommodate anyone displaced.
Aside from one firefighter who was treated for smoke inhalation on Saturday, no injuries are reported.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui, Photos courtesy Jeff Zuckernick)
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
Click image to enlarge. Photo courtesy Jeff Zuckernick
Tags: Communications Director, County of Maui, evacuations, helicopters, Hoolehua, Kalamaula, Kalamaula Mauka, Kaunakakai, kaunakakai brush fire, Kaunakakai fire, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Mahina Martin, Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Maui Fire Department, maui firefighters, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, Mauii today, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, MFD, molokai brush fire, Molokai fire, Napili, Native 92.5, Pacific Radio Group, Pukoo, Wailuku, water drop, water tanker, Wendy Osher
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August 30th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
UPDATE: 6:45 A.M. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009
FIRE FORCES SCHOOL CLOSURES:Â The department of Education closed four schools on Molokai today because of the ongoing fire above Kaunakakai. Closures today include Molokai High, Molokai Middle, Kaunakakai Elementary and Kualapuu Elementary Public Charter School.
DROUGHT CONDITIONS ON MOLOKAI: The island of Molokai has been having especially dry weather in recent months. The latest update from the National Weather Service indicates severe drought on the western third of the island and moderate drought conditions covering the eastern two-thirds of the Friendly Isle. The reservoir in West Molokai remains low and the mandatory cutback on irrigation water use had increased from 10 to 20 percent from the previous month. The next drought update will be issued in two weeks.
UPDATE: 9:00 P.M. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2009
Photo courtesy County of Maui.
Photo Courtesy County of Maui.
More than 50 firefighters from County and State agencies are on the scene of a 6,000 acre fire on Molokai tonight. Fire personnel have been fighting shifting wind directions since the fire started.
The fire is currently moving in a westerly direction and residents of the Kalamaula area are being allowed to remain in their homes. Helicopters providing air water drops ceased operating at nightfall and are expected to return at daylight Monday morning when conditions are safe for flying.
Firefighters from Maui’s Wailuku, Makawao and Kihei fire stations were sent to Molokai this afternoon to assist crews battling a brush fire that started shortly after 12 noon on Saturday, August 29.
Homes in the Kalamaula Mauka area that were threatened late this afternoon were evacuated when the fire came dangerously close to their residences.
Since the fire began, a single home sustained damage to its garage and one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation on Saturday. The firefighter was reported to be in stable condition after being treated at Molokai General Hospital.
(Posted by Wendy Osher; information provided by the County of Maui)
Tags: Communications Director, County of Maui, evacuations, helicopters, Hoolehua, Kalamaula, Kalamaula Mauka, Kaunakakai, kaunakakai brush fire, Kaunakakai fire, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Mahina Martin, Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Maui Fire Department, maui firefighters, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, Mauii today, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, MFD, molokai brush fire, Molokai fire, Napili, Native 92.5, Pacific Radio Group, Pukoo, Wailuku, water drop, water tanker, Wendy Osher
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August 30th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
UPDATE TO KAUNAKAKAI FIRE SUNDAY 8/30/09 4:15 p.m.
RESIDENTS OF KALAMAULA MAUKA ON MOLOKAI EVACUATED
Kaunakakai brush Fire. Photo courtesy Lani Gomes.
A change in wind conditions has caused the brush fire on Molokai to switch from a mauka direction to makai. In response, Maui Police ordered residents in the Kalamaula Mauka area to evacuate at around 4:15 this (Sunday, August 30, 2009) afternoon. Police officers conducted door-to-door notifications to the approximately 25 residents in the area. Red Cross will be operating an emergency shelter at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Kaunakakai for displaced residents.
The brush fire burned 6,000 acres by afternoon. More than 30 firefighters worked overnight to battle 17 different extensions of the fire. Overnight, a single residence sustained damage to its garage. Today crews were assisted by staffing from Makawao and Kihei as well as 23 wildland firefighters from the state Department of Forestry and Wildlife. The fire was first reported at around noon on Saturday. The cause is unknown at this time.
Earlier updates are posted below.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui.)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2009. 2:00 pm UPDATEÂ TO KAUNAKAKAI FIRE
Kaunakakai Fire. Photo Courtesy Lani Gomes.
The brush fire that was first reported at 12:05 pm Saturday afternoon has now burned an estimated 6,000 acres and has shifted back to burning in the mauka direction. Firefighters are currently concentrating on the eastern flank of the fire after earlier efforts by firefighters and helicopters to curtail the western section of the fire caused some tapering at the western flank. No other significant changes have occurred. See story below issued earlier today for additional information.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui)
UPDATED:Â 10 A.M. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2009
By Wendy Osher
A brush fire on Molokai had burned 5,000 acres by Sunday morning and had damaged the garage of a single home. County officials say the shifting wind had initially pushed the fire in the mauka direction, but had changed and moved toward Kaunakakai town today, coming as close as across the street from Hotel Molokai.
The county Department of Fire and Public Safety sent firefighters from Napili and Wailuku yesterday to assist Molokai Firefighters from Kaunakakai, Pukoo and Hoolehua. Today, additional staffing will be sent today from Makawao and Kihei as well as 23 wildland firefighters from the Department of Forestry and Wildlife.
Kaunakakai Fire. Photo Courtesy Lani Gomes.
County Communications Director Mahina Martin said one residence sustained damage to its garage, and at approximately 2:00 am voluntary evacuations were advised. The brush fire approached a residential area of approximately 100 homes as the wind direction shifted throughout the night and early morning hours. Over 30 firefighters were on scene throughout the night battling over 17 different finger extensions of the brush fire.
At sunlight, four helicopters returned to conduct water drops after ceasing at nightfall Saturday due to safety precautions. Helicopter water drops forced the closure of Cooke Memorial Pool, which is being used as water source.
Molokai residents are reminded to stay out of the fire area for their own safety and also to assure water tankers and heavy equipment can operate in the confined area. The fire was first reported shortly after noon on Saturday, August 29, 2009.
One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation at Molokai General Hospital yesterday and remains in stable condition. No other injuries are reported.
5 bulldozers, 2 loaders, and 3 water tankers are on scene from the County’s Department of Public Works, State agencies and private companies.
Fire officials report that no homes are in immediate danger at this time. The cause of the fire is unknown.
(Updated:Â 10 a.m. Sunday, August 30, 2009; Information provided by the County of Maui)
Tags: Communications Director, County of Maui, helicopters, Hoolehua, Kalamaula, Kalamaula Mauka, Kaunakakai, kaunakakai brush fire, Kaunakakai fire, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Mahina Martin, Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Maui Fire Department, maui firefighters, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, Mauii today, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, MFD, molokai brush fire, Molokai fire, Napili, Native 92.5, Pacific Radio Group, Pukoo, Wailuku, water drop, water tanker, Wendy Osher
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August 30th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
The Maui Arts & Cultural Center today confirmed a date for the upcoming John Legend concert. The five-time platinum album selling Legend will perform on Maui at the Castle Theater on September 10, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. The venue has listed a six ticket limit with sales to the general public beginning this Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 10 a.m.
John Legend. Image courtesy, Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
Legend is responsible for three hit albums Get Lifted, Once Again, and Evolver with award-winning songs, “Green Light,” “Ordinary People,” “Used to Love U,” “Save Room,” and “Another Again.”
The Maui Arts & Cultural center notes that the 30-year-old Legend has been labeled by music critics as “one of the most compelling and important singer/songwriters of this generation.”
Legend founded the non-profit Show Me Campaign, to fund under-developed African villages. A portion of the proceeds from the Hawaii shows and the Evolver Tour will go to provide healthier living conditions for these villages, such as, mosquito nets, free meals to children attending school, and clean water sources.
Hawaii’s concerts are considered the close-out show, and will feature a showcase with a full chorus line, orchestrated live music, and a solo piano performance by John Legend himself.
Tickets are: $65, $55, and $45Â (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased at the MACC Box Office, on line at www.mauiarts.org, or by phone at 242-SHOW.
(Posted by Wendy OSHER ©2009, Information provided by the Maui Arts & Cultural Center)
Tags: Another Again, Castle Theatre, espn Maui, Evolver, Evolver Tour, Fox News 900, Get Lifted, Green Light, Island sounds, John Legend, John Legend concert, John Legend Maui, John Legend Maui concert, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Legend, MACC, Maui, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, MauiNOW, Native 92.5, Once Again, Ordinary People, Pacific Radio Group, Save Room, Show Me Campaign, Used to Love U, Wendy Osher
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August 29th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
A brush fire burned an estimated 2,500 acres since it was first reported shortly after noon, Saturday, August 29, 2009. The fire was located above the town of Kaunakakai and continued to burn in the mauka direction at nightfall.
Kaunakakai brush Fire. Photo courtesy Lani Gomes.
Three helicopters assisted crews from the Molokai’s Kaunakakai, Hoolehua and Pukoo fire stations. Air operations included water drops throughout the day, but ceased at nightfall for safety reasons.
Firefighters from Maui were sent to assist Molokai crews with personnel from the Napili and Wailuku fire stations leaving Maui in the afternoon via helicopter and a fire department rescue boat. Molokai firefighters belonging to a relief engine crew were also called back to duty.
One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and was reportedly in stable condition at the Molokai General Hospital.
Thirty-one firefighters were joined by nearly a dozen personnel from County and State support agencies as well as heavy equipment operators from Goodfellow Brothers Co. who assisted with bulldozers used to put fire break lines in place. Water tankers from County and State highway divisions were deployed to the scene.
No structures were threatened. The fire’s closest point to structures was approximately one mile.
Crews are monitoring the fire throughout the night and air support will resume at daylight.
The cause of the fire is unknown. A county issued update is expected before noon tomorrow, Sunday, August 30, 2009.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui)
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August 29th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
A brush fire above Kaunakakai on Molokai burned 60 acres by 3:30 Saturday afternoon, August 29, 2009. The fire was first reported at 12:05 p.m. in a town located above Kaunakakai. County officials say the fire was burning in the mauka direction.
File image by Wendy Osher.
Three helicopters were dispatched to the scene for water drops as well as crews from the Kaunakakai, Hoolehua and Pukoo stations.
At 2:30 p.m. a crew from the Wailuku station on Maui was sent to aid Molokai fire fighters and a crew from Maui’s Napili station was enroute to also provide additional support. County and State water tankers and heavy equipment used to build fire breaks were also on scene.
County communications director Mahina Martin said no residences were in jeopardy and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the County of Maui)
Tags: Communications Director, County of Maui, helicopters, Hoolehua, Kaunakakai, kaunakakai brush fire, Kaunakakai fire, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Mahina Martin, Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Maui Fire Department, maui firefighters, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, Mauii today, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, MFD, molokai brush fire, Molokai fire, Napili, Native 92.5, Pacific Radio Group, Pukoo, Wailuku, water drop, water tanker, Wendy Osher
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August 28th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
Governor Linda Lingle. File photo by Wendy Osher.
Governor Linda Lingle will hold an emergency meeting with her cabinet directors over the weekend to identify additional spending reductions needed to close the growing budget shortfall. Â Today, Lingle said reductions will likely include additional layoffs in order to realize labor savings.
The meeting comes on the heels of a reduced revenue forecast that is projected to result in an additional $98 million deficit over the biennium.
In a statement today, Lingle called the Hawaii Government Employees Association “unrealistic” in its position on the administration’s latest offer. “We must take the difficult step of identifying additional spending cuts, including a possible further reduction in force,” said Governor Lingle.  ”This is not something we want to do, but something that is necessary to meet our constitutional responsibility to balance the budget,” Lingle said.
“I continue to believe that furloughs would be preferable for both the state employees and the public. Â After discussions between our negotiating team and the HGEA and providing them with what we considered to be a very fair plan, I truly believed that we were very close to reaching an agreement that would have avoided layoffs. Â However, we cannot accept the response we received from the union leadership yesterday,” Lingle said.
Lingle said the State had made a similar offer to the United Public Workers (UPW) prior to the Council on Revenues meeting and received no response.
Given the size of the budget shortfall, the Governor indicated the additional reductions would be substantial and focus on a major restructuring of departments and state government, including the possible elimination of some programs and services.
Governor Lingle also announced the three-day furlough for roughly 900 non-union employees will start on September 16, 2009.
Initially Lingle had planned to furlough non-union employees in alignment with the furlough of union employees. Â ”Since the HGEA’s offer is not acceptable,” Lingle said the furlough of non-union employees will move forward.
(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information provided by the Office of Governor Linda Lingle.)
Tags: $98 deficit, Governor, Governor Linda Lingle, hawaii deficit, Hawaii Government Employees Association, HGEA unacceptable, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, Linda Lingle, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, MauiNOW, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, Native 92.5 FM, Native fm, Non union layoffs, Pacific Radio Group, revenue shortfall, revised revenue forecast, The Maui News, Wendy Osher
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August 28th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
The county’s Water Resources Committee will consider a bill to permit use of water from the Hamakuapoko wells during times of drought.
Councilman Mike Victorino, Chair of the County's Water Resources Committee proposes the use of Maui's Hamakuapoko Wells during times of drought. File photo by Wendy Osher.
Under the bill, customers in on the Upcountry water system would be permitted to utilize the resource during dry conditions that warrant a drought declaration.
Committee Chair, Mike Victorino, who scheduled the bill for consideration said, “Each summer, County water customers in the Upcountry area are asked to conserve water.” He said the issue needs to be brought back to the table for further discussion.
The meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, in the Council Chamber.
The meeting is open to the public.
(Posted by Wendy Osher; information provided by the County of Maui)
Tags: Council Chamber, drought, drought Maui, drought upcountry, drought upcountry Maui, Hamakuapoko Drought, Hamakuapoko Wells, KJKS, KJMD, KLHI, KMVI, KNUI, KPOA, maui news, Maui Now, maui today tv, maui tv, maui video, MauiNOW, mauinow, mauinow.com, Mauitoday.tv, Michael Victorino, Mike Victorino, Native 92.5 FM, Native fm, Pacific Radio Group, September 2009, The Maui News, Water Resources Committee, Water Resources Committee Chair Victorino, Wendy Osher
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August 28th, 2009 by MauiNOW staff
Hawaii’s four county mayors will join state and county tourism officials next week for a special marketing campaign in Los Angeles to promote Hawaii as a visitor destination.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares joins Hawaii's other county mayors in promoting Hawaii Tourism in Los Angeles. File Photo by Wendy Osher.
The special promotional campaign is entitled “Hawaii: A Thousand Reasons to Smile,” and was organized in part by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, and is set to begin on September 1, 2009 in Los Angeles. Â Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares and Kauai County Mayor Bernard Carvalho are participating to demonstrate how important the industry is to the state economy and its workforce.
“We are so grateful to the mayors for their support of Hawaii’s tourism industry,” said John Monahan, President and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. “This is the first time all the county mayors have participated together at an HVCB media launch event, and their presence will add enormous value toward the success of our promotional efforts.”
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said, “It’s important to be active in promoting our main economic engine, tourism. This is a unique opportunity to help showcase our wonderful state and each of our beautiful islands. Having all four of Hawaii’s mayors in a united effort speaks volumes about how important tourism is to our economic recovery. As we capture the attention of vacationers and business travelers, we will help draw their interest to Hawaii,” said Tavares.
The campaign is designed to remind major media outlets and potential visitors that Hawaii is a beautiful and safe destination with a rich culture and fascinating history, and offers good value to travelers who have many other options.
“For the first time, all Hawaii’s mayors are working together to support a major visitor industry event,” said Honolulu Mayor Hannemann. “We all know how important the industry is to our economy, and we know that we are more effective leaders when we work together toward a common goal. Having participated in the debut of this campaign in San Francisco earlier this year with entertainer Willie K. and the HVCB, I know it is proving successful and beneficial for Hawaii.”
Hawaii County Mayor Kenoi said, “Hawaii has so much to offer as a visitor destination, and reductions in hotel room rates and air fares make this the ideal time to experience all that Hawaii has to offer. We will be reminding travelers that whether they want to experience the power of erupting Kilauea Volcano, relax on beautiful Waikiki Beach or experience Native Hawaiian culture and traditions, there is no better time than now to bring your friends and family to the Islands of Hawaii.”
Kauai County Mayor Carvalho said, “Every destination is competing for scarce visitor dollars. We absolutely must be out in the marketplace with a compelling and unique message. The Mayors are more than happy to support this effort because it should translate into more jobs more revenues for our businesses.”
The campaign will highlight Hawaii’s culture, its myths and legends, culinary trends and entertainment, and will feature lunch and dinner kickoff events with travel industry media professionals, and intimate “talk story” sessions with Hawaii representatives.
(Posted by Wendy Osher; Information provided by the County of Maui)
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